Kishore Kumar

Kishore Kumar (August 4, 1929 - October 13, 1987), born as Abhas Ganguly, was a Bengali Indian film playback singer (Hindi, Bangla, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Oriya) and actor. He also worked as producer, composer and lyricist but is chiefly remembered as one of the three leading male playback singers in Bollywood (the other two being Mohammed Rafi and Mukesh). He sang extensively with the songbirds of Bollywood - Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.

Last years

Kishore's son Amit Kumar was already a popular singer in 1980s, thanks to patronage by R D Burman and Rajesh Roshan. But Kishore was still around, singing for established and young heroes alike. Kishore Kumar and Amitabh had some misunderstanding in mid-1980s. Kishore was producing a movie and Amitabh (who was a Bollywood deity by then) was supposed to do a guest-appearance in the movie. Amitabh arrived at the shoot, but left after few minutes, asking his secretary to tell Kishore that he wouldn't act in the movie. Kishore got upset and decided never to sing for Amitabh again. Incidentally, Amitabh's films started flopping after this and he faced the worst phase in his Bollywood career. He made a comeback many years later, through the popular television series, Kaun Banega Crorepati (Hindi version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire).

Related Topics:
Amit Kumar - Hindi

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Kishore sang for Anil Kapoor in his first movie, Woh Saat Din. He also sang for him in his first superhit movie Mr. India. LP gave the music for both the movies. In 1987, he sang some really nice songs for R D Burman in the movie Saagar - Saagar jaisi aankhon waali (based on Raga Yaman) and Saagar kinaare dil yeh pukaare (duet with Lata). The songs were penned by Javed Akhtar.

Related Topics:
Anil Kapoor - 1987 - Raga - Javed Akhtar

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In 1987, Kishore decided to retire from Bollywood and go back to his roots, his village Khandwa, and in October 1987 he breathed his last. His last wish to go to Khandwa was fulfilled as his body was taken to his birth place for cremation after embalmment.

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