Influential and Dynamic Singers Kishore Kumar Biography

Kishore Kumar was an Indian actor, musician, and playback singer. He is recognized by many as one of the most exceptional, impactful, and charismatic vocalists in Indian music history. Renowned for his ability to perform songs in multiple voices and his yodeling skills, Kumar was one of the most well-liked singers in the Indian subcontinent.

He also released a few non-film albums in multiple languages which are noted as all-time classics. According to his brother and legendary actor Ashok Kumar, Kishore was successful as a singer because his “voice hits the mike, straight, at its most sensitive point”.

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Early Life of Kishore Kumar

Kishore Kumar was an Indian playback singer, musician, and actor who lived from 4 August 1929 to 13 October 1987. Kumar was a busy actor as well. He made his movie debut in Shikari. With his brother’s support, he was able to get some acting gigs, but his true passion was singing.

Born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly, Kishore was raised in a Bengali Brahmin Ganguly family in Khandwa, Central Provinces.His mother, Gouri Devi, was a homemaker from a prosperous Bengali family, while his father, Kunjalal Ganguly, was a lawyer. Kunjalal Gangopadhyaya received an invitation from the Kamavisadar Gokhale family of Khandwa to act as their personal lawyer.

Ashok, the eldest, Sati Devi, and Anoop were the other three siblings; Kumar was the youngest. Ashok, Kumar’s brother, started acting in Hindi movies when he was still a young child. With Ashok’s assistance, Anoop later made his film debut. Kumar received his degree from Indore’s Christian College. Following the triumph of movies like Ladki, Char Paise, and Baap Re Baap, Kumar took acting more seriously and went on to star in several hit films as the lead actor from 1955 to 1966.

Kumar featured in the films Naukari by Bimal Roy and Musafir, the feature debut of Hrishikesh Mukherjee. His prime acting years were from 1954 to 1968. Out of 28 nominations, he received 8 Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer, setting a record for both the most nominations and wins in that category.

The “Kishore Kumar hit songs Award” was instituted in 1997 by the Madhya Pradesh government in recognition of achievements in the Hindi film industry. His hitherto unheard final song fetched 15.6 lakh at the Osian’s Cinefan Auction in New Delhi in 2012.

Profile of Kishore Kumar

Birth Name: Abhas Kumar Ganguly
Date of Birth: 4 August 1929
Birth Place: Khandwa, Central Provinces, British India
Other names: Kishore Da, King of Playback Singing
Nationality: Indian
Occupations: Playback singer, actor, music director, lyricistfilm, producer, film director, screenwriter, composer
Notable work As an actor: Naukri (1954), Bhai Bhai (1956), New Delhi (1956), Aasha (1957), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Jhumroo (1961), Half Ticket (1962), Mr. X in Bombay (1964), Padosan (1968)
Spouses: Ruma Ghosh, Madhubala, Yogeeta Bali, Leena Chandavarkar
Children: Amit Kumar, Sumit Kumar
Relatives: See the Ganguly family, See the Mukherjee-Samarth family
Awards: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer (8 times), Bengal Film Journalists’ Association – Best Male Playback Award (4 times), Lata Mangeshkar Award
Genres: FilmiDisco, Pop, Hip-Hop, Yodelling, Rock and Roll, Semi-Classical, Comedy Music, Rabindra Sangeet
Instrument(s): Vocals, Piano
Years active: 1946–1987
Died: 13 October 1987 (aged 58), Bombay, Maharashtra, India

Kishore Kumar’s Personal Life

Kumar had four marriages. Ruma Guha Thakurta, often known as Ruma Ghosh, was a Bengali singer actress, and his first wife. They were wed in 1950 and divorced in 1958. Madhubala collaborated with Kumar on numerous movies, including Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, a film he made at home.

Through Half Ticket and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, their three-year romance continued. Madhubala was sick and intended to receive medical care in London. Her ventricular septal defect was present. In 1960, the pair wed in a civil ceremony. It is said that Kumar became an Islamic convert and changed his name to Karim Abdul.

