Eternal Voice

Hey all, am back to blogging after a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge gap!!! Something is really haunting my mind since morning, and I am unable to concentrate on my pdms & Copros (hey, that’s what my job is all about).

Most of my buddies had quit from my organization and now am all alone in the office with some strangers, writing pdms & copros. My only comfort at this place now is kishore da. Hey don’t be surprised!!! I am undoubtedly talking about the great versatile singer kishore da, who, yet after so many years of his death is eternal in our heart.

Starting from yodeling to experimenting with different genre of songs Kishore da has been successful in every mode of music. Let it be sad songs, romantic beats, or fast number, nobody could beat him. Be it any of his songs, right from Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si… to Rhim Jhim gire Saawan… to Roop Tera Mastana… to Chingaari Koi Bhadke…, he is a man who has made me laugh, made me weep, made me feel romantic & given goose bumps on my body by his invincible songs.

Kishore Kumar, is an unprecedented singer who came up with a new genre of yodelling in Indian music during the era when only classically oriented singers were giving the playback in the films.

How can one forget his yodillli yodulli…yuhooooooooooooooooooooon in Zindagi EK Safar… from Andaaz. His voice always played an asset for Rajesh Khanna in this song. I can still envisage Rajesh Khanna yodeling around with Hema Malini singing Zindagi EK Safar … . The verve & exuberance of kishore da’s voice along with Rajesh Khanna’s vigorous performance had made that song a hit, which will always be engraved in every Hindi music lover’s mind & heart.

Going back to his biography, one can discover that he was not a trained singer. He didn’t have a style of his own but he mainly emulated K.L. Saigal. It was S.D.Burman who had advised him not to copy K.L.Saigal but develop his own style. With this in mind Kishore soon developed his own style, the style of yodelling which, he had learnt from Anoop Kumar's record collection. Thereafter yodelling became Kishore's trademark.

S. D. Burman, again the great Indian music director with whom kishore da had given inestimable hits, was the person who had recognized kishore kumar’s talent and led him the way up to the ladder of success.

S. D. Burman recorded with Kishore for Dev Anand's (actor) Munimji, Taxi Driver, Funtoosh, House No 44, Nau Do Gyarah, and Paying Guest. S.D.Burman, Majrooh, Asha and Kishore became a strong team and produced some fantastic music for films like, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, the song, "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si", "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka" and "Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana" became very popular among the moviegoers, there was also, Dev Anand's film Paying Guest and Teen Deviyan. The song "Mana Janab Ne Pukara Nahin" from Paying Guest was incredibly popular. Kishore and Asha recorded a lot of casual hits such as, "Chhod Do Aanchal", "Ankhon Mein Ji", "Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab", "Chhedo Na Meri Zulfein" and there was another classic song from the film Dilli Ka Thug, which had, "C.A.T..Cat Maane Billi" and "Hum To Mohabbat Karega", the list is endless.

In 1966, S.D.Burman's son, Rahul Dev Burman burst into the music limelight when he scored the music for the film, Teesri Manzil. Kishore’s first hit came with him in the shape of Padosan with the song, "Mere Samnewali Khidki Mein". There was a scene in the movie where Mehmood would fight Sunil Dutt in a singing match. Kishore insisted that it would be boring if dialogues were spoken during the song to which Mehmood agreed. Keeping this in mind Kishore, Mehmood and lyricist Rajinder Krishan and R.D.Burman came up with the 'musical fight sung titled, "Ek Chaturnar Karke Singaar", it was sung by Kishore and Manna Dey who was a trained classical singer. Manna Dey found it preposterous that he should lose the song fight to the likes of Kishore and at one point refused to record the song. Mehmood who was also movie's producer had personally assured Manna Dey that he was a better singer than Kishore and it was the films script that dictated who loses. Later, however Manna Dey applauded the way Kishore had sung the song and was very happy with the result.

This was not an end but just a beginning, which continued till the last breath of his life. Nothing could stop him from being a legendary singer. His voice became an inspiration for hundreds & thousands of singers right from his son to kumar sanu to abhijit, the list is endless.

The depth, the emotion, the mettle, the voice, the incomparable Legend Kishore Kumar's death on Oct 13, 1987 left a void that could never be filled.