By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
छेड़ो न मेरी जुल्फें
सब लोग क्या कहेंगे
सब लोग क्या कहेंगे
हम को दीवाना तुम को
काली घटा कहेगे
काली घटा कहेगे
छेड़ो न मेरी जुल्फें
Abhas Kumar Ganguly, singer,actor, lyricist and music composer, commonly known as Kishore Kumar, one of the three Ganguly brothers (the other two being veteran actor Ashok Kumar & Anoop Kumar) was born at Khandwa in MP in 1929. Kishore Kumar began his film career doing comic roles in films like ‘Baap Re Baap, ‘Dhake Ki malmal’, ‘Asha’, ‘Do Fantoosh’, ‘Jhumroo’, & ‘Bewaqoof’. Bimal Roy’s ‘Naukri’ (1954) and Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s directorial debut, ‘Musafir’ (1957) were his other films. He received recognition as a comic actor in ‘New Delhi’ opposite Vyjayanthimala, playing a Punjabi, disguised as a Tamil to get a room on rent. It was followed by ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’ the film for which he is known. It starred Ashok Kumar ,Anoop Kumar & Madhubala.
Married to Ruma Devi, Madhubala, Yogita Bali & Leena Chandawarkar, the actor-singer became a legend in his own right with hits like ‘Maana Janab Ne Pukara Nahin'(Paying Guest), ‘ Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi See,Bheegi Raaton Main Jaagi See’ (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi-1957) ‘Mere Mehboob Qyamat Hogi, Aaj Ruswa Teri Galiyon Se Mohabbat Hogi’ ( Mr X in Bombay- 1964), ‘Mere SapnoKi Rani Kab Aayegi Tu” ( Aradhna-1969), ‘Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye’ (Prem Pujari’ ( 1969) ‘Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana'( Andaz-1971), ‘Pal Pal Dil Ke Pass Tum Rehti Ho’ (Blackmailer-1973), ‘Main Tere Pyaar Main Pagal Aise Ghumta Hoon Jaise’ ( Prem Bandhan-1979), ‘Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna Yeh Hum Nahin Jante Magar Jee Nahin Sakte’ ( Kudrat-1981) & ‘Tera Pyaar Hai Kitna Pyara Kam Lagta Hai Jeevan Saara, Tere Milan Ki Lagan Main'( Janbaaz-1986) and last but not least ‘Gaata Rahe Mera Dil,Tu He Meri Manzil’ ( Guide-1965) featuring Waheeda Rehman ,Dev Anand & Kishore Sahu. Interestingly, Guide received a leading nine nominations at the 14th Filmfare Awards and won seven awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress Award.
Kishore lent his voice to Dev Anand in Munimji (1954), Taxi Driver (1954), House No. 44 (1955), Funtoosh (1956), Nau Do Gyarah (1957), Paying Guest (1957), Guide (1965), Jewel Thief (1967), Prem Pujari (1970), and Tere Mere Sapne (1971 under the baton S.D.Burman. “Ankhon Mein Kya Ji” from “Nau Do Gyarah” (1957), “Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka” ( Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi-1958) & ‘Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab’, “Teen Deviyan” .(1965) are some of his famous numbers.
Kishore Kumar also acted in many successful films like- Ladki (1953), , Bhai Bhai (1956), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi & Dilli Ka Thug (1958), ‘Jaalsaaz’ , ‘Chacha Zindabad’ & ‘Shararat'(1959), ), Jhumroo (1961), Man-Mauji (1962), ‘Half Ticket’ (1962), ‘Mr. X in Bombay’ (1964), ‘Shreeman Funtoosh” (1965), ‘Ganga Ki Lahren’ (1964), ‘Hum Sab Ustaad Hai’ (1965), ‘Pyar Kiye Jaa’ (1966), ‘Padosan’ (1968) & ‘Aasha’, ‘Eena Meena Deeka’ fame. As an actor, his best period was between 1954 and 1966. His on-screen chemistry with actresses Mala Sinha, Vyjayanthimala, Nutan, Madhubala and Kumkum produced some of the biggest hits in his career. Kishore Kumar worked with Meena Kumari in’Tamasha’ (1952) ‘Ilzam’ (1954), ‘Rukhsana’, (1955) & ‘Naya Andaz’ (1956).He worked opposite Nimmi in ‘Bhai Bhai'(1956) also starring Ashok Kumar & Nirupa Roy. The film is remembered for its music, especiall hit songs like- “Ae Dil Mujhe Bata De Tu Kis Pe Aa Gaya Hai” (Geeta Dutt) & “Kadar Jane Na Mora Balam Bedardi”(Lata).
Kishore Kumar, unarguably ,was the main force behind the phenomenal success of super star Rajesh Khanna. This was proved by the fact that when Khanna’s career was on the decline, Kishore Kumar was ruling the roost. He was asked to sing for an Indian National Congress rally in Bombay during emergency. On refusal he was banned from singing on AIR & Doordarshan. His house was subsequently raided by the Income tax authorities. Nothing illegal was found excepting some prints of his films which were reportedly confiscated & destroyed.
Kishore Kumar won 8 Filmfare Awards for Best Playback Singer out of 27 Nominations for his most popular numbers-‘Roop Tera Mastana’, ‘Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera’, ‘Khaike Paan Banaras Wala’, ‘Hazaar Raahen Mudke Dekheen’,’Pag Ghungroo Baandh’, ‘Agar Tum Na Hote’, ‘Manzilein Apni Jagah Hain’, & ‘Saagar Kinaare’. Remained Dev Anand’s ‘ghost’ singer for decades producing many hit numbers including- “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat” (Teen Devian-1965) , “Palbhar Ke Liye Koi Hamen Pyar Kar Le” and “O Mere Raja, Khafa Na Hona, Der Se Aayi” from “Johny Mera Naam” (1970), the highest grossing film of the year.
Blessed with two sons, Amit Kumar with Ruma, and Sumit Kumar with Leena Chandavarkar, Kishore rendered songs in many regional languages like Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada & Bhojpuri. Surprisingly, the celebrated actor-singer has been deprived with the kind of recognition and honored he richly deserved as an exceptionally gifted singer, having worldwide acceptance & popularity. Google showed a special doodle on its Indian home page for Kishore Kumar on 4 August 2014 for his 85th birthday.