His parents declined to be present at the event. To appease Kumar’s parents, the pair also conducted a Hindu wedding ceremony. On February 23, 1969, Madhubala passed away, ending their marriage. Kumar’s third wife, Yogeeta Bali, was married to him from 1976 till August 4, 1978. Kumar and Leena Chandavarkar were married from 1980 until his death. His two sons were Amit Kumar and Ruma, and Sumit Kumar and Leena Chandavarkar.

Following his “no money, no work” tenet, Kumar occasionally recorded for free, even when the producers were eager to pay. While his father frequently gave freely and for charitable performances, Amit Kumar, the eldest son of Kumar, claims

Kishore Kumar’s Career

Following Ashok Kumar’s rise to fame in Hindi cinema, the Ganguly family made frequent trips to Bombay. After renaming himself “Kishore Kumar,” Abhas Kumar began his acting career in Bombay as a chorus singer. Kumar was allowed to sing “Marne Ki Duayen Kyon Mangu” for the movie Ziddi by music director Khemchand Prakash. Singer K. L. Saigal was a major inspiration to Kumar early in his career.

Rabindranath Tagore, the poet and musician, was well respected by him and had a profound influence on him. At his home in Gouri Kunj, he hung the portraits of these three individuals. Kumar also took a lot of inspiration from playback vocalist Ahmed Rushdi. Many of Kumar’s songs, such as Chala Jata Hoon, Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana, and Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara, featured yodeling.

Tex Morton and Jimmie Rodgers were two of his inspirations. Salil Chowdhary, the movie’s music director, had a duet in mind for the song “Aake Seedhi Lagi Dil Pe” and wanted Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar to sing it. But, Salil Chowdhury had to record the song before Lata Mangeshkar could return, and Kumar had to perform both the male and female sections of the song himself to get around this

“Michael Hai To Cycle Hai” from Bewaqoof,
“Likha Hai Teri Ankhon Mein” this song take from Teen Deviaan,
“Suno Jaana Suno Jaana”, “Pyaar Baatke Chalo” and “Kya Teri Zulfein Hai” from Hum Sab Ustaad Hai,
“Khoobsurat Haseena”.

Kumar’s vocal skills were also appreciated by C. Ramchandra. They collaborated on several songs, including “Eena Meena Deeka” by Aasha (1957). “Hum To Mohabbat Karega,” “C.A.T. Cat Maane Billi,” and “Nakhrewaali” from Shankar Jaikishan’s 1956 New Delhi are among Kumar’s compositions. Shakti Samanta produced and directed Aradhana in 1969. Kumar sang three songs in the film, including “Roop Tera Mastana,” “Kora Kagaj Tha Ye Man Mera,” and “Mere Sapnon Ki Rani.”

Kishore Kumar’s Acting Life

Kumar made his cinematic debut in 1946’s Shikari, starring his brother Ashok in the main part. Phani Majumdar’s 1951 Bombay Talkies film Andolan had Kumar in the starring role. With his brother’s support, he got some acting gigs, but his true passion was singing. However, Kumar was to become an actor like Ashok. From 1946 until 1955, Kumar starred in 22 motion pictures. Kumar didn’t take acting seriously till after the box-office success of movies like Ladki, Naukari, Miss Mala, Char Paise, and Baap Re Baap.

Kumar was featured in two films directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee: Musafir (1957) and Naukari (1954) by Bimal Roy. When Salil Chowdhury, Naukari’s music director, discovered that Kumar lacked professional musical training, he was first contemptuous of Kumar as a vocalist. But Chowdhury handed him the song Chhota Sa Ghar Hoga after hearing his voice.

Kumar’s commercially successful films include Ladki, Naukari, Baap Re Baap, Paisa Hi Paisa New Delhi, Naya Andaz, Bhagam Bhaag, Bhai Bhai, Aasha, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Dilli Ka Thug, Jaalsaaz, Bombay Ka Chor, Chacha Zindabad, Man-Mauji, Jhumroo, Half Ticket, Mr. X in Bombay, Shreeman Funtoosh, Ek Raaz, Ganga Ki Lahren, Hum Sab Ustaad Hai, Haal E Dil, Pyar Kiye Jaa, and Padosan. He was at his peak as an actor from 1954 until 1966.

