Will there be anyone like him? I have asked this question to myself many times. There have been and will continue to be singers who imitate him. but can they replace him? We all know the answer. It is a big NO!
He came to the industry as an actor, a comedian. but he proved his mettle as a singer in an industry that had big names like Mukesh and Mohd Rafi, who had established themselves as the’play-back singers’.
Then, how could he have picked up the reins of the play-back singing industry? No, it was not the change of an era, it was not luck either. it was the way he conveyed the emotion through his voice and the rendition which lured composers and listeners alike!
When I set out to write this review, I found it very difficult to pick just 20 favourite songs. So I narrowed it down to solos. from the late 60s to the 70s, which saw a huge wave enter the industry that has left some people still drowned. one of them being me!
Here’s my pick. the 20 solos of **Kishore*da* **from 1968 - 1978
**Mere Samne Wali - Padosan(1968) - R.D.Burman - Rajinder Krishan**
This is one of the earliest songs of Kishore, that actually did not quite have that unique rendering style. It sounds comical, lively and at the same time expresses his love in a lighter vein.
**Mere sapnon ki rani - Aradhana(1969) - S.D.Burman - Anand Bakshi**
This was a trend-setter. the trend called Kishore Kumar! A beautifully rendered song that is very lively and enchanting that matches the mood and rhythm of a train journey!
**Roop Tera Mastana - Aradhana(1969) - S.D.Burman - Anand Bakshi**
The husky voice, the passionate diction and the modulation. all lend credit to this sensuous song.
**Yeh shaam mastani - Kati Patang(1970) - R.D.Burman - Anand Bakshi**
Kishore’s voice subtly conveys the pain in his heart at the lady’s reluctance to accept his love and at the same time, has hints of hope. the lady is going to realize her folly soon and accept it some day.!
**Jeevan se bhari - Safar(1970) - Kalyanji Anandji - Indivar**
Kishore’s voice here seems to express the gratitude for the encouragement and hope that someone has given him. There is also a little melancholy to his voice, that seems to say’Without you life is impossible’.
**Zindagi ek safar hai suhana - Andaz(1970) - Shankar Jaikishan - Hasrat Jaipuri**
A lively and encouraging rendition. the yoodleeing by Kishore being the most popular! The encouragement and the life in the voice convinces us to take the challenges in life and succeed!
**Kaise kahen hum - Sharmilee(1971) - S.D. Burman - Neeraj**
My heart goes all out to this poor soul, who laughs away the pain love has given him. Ohhhh. I just feel like taking the voice into my arms and soothe away its pain!
**Khilte hain gul yahan - Sharmilee(1971) - S.D. Burman - Neeraj**
A bright spring day with colourful flowers in full bloom, butterflies fluttering around, mist fading away to reveal pleasant greenery. a voice that has the warmth and happiness of such a lovely day. Kishore’s rendering of this song definitely brings a smile and a sense of elation, even to a person who is dull and depressed!
**Kucch to log kahenge - Amar Prem(1971) - R.D.Burman - Anand Bakshi**
A soothing, calm song that seems to convey quite a bit of emotions - philosophy, consolation and even *laparwayee*. Why care about the world. all it can do is talk. just brush them aside and continue your life.
**O mere dil ke chain - Mere Jeevan Saathi(1972) - R.D.Burman - Majrooh Sultanpuri**
There is a teasing effect in his voice here. He just seems to make his lady love, who’s already shying away, feel even more shy! I feel like saying.’hey stop that. she’ll get out of her *sharmana* soon!’
**Saamne yeh koun aaya - Jawani Diwani(1972) - R.D.Burman - Anand Bakshi**
This is another of those teasers. May not be as seriously as the previous song, but in a lighter vein. like how a college guy expresses the impact a girl has had on him to his friends when the girl is around. The voice matches the rhythm here. A lively ensemble!
**Pal pal dil ke paas - Black Mail(1973) - Kalyanji Anandji - Rajinder Krishan**
This is another of those love songs that has a little melancholy to it. But it does not hint sadness. it hints the love and the impact of love. Kishore’s voice carries the song with it.
**Meri bheegi bheegi si - Anamika(1973) - R.D.Burman - Majrooh Sultanpuri**
His voice is full of questions here. why? why should this happen? How much I loved you. why did you do this to me? The voice seems bewildered at his lady love’s response.
**Chalte chalte mera yeh geet - Chalte Chalte(1974) - Bappi Lahiri - Yogesh**
This is one of the popular songs that has captivated a lot of people’s hearts. His voice just seems to convey one thing - that life will go on. I find it kind of has a philosophical, but encouraging feel to it.
**Mera jeevan kora kagaz - Kora Kagaz(1974) - Kalyanji Anandji - M.G.Hashmat**
The voice here seems so lifeless. there seems to be no strength to continue. there is nothing in the world that is going to be favourable to me. you just feel lost and fragile on hearing this rendition by Kishore.
**Dil kya kare - Julie(1975) - Rajesh Roshan - Anand Bakshi**
Kishore’s husky rendition of this song has a sensuous feel to it. It’s not just that. the underlying love. the fire within. all of this is much evident in the modulation he has lent to the song.
**Mere naina saawan - Mehbooba(1976) - R.D.Burman - Anand Bakshi**
A beautiful composition and a well rendered song that conveys the emptiness in the person’s life. It’s melancholy, yearning, anxiety. all combined into one.
**Arre deewano mujhe pehchano - Don(1978) - Kalyanji Anandji - Anjaan**
This was another trend-setter. this time to the rocky 80s. His voice here speaks of power, of dominance, of the confidence in him and the pride which is going to make him surge ahead.
**O saathi Re tere bina bhi kya jeena - Muqaddar Ka Sikandar(1978) - Kalyanji Anandji - Anjaan**
A melancholic rendering. he yearns for his lady’s love. The voice here conveys the pain, the suffering he is undergoing without the love he is looking for.
**Khaike Paan Banaraswala - Don(1978) - Kalyanji Anandji - Anjaan**
A very different song for that time. a voice that perfectly imitated a localite’s slang!
Each of the song above was different in its own way. His voice not only carried the emotions but also gave life to the actor who had presented it on the screen. I’m in no way demeaning the effort put in by the actors. but when you watch it on screen, you just feel part of the song. Kishore’s voice seemed to fit every actor. or was it his modulation that created this impact?!
Can we have him back? Such versatility. such involvement. such an overwhelming impact. there’s no one who can give so much.
***Can he come back to earth, please?***