Kishore Kumar: A Pictorial Biography Part 4

‘Main aur meri Awargee’ (His (?)eccentricity)

• Kishore Kumar is said to have been paranoid about not being paid. During recordings, he would begin singing only after his secretary confirmed that the producer had made the payment.

• Once, when he discovered that his dues hadn't been fully paid, he landed up for shooting with make-up on only one side of his face. When the director questioned him, he replied "Aadha paisa to aadha make-up." (Half make-up for half payment).

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwYHUwcb9jw

• On the sets of Bhai Bhai, Kishore Kumar refused to act because the director M V Raman owed him five thousand rupees. His brother Ashok Kumar persuaded him to do the scene. But, when the shooting started, he walked across the floor and, each time he walked a few places, he said, "Paanch Hazzar Rupaiya," and did a somersault. After he reached the end of the floor, he went out of the studio, jumped into his car, and ordered his driver Abdul to drive away.

• On another occasion, when the producer R. C. Talwar did not pay his dues in spite of repeated reminders, Kishore Kumar turned up at Talwar's residence one morning and started shouting "Hey Talwar, de de mere aath hazaar". He did this every morning for a few days, until Talwar paid him.

• The film Anand (1971) was originally supposed to star Kishore Kumar and Mehmood in the lead roles. One of the producers of the film, N.C. Sippy, had earlier served as Mehmood's production manager. Hrishikesh Mukherjee, the director of the film, was asked to meet Kishore Kumar to discuss the project. However, when he went to Kishore Kumar's house, he was driven away by the gatekeeper due to a misunderstanding. Kishore Kumar (himself a Bengali) had done a stage show organized by another Bengali man, and he was involved in a fight with this man over money matters. He had instructed his gatekeeper to drive away this "Bengali", if he ever visited the house. When Hrishikesh Mukherjee (another Bengali) went to Kishore Kumar's house, the gatekeeper drove him away, mistaking him for the "Bengali" that Kishore Kumar had asked him to drive away. The incident hurt Hrishikesh Mukherjee so much, that he decided not to work with Kishore Kumar. Consequently, Mehmood had to leave the film as well, and new actors (Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan) were signed up for the film.

• Friends and family members have always explained that he reserved such behaviour for people he did not want to interact with, particularly, those who owed him money. 

Artistic Sensitivity-

v  People say he was a miser, screamed that the taxmen took away all his earnings. But very few people know that Kishore Kumar secretly sent money regularly, month after month, to the widow of Arun Kumar Mukherjee. In fact, the truth is, she depended entirely on the money Kishore sent her. She herself confessed this to a friend. If Kishore had not helped, it is likely that the family would probably have been wiped out. Incidentally, Arun Kumar Mukherjee is the same person who used to visit the Gangulys at Khandwa and who was one of the first persons to appreciate Kishore Kumar's singing talent.

v  Kishore Kumar sent money to a few other people as well. Nobody knows who they are and he himself kept the matter under wraps.

v  He charged one rupee less than Lata Mangeshkar to show his respect for her and her seniority.

v  And he talked of going back to Khandwa to become a farmer. 

v  There is a story of Kishore Kumar that reveals another side to him. Bipin Gupta, known for his many character roles in the Hindi movies produced the film Dal Mein Kala that was released in 1964. Satyen Bose was its director. The film starred Nimii and Kishore Kumar. Bipin Gupta was short of money and was compelled to cancel the shooting. Kishore Kumar, seeing the plight Gupta was in, ordered his driver Abdul to go home and bring Rs 20,000 in cash immediately. That was the amount Gupta needed. As soon as the money arrived, Kishore Kumar gave it to him personally. The film incidentally flopped, practically ruining Bipin Gupta.

v  He had angered former Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, when he refused to sing for the "Emergency Propoganda" during the emergency declared by her, and as a result all songs sung by him were banned by the national media at that time.

v  His favourite time pass was drawing /painting, writing poetry.

v  He was an avid reader of Swami Vivekanand’s books.

Awards- 

Winner of Filmfare awards for following songs- 

Year	Song	Film	Music director	Lyricist
1969	"Roop Tera Mastana"	Aradhana	Sachin Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1975	"Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera"	Amanush	Shyamal Mitra	Indeevar
1978	"Khaike Paan Banaras Wala"	Don	Kalyanji Anandji	Anjaan
1980	"Hazaar Raahen Mudke Dekheen"	Thodisi Bewafaii	Khayyam	Gulzar
1982	"Pag Ghungroo Baandh"	Namak Halaal	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1983	"Agar Tum Na Hote"	Agar Tum Na Hote	Rahul Dev Burman	Gulshan Bawra
1984	"Manzilein Apni Jagah Hain"	Sharaabi	Bappi Lahiri	Prakash Mehra
1985	"Saagar Kinaare"	Saagar	Rahul Dev Burman	Javed Akhtar

 

 

Trivia-

His signature -

His hand writing-

 

Postal Stamp issued in his honour - 

 

Letter  written by Kishore Kumar to Lata Mangeshkar on 28.11.1967-

 

 

Translation of the letter-

28.11.67

Sister Lata,

Hope all is well with you! Suddenly I have landed in a predicament. And only you can now save me out of this difficult situation. Nothing to worry about, but also the same time, something to worry about!!! Listen, for the first time in my life I am going to serve the brothers in the (Indian) armed forces. You already know that I never take part in any functions or gatherings, but this is one occassion which I am not able to avoid…    So I was saying that, if you keep (the recording of) today’s song, on a different date convenient to you, then I will never forget your favour.This is a request from a brother to his sister!!! I hope that you have understood my case. I am very fond of singing for ‘Maharaaj’ Kalyanji-Anandji, and if I have you as a co-singer, then it is even better!!

This is such a nice bond of love…it should not break.I wanted to write this letter in English. But being an Indian I thought it right to write in Hindi.

(Please turn-over this page.)

I know that you will have problems, but for my sake try to make it happen by any means.

What could I write more…just that, you handle everything.

I had called you up in the night but you were fast asleep. I did not think it right, to wake you up….

Ok sister…would meet once I am back.

My love … respect to the elders… loving blessings to the young ones.

Only your brother…

Kishore da
“gaDbaDi”

PS –
* I have drawn these two portraits. Hope that you like them – Kishore
* Keep the recording on any date of December 2, 3, 4, 5 and any suitable time.

This letter depicts Kishore Kumar's personality through & through. He is in a dilemma- he cannot say no to the army men, but at the same time he is not inclined to attend as he doesn't like to attend such programmes. Then another thing is recording of a song on the same day of the programme along with (v.busy) Lata Mangeshkar! Through the letter, he politely asks Lata to postpone the recording to some other dates so that he could attend the programme organized by the armed forces. The letter also shows the bond of love shared between Lata & Kishore. The way in which he sends two portraits in the letter is very unique of him & shows the innocent child-like facet of his personality. 

The end of a Legend-

Kishore Kumar passed away due to massive heart attack. The date was October 13, 1987, around 5.00 pm. It was ironically his elder brother Ashok Kumar's birthday on the same day.  As per his wishes, he was cremated at Khandwa, his place of birth. 

  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWrCyIDg2JQ