Awards

Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards

Winner:

1971 – Best Male Playback Singer for Aradhana

1972 – Best Male Playback Singer for Andaz

1973 – Best Male Playback Singer for Hare Rama Hare Krishna

1975 – Best Male Playback Singer for Kora Kagaz
Filmfare Awards

Won:

1986 “Saagar Kinaare”
1985 “Manzilein Apni Jagah Hain”
1984 “Agar Tum Na Hote”
1983 “Pag Ghungroo Baandh”
1981 “Hazaar Raahen Mudke Dekheen”
1979 “Khaike Paan Banaras Wala”
1976 “Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera”
1970 “Roop Tera Mastana”

Nominated:

1984 “De De Pyar De”
1984 “Inteha Ho Gayi”
1984 “Log Kehete Hai
1983 “Shayad Meri Shaadi”
1981 “Hameh Tumse Pyar”
1981 “Chhookar Mere Mann Ko”
1980 “Om Shanti Om” Karz
1979 “Ek Rasta Hai Zindagi”
1978 “O Saathi Re”
1978 “Hum Bewafa Harghiz”
1977 “Aap Ke Anurodh”
1975 “Main Pyaasa Tum”
1975 “O Manjhi Re”
1974 “Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai”
1974 “Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz”
1973 “Mere Dil Mein Aaj”
1972 “Chingari Koi Bhadke”
1971 “Zindagi Ek Safar”
1971 “Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai”

Death

Kishore Kumar’s wife Leena Chandavarkar was cited as recalling the day of his passing and his final words before passing away: “On the morning of October 13. He appeared gaunt and as if he were fast asleep. He awoke as I approached and said, “Did you get scared? I’m on vacation today.” He had multiple meetings at his house that day. He told me at lunch that we would watch River of No Return that evening. I heard him moving stuff in the adjacent room a little while later.

When I went to check what was wrong, he was lying on the bed.’I’m feeling weak,’ he replied nervously. To call the doctor, I ran. He became enraged. He was dead of a heart attack. His final words were those. He was exhaling and had his eyes wide open. His wife initially assumed he was joking, but that was the last straw.

Upshot

The biggest hits of his career came from his on-screen relationships with the actresses Mala Sinha, Vyjayanthimala, Nutan, Madhubala, Meena Kumari, and Kumkum. In his home production Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Madhubala and the three Ganguly brothers played the lead parts. In addition to writing the words for the movie’s title song, “Main Hoon Jhumroo,” Kumar also acted in and composed the music for Jhumroo. Later, he co-starred with Bengali actress Supriya Devi in Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein, which he produced and directed.

In addition, he composed the film’s music and penned the screenplay. As an actor, Kumar gained infamy in 1966 for arriving late to the filming. After 1965, his movies kept failing and he started having income tax issues. Pyar Zindagi Hai, Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi, Sabaash Daddy, Zindagi (1981), Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin, and Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi—which was his final role as an actor—were among the films that Kumar produced and directed in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

FAQs

Who was Kishore Kumar?

A: Legendary Indian playback singer, actor, playwright, producer, composer, lyricist, and director Kishore Kumar. His greatest-known attributes are his varied singing style and his significant contribution to Indian movies during Bollywood’s heyday.

Which 0ld songs by Kishore Kumar are the most well-known?

A: Kishore Kumar possesses an extensive catalog of classic songs in a variety of genres. His most well-known songs are “Roop Tera Mastana,” “Ek Ladki Bhigi Bhagi Si,” “Yeh Shaam Mastani,” “Mere Sapno Ki Rani,” “Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana,” and “Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas.”

How many Filmfare Awards did Kishore Kumar win overall?

A: Kishore Kumar is one of the most decorated playback singers in Indian movie history, having received eight Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer. Hit songs like “Roop Tera Mastana,” “Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera Toda,” and “Hazaar Raahen Mud Ke Dekhin” are among his victories.

Aside from singing, does Kishore Kumar possess any other skills?

A: Indeed, Kishore Kumar was a versatile performer. In addition to his amazing singing career, he was a gifted actor who appeared in several Hindi movies. He was renowned for his comedic timing and ability to play a wide range of film roles.