Happy Birthday Kishore Kumar, thanks for the music and the madness

Bollywood hasn’t had someone quite like Kishore Kumar since he passed away in 1987 and the industry certainly hadn’t seen someone like him till he descended upon Mumbai as a young man in the 1940s. Singer, actor, lyricist, filmmaker and a complete eccentric, Kumar managed to both frustrate and delight those who worked with him. He wafted into Bollywood because his elder brother Ashok Kumar was a successful actor.

He could sing like a dream and his voice had a velvety but powerfully masculine quality that made him stand out in what was undoubtedly the golden era of Bollywood music with singers like Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar in their prime. Listen to his melancholy songs, like Koi Hamdam Na Raha from Jhumroo, and you wouldn’t believe the same man could sing the infectiously cheerful Main Hoon Jhum Jhum Jhum Jhumroo (in the same film, no less). Whether he was singing gibberish or lyrical poetry, Kishore Kumar’s songs were filled with beautiful melody and so much heart that it’s no wonder that he remains one of Bollywood’s most beloved legends. On his 85th birth anniversary, here are just a few songs that show how incredible a man and a singer Kishore Kumar was.

1. Marne Ki Duayen, Ziddi, 1948

This was Kishore Kumar’s first film as a playback singer and you can hear how much of an influence KL Saigal was upon the young man. Kumar was, in fact, a fabulous mimic and it was his ability to copy Saigal that first made people in Bollywood notice he was more than just Ashok Kumar’s younger brother. The music director Sachin Dev Burman was the one who encouraged Kumar to sing in his own style, rather than copying Saigal.

2. Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, 1958

By the mid-1950s, Kishore Kumar had established himself with his powerful voice and versatile singing style. In addition, he’d also become a rather popular actor. Kumar maintained he had been wrangled into becoming an actor by his elder brother and those who wanted to win Ashok Kumar’s favour by casting Kishore. However, despite how much he hated acting, Kumar had wonderful screen presence and great comic timing. Singing was still his one true love, however, and so he ended up singing songs for the characters he played on screen in films like this one.

3. Main Hoon Jhum Jhum Jhum Jhumroo, Jhumroo, 1961

India has produced only one true yodelling star and his name was Kishore Kumar. Until Kumar gleefully unleashed his yodels, no one would have imagined that an Alpine folk singing technique could become so popular in Bollywood. Kumar slipped effortlessly from a regular Hindi song’s composition to a yodelling interlude, which showcased both the stunning range of his voice and his reputation for being just a little cuckoo.

4. Aake Seedhi Lagi Katariya, Half Ticket, 1962

Let’s just list the number of things that this song is a legend. Kishore Kumar is dressed as a woman. He’s being pursued by Pran, who is seen dancing. The song is a dialogue between a woman (played by a man) and a man. Kumar sang both parts. His falsetto doesn’t falter and without losing a beat he shuttles between the two completely different pitches. It’s an amazing little song, and so much fun.

5. Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi, Mr. X in Bombay, 1964

Kishore Kumar’s talent for comedy and his ability to do the darndest things sometimes obscured fans to the fact that some of his most memorable songs are melancholy. During the course of his career, Kumar sang many songs that have become theme songs for the broken hearted, like “Chingari Koi Bhadke”, “Tere Bina Zindagi” and “Deewana Leke Aaya Hai”. Kumar’s sad songs for Rajesh Khanna are particularly beautiful.

6. Ek Chatur Naar, Padosan, 1968

If you ever need a pick-me-up and you understand Hindi, watch Padosan. The entire film is mad and a delight, but this is one of the best parts. This duet with Manna Dey remains one of the funniest episodes in Bollywood history and it’s just as enjoyable if you only listen to the song. “Ek Chatur Naar” had Manna Dey poking gentle fun at the Carnatic singing style and Kumar making music out of complete gibberish.

7. Hoo Amdavad No Rickshaa Walo, Atit Na Sambharna

Like other playback singers of his time, Kishore Kumar also sang songs in languages other than Hindi. Kumar has a fantastic discography of Bengali songs, but this one has Kumar singing in Gujarati is more unusual. It’s a charming little ditty that takes you on a tour of Ahmedabad and unlike the state’s present-day tourism campaign, Kumar’s cheerful song actually does tempt you to breathe in a bit of Gujarat.

8. Mere Naina Saawan Bhadon, Mehbooba, 1976

Some songs don’t really need a visual. This is one of them. It’s irrelevant what Hema Malini and Rajesh Khanna do on screen because all that matters is Kishore Kumar’s voice and the poetry in the lyrics. There was an open-throated strength to Kumar’s singing that made songs like this one electric. You can hear Lata Mangeshkar’s version of “Mere Naina…” and there’s nothing wrong with it. It just doesn’t have the magic that Kumar lends to the melody.

9. Pag Ghungroo Baandh, Namak Halal, 1982

By the time Namak Halal released, Kumar’s best years were behind him, but he could still hold his own and in style. Kumar sang some fantastic songs for Amitabh Bachchan over the 1970s and 1980s, ranging from the poignant “Badi Sooni Sooni Hai” from Mili to the haunting songs in Abhimaan. Namak Halal is one of the later films in which Kumar seems to have had a lot of fun, if songs like this one and Thodi Jo Peeli Hai are any indication.

10. Naam Aamar Kishore Kumar Ganguly

In case you’d like a quick recap of Kishore Kumar’s life, he helpfully sang his bio data. This one is mostly for those who understand Bengali, though the song does have some superb parts in Hindi, like when he talks about the income tax department started pestering him. Enjoy, name a few trees (Kumar loved trees and named the ones in his garden), yodel a little and thank the powers that be for Kishoreda, his music and his madness.