Remembering Kishore Da

8/4/22, 9:40 AM Remembering Kishore Kumar: Little Known Stories About the Legend
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FAMOUS PERSONALITIES | MUSIC
Remembering Kishore Kumar: 17 Fascinating Stories

About the Legend That You Probably Didn’t Know
By Sanchari Pal October 13, 2016
https://www.thebetterindia.com/71302/kishore-kumar-singer-actor/?fbclid=IwAR2Ol-MhSKKOSKrqEidLFlWbXL3N5TZ62kqnsT4YAf8tpP5NR8y67Vo0… 1/25
Apart from donning many hats in his successful career, Kishore Kumar lived an enigmatic
life. Here are some fascinating story snippets from the eventful life of the legendary actor-
singer.
T here are singers and then there is Kishore Kumar. An unschooled singer who had no
classical training, Kishore Da was truly a master of all trades — be it his beautiful voice
that could make any song come alive, his quirky antics while recording those songs, or
his charismatic onscreen presence that gave him the epithet of an actor who excelled
at comedy. Though he is best known as one of Indian cinema’s greatest playback
singers, the multi-faceted Kishore Kumar was also a lyricist, composer, producer,
director, screenplay writer and scriptwriter.
The legendary Kishore Kumar
Photo Source
Apart from donning many hats in his successful career, Kishore Kumar lived an
enigmatic life. His four marriages, eccentric behaviour and histrionics behind the scenes
bear testimony to this.
Here are some fascinating story snippets from the eventful life of the legendary actor-
singer.
1. As a child, Kishore Kumar’s voice was very shrill.

Childhood photo of Kishore Kumar
Photo Source
His family would invariably laugh, or cover their ears if he ever tried to sing. One of his
biggest problems was that his voice would break into a coarse, grating noise, whenever
he tried to modulate it. Kishore’s family would often joke that his voice sounded like a
rasp of a bamboo being split in two! Later, his voice would transform into the
mellifluous strain that continues to enthrall us all till date.
2. Once, when little Kishore was studying in 5th standard,

he did not know the answer to a single question in his
maths exam. So instead, he filled his answer sheet with
jokes, little poems, doodles and smiley faces for his
teacher!
Photo Source
3. The popular song Paanch Rupaiya Barah Anna is based

on a true event in his life.
A still from the movie ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’
Born on August 4, 1929 in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh as Abhas Kumar

Ganguly, Kishore went to the Christian College in Indore after his matriculation. His
college continues to remember the exploits of the actor-singer who was a prankster at
heart. Few know that Kishore Da still owes five rupees and 12 paise (he immortalised
this fact in that famous song Paanch Rupaiya Barah Anna from the 1958 film, Chalti Ka
Naam Gaadi) to his college canteen.
4. During his college days, Kishore would often use

his bench in the classroom as a tabla.
Photo Source
This displeased his civics teacher who angrily told Kishore to stop wasting time with
antics like these. Kishore answered with a smile and told the teacher that music was
how he intended to earn his living.
5. In college, young Kishore Kumar was obsessive about his

long black overcoat.
Kishore Kumar with brothers, Anoop Kumar and Ashok Kumar
He was known for his trademark outfit: the black overcoat, white pajamas, muffler and
leather sandals. He would never take off the coat, as he was very insecure about his
scrawny physique.
6. Not many people know that Kishore Kumar was stage shy
and that he would run away whenever he was invited to sing
in any music concert
Photo Source
During a fund raising stage show by the Playback Singer Association, it was made
mandatory for every singer to be present. Aware of Kishore’s stage phobia, the
Association gave Talat Mehmood the responsibility of bring him to the show anyhow.
However, when Talat Mehmood went to pick Kishore Da at his residence, he realised
that the singer had locked the door and run away! It was actor Sunil Dutt who helped
him get over this phobia before an event in 1970.
7. He was probably one of the most eccentric actors of all

time
Photo Source
Kishore Kumar was famous for his eccentricities. He once put up a signboard saying
‘Beware of Kishore’ on the door of his Warden Road flat. Another time, he reportedly
kept shaving off parts of his moustache and hair till he was paid his entire fee by the
producer. At the doorstep of his home in Madhya Pradesh, he once put a board saying
‘Mental Hospital’ instead of the family name plate!
8. His directors had better watch out, or else!
https://www.thebetterindia.com/71302/kishore-kumar-singer-actor/?fbclid=IwAR2Ol-MhSKKOSKrqEidLFlWbXL3N5TZ62kqnsT4YAf8tpP5NR8y67Vo… 10/25
Kishore Kumar with R.D.Burman, Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar
Photo Source
Once, when a director dragged Kishore Kumar to court for not following his instructions
on the sets of a film, the singer decided to take him very seriously. While shooting a
scene in which he was driving a car, Kishore Da kept driving till he reached
Panvel because the director had forgotten to say ‘cut’!
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behind the Scenes
9. Kishore Kumar was known to be very particular about his

remuneration but very few are aware that he refused to take
fees from acclaimed filmmaker Satyajit Ray for singing in
his 1964 film, Charulata.
Kishore Kumar with Satyajit Ray
Photo Source
Kishore Da had immense respect for Ray and he knew that the filmmaker had a very
limited budget for the film. After recording a song in Charulata, when Kishore Da was
called on by Ray and asked how much he would charge for the song, he just touched
Ray’s feet and refused to accept any remuneration. When Ray ran into financial trouble
during the making of the iconic Pather Panchali, and was even contemplating giving up
the project, it was Kishore Kumar who helped him out with Rs 5000 that got the film
back on track.
10. There were 3 people he respected enough to hang their

