Homage to Legendary Kishore Kumar

It is 81st anniversary of Kishore Kumar as my friend Amol reminded us in his blog. However to my mind, the voice that resonates is of youth, of romance, of vibrancy that could move its listeners from melancholy to pure joy.

This is my humble effort to share my thoughts on the infinite talent bestowed on this versatile singer.

I will make few references (particularly sections) to the blog by my friend Amol who has commendably initiated this thought.


One of the best ever - without formal training

Though Salilda was dismissive of Kishore during his first assignment, on kishore's pleading, he agreed for him to sing and we got the song -"Chota sa ghar hoga". It was only later during "Koi hota jisko apna" that Salilda realized the magical hidden strains in the voice of Kishoreda. Salilda acknowledges that it was only dada burman who could spot the spark that all other composers including himself missed out on.

Indeed it was dada burman, in early days, who nurtured this voice in its infancy and worked with it for some really memorable gems - Dukhi Man mere, Khwab ho tum, Yeh dil na hota - all on Dev Anand.

The legacy was carried forward by Pancham - who had learnt from his father on how to get the best out of Kishore Kumar. It is said that Dada used to send the music scratch tape to Kishore a week before the recording. Pancham used to carry it himself during early days. Kishoreda would have imbibed the mood and sensibilities of the song by the time of actual recording. What used to follow later was pure magic!!

Pancham carried forth this trend in his later days as an individual composer. In his own words, the songs recorded in this way were - Main Shayar Badnam, Oh Majhee re, Zindagi ke safar mein, Musafir Hoon Yaaron.. and the list is endless.

Versatility:

I would slightly differ with Amol here that though Kishoreda sang a variety of song moods from sorrow, fun, comedy, romance etc, he did not attempt different genres of songs - such as  Ghazals, Quwalis, Classical etc. and it was a very conscious decision by him - speaks volumes about his humility and knowledge of the music. He used to often refer Rafi for Qawalis or ghazals and refuse to sing them. It is said that he refused the Daag song - Mere dil mein aaj kya hai - telling Laxmiji (Of LP) that Rafi should sing this song. LP insisted that Kishore sing this and what a variation of a ghazal we have. It is one of the rare ghazals with straight notes - trademark Kishoreda.

Creativity:

Amol has rightly mentioned the yoodling as a innovative creation brought into Hindi music by Kishoreda. however this was not the only weapon that Kishore had to compensate for lack of Classical training. He had the trademark gibberish which launched in the classical notation format could have send shudders into Nusrat sahab also :). Unfortunately Mannada was the victim in the song "Ek chatur naar" in which kishore goes something like "khamchi pakad kheechke pakad khich khich mat kar....."

Serious Kishore

Kishoreda's Aa chal ke tujhe' is one of my all time favorites coz of the beautiful lyrics by Shailendra. the music and singing by Kishoreda encapsulates the mood and the thoughts of the song in a way that is unmatched. It is the song of eternal hope, a more beautiful world and he is singing it for his son - Symbolic of the sublime thought to make this world a better place for your children and their children - same thought that was captured years later by legendary Michael Jackson in his "Heal the World"

I can only list down 10 of my top of the mind personal favorites (not in any order) that move me and transcend me to a different world - where i sing along with this vibrant, youthful and soul-stirring voice that is only Kishoreda

1. Main Shayar Badnaam
2. Aa Chal ke tujhe
3. Chingari Koi Bhadke
4. Mere Naina Sawan
5. Chala jaata hoon
6. Raahon pe rehte hain
7. Hume tumse pyaar kitna
8. Badi Sooni Sooni hai
9. Choo kar mere man ko
10. Dil kya kare jab
..... Theres just many more of them..and Thanks Kishoreda for that!!