Burman, with lyrics by Gulzar and vocals by Kishore and Asha Bhonsle, and yet this song is one of those rare classics that anyone hardly seems to know.īand mutthi lakh ki (Film: Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi, 1982) Kabhi kabhi sapna lagta hai (Film: Ratnadeep, 1979)Ī film by Basu Chatterjee, set to music by R.D. In terms of sheer artistry, this has to be in any list of top Kishore songs, even if it is an obscure songs’ list. But given how brilliant the Laxmikant-Pyarelal composition is, and how beautifully Kishore has rendered it, it doesn’t get half the love it deserves.
Burman’s assistant Sapan Chakraborty, Kishore is positively bardic in this background song.Ī slight cheat here since this song is not particularly ‘unknown’. It’s therefore a surprise when a song pops up that you’ve never heard. Kishore was at his peak in the 1970s, and found patronage under every music director. Jaane aaj kya hua, aisa kabhi hua na tha (Film: 36 Ghante, 1974) A most haunting melody, based on Rabindra Sangeet, this song is everything you could ask for in a ‘sad’ song. Panthi hoon main us path ka, along with Beqarar dil tu gaaye ja, is the Everest of these efforts. Often typecast as a comic actor and singer, some of Kishore’s best works are in Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein and Door Ka Rahi, the melancholy masterpieces that he directed and acted in, and composed the music for. Panthi hoon main us path ka (Film: Door Ka Rahi, 1971) Observe the quick changes in note and rhythm, and Kishore’s effortlessness in dealing with them.Īlso Read: When Kishore Kumar spoke to Pritish Nandy about Bombay, Hitchcock and his many wives This Gulzar-penned gem is Kishore and composer-singer Hemant Kumar’s take on Om Jai Jagdish Hare. This song was blatantly ripped off by Anu Malik for Baazigar (1993) as Aye mere humsafar. This duet with Lata Mangeshkar finds Kishore at his romantic best. Or even in a car on the Indian roads, for that matter. When you want to romance someone in a flying car, it doesn’t get better than this. Khoobsurat haseena (Film: Mr X in Bombay, 1964) While Sahir Ludhianvi’s lyrics are undoubtedly the star of this show, Kishore’s duet with Sudha Malhotra is velvety smooth. Kashti ka khamosh safar hai (Film: Girl Friend, 1960) Pappi is said to have been Padmini’s nickname, and Ganguli was Kishore’s family name.Īlso Read: On his birthday, ThePrint will take Mukesh to the millennials with a little contest Tamil.Īround the 3:20 mark, the line ‘ Pappi tujhe pukaarti Ganguli yaaram’ is a huge in-joke. This is Kishore’s massive hat-tip to his Bengali roots in a fun duet with Asha Bhosle that is reminiscent of Paanch rupaiya baarah anna from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. The actress, Padmini, was also an actual ‘Madrasi’, i.e. Main Bangali chhokra (Film: Ragini, 1958) The duo made magic with Half Ticket ( Aake seedhi lagi and Cheel cheel chilla ke) around the same time, but this song proves that wasn’t a flash in the pan. Salil Chowdhury’s music sounds simple enough but is far from it, but Kishore is equal to the task. The song is the epitome of playful Kishore, singing here for his sister-in-law (Nirupa Roy). Munna bada pyara, ammi ka dulara (Film: Musafir, 1957) And, so complete.Īlso Read: Mohd Rafi was the voice that would soothe our broken hearts That’s the magic of Kishore - that someone formally untrained in singing could be so nuanced.
On the second, observe how complicated this song is to sing. On the first, watch Kishore’s pitch-perfect comic antics and the lyrics that embellish them. Trust us, go ahead and give this song two listens.
The hilarious song saw Kishore beginning to show his range as an actor-singer par excellence.Įk roz humari bhi daal galegi (Film: Bandi, 1957) The composition soon transitions into a marching song, then a folksy complaint, and then a ‘cat maane billi’ rap. Khali peeli kaahe ko akkha din baith ke (Film: Tamasha, 1952)Ī wafer-thin Kishore Kumar is bullying a sleeping Dev Anand in playful Bombaiyya Hindi. So, in tribute to the genius, ThePrint picks some of his gems to (re)introduce to the modern Kishore fan. Songs that deserve the same treatment as his Dev Anand/Rajesh Khanna/Amitabh Bachchan classics songs that are every bit as hilarious as his Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi gems, as melancholy as Koi humdum na raha or Koi hota jisko apna, but forgotten.