portraits in his house and bow to them everyday
From Left: K.L.Saigal, Rabindranath Tagore and Danny Kaye
Photo Source
A devout fan of K.L.Saigal, Kishore Kumar deeply respected Rabindranath Tagore and
was an ardent admirer of Hollywood actor-singer Danny Kaye. He hung the portraits of
all these three personalities at his Gaurikunj residence and would bow respectfully
before them everyday as a rule. Interestingly, the singer considered the trees in his
garden his closest friends and even had names for them!
11. A “character” singer!
Kishore Kumar with Amitabh Bachchan
Photo Source
Amitabh Bachchan and Kishore Da formed a great actor-singer partnership in the
1970s. For the immortal number, ‘Khaike Paan Banaraswala’, Kishoreda actually chewed
on a Benarasi paan and spat it on the floor to get the desired feel in his singing. He
also sang many songs for Rajesh Khanna and became such a master at capturing the
actor’s mannerisms and way of speaking, that the latter once remarked,”We were two
people with one voice.”
12. Kishore Da’s unique style of yodelling was inspired by

Jimmie Rodgers and Tex Morton.
Kishore Kumar with Dev Anand, R.D.Burman and Yash Chopra
Photo Source
Yodelling is singing in a manner that the voice fluctuates rapidly between a normal and
an exaggerated tone. He yodelled for a number of songs like ‘Zindagi Ek Safar‘ from the
film Andaz, ‘Chala Jata Hoon Kisi Ki Dhun Mein‘ from the film Haathi Mere Saathi and
many more. Despite the fact that he had no formal training in music Kishore Kumar
was nominated 19 times for Filmfare and won 8 of them!
13. During his lifetime, Kishore Kumar was married to four

women – Ruma Guha Thakurta, Madhubala, Yogeeta Bali
and Leena Chandravarkar.
Clockwise from Top Left: Ruma Guha Thakurta, Madhubala, Leena Chandravarkar and Yogita Bali
Photo Source
He used to call them ‘bandariyas‘ as they all happened to stay at Bandra or had lived
there before!
14. Kishore Kumar and Mehmood were the first picks for

the Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan starrer Anand.
Kishore Kumar with Mehmood in the film ‘Bombay to Goa’
When filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee visited Kishore at his bungalow, he was stopped
by the watchman. The watchman had mistaken Mukherjee for another Bengali
producer, who Kishore Da refused to let into his home. This was reportedly why Anand
went to Rajesh Khanna.
Also Read: Thank You for the Laughter: Little Known Facts about the Life of Legendary
Comedian Mehmood
15. Hrishikesh Mukherjee had based the plot of his movie,

Abhimaan, on Kishore Kumar and his first wife, Ruma.
A still from the movie ‘Abhimaan’
Photo Source
16. A man who stood up for his beliefs, even if it affected

his career
Photo Source
His denial to endorse then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s 20-point programme led to his
ban on Vividh Bharti and All India Radio during the Emergency period of 1975-1977.
17. He was very attached to his house in Khandwa in

Madhya Pradesh, which was incidentally located on a street
called Bombay Bazaar.
Gouri Kunj, Kishore’s family home in Khandwa
Photo Source
He visited this house whenever he had time and it was his last wish that his body be
taken to Khandwa and cremated outside his old bungalow, a wish that was fulfilled.
A musical genius who made madness fashionable, Kishore Kumar left behind an
unmatched legacy. Watch his short biography here.
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8/4/22, 9:40 AM Remembering Kishore Kumar: Little Known Stories About the Legend

FAMOUS PERSONALITIES | MUSIC

Remembering Kishore Kumar: 17 Fascinating Stories

The legendary Kishore Kumar

1. As a child, Kishore Kumar’s voice was very shrill.

Childhood photo of Kishore Kumar

2. Once, when little Kishore was studying in 5th standard,

3. The popular song Paanch Rupaiya Barah Anna is based

A still from the movie ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’

Born on August 4, 1929 in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh as Abhas Kumar

4. During his college days, Kishore would often use

5. In college, young Kishore Kumar was obsessive about his

Kishore Kumar with brothers, Anoop Kumar and Ashok Kumar

7. He was probably one of the most eccentric actors of all

8. His directors had better watch out, or else!

Kishore Kumar with R.D.Burman, Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar

9. Kishore Kumar was known to be very particular about his

Kishore Kumar with Satyajit Ray

10. There were 3 people he respected enough to hang their

From Left: K.L.Saigal, Rabindranath Tagore and Danny Kaye

11. A “character” singer!

Kishore Kumar with Amitabh Bachchan

12. Kishore Da’s unique style of yodelling was inspired by

Kishore Kumar with Dev Anand, R.D.Burman and Yash Chopra

13. During his lifetime, Kishore Kumar was married to four

14. Kishore Kumar and Mehmood were the first picks for

Kishore Kumar with Mehmood in the film ‘Bombay to Goa’

15. Hrishikesh Mukherjee had based the plot of his movie,

A still from the movie ‘Abhimaan’

16. A man who stood up for his beliefs, even if it affected

17. He was very attached to his house in Khandwa in

Gouri Kunj, Kishore’s family home in Khandwa

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