A performer among stars named Kishore Kumar

Since talki films music, song and dance has been an integral part of Indian cinema but before the advent of full fledged playback recording system, while shooting, musical instruments were used out of the camera range and the singer-actor sang into a hidden microphone. Because of this film production houses preferred singer actors in the initial
stages as there was no provision of playback singing in the recording studio. But as the technical aspects of the film making improved, songs from movies were rendered by professional playback singers while the actors/actresses lip synching them on screen often running around trees or dancing on floors. But one exception among those singers was Kishore Kumar though who did not have any formal basic music training, mimicked
KL Saigal and being elder brother Ashok Kumar at the helm of Bomay Talkies management Kishore Kumar got a playback singing chance in Ziddi starring Dev Anand. Though Kishore wanted a career in playback singing, but by quirk fate got a break to act in Andolan and also in some insignificant few films. After sometime he got a chance to work in Naukari directed by Bimal Roy and also acted in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s directorial debut venture Musafir. In between he also got a chance to work with Vyajanti mala in Ladki which proved lucky for Kishore Kumar. A comedy song from this film ‘Shadi.. Shadi sung by kishore became super hit. In the 1950s Kishore acted with almost all the reigning heroines of that era. He starred opposite Meena Kumari in Naya Andaz, Miss Mary and Shararat, against Vyajantimala in Asha, New Delhi and Rangoli. With Nutan in Dilli Ka Thug and Chandan, in Bhai Bhai with Nimmi with Madhubala he acted in Chalati ka Naam Gaadi, Half Ticket and Mehlon Ka khhwab. He was very popular in 1950s and was equally liked by producers and public and as his films became hits one after another he became one of the most sought after star apart from the four fabulous of that time namely Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand. He established himself in the film industry and achieved success as a comedian hero. Few people are aware that he also acted in a film called Pehli Tarikh in which he sang the title song which was invariably aired by Radio Ceylon on 1st of every amonth at 7.30 am in purane geet. Though people called him accentric for his strange behaviour but he never forgot his first hero Dev Anand for whom he lent his voice for the first time in Ziddi. During his acting days he never sang for any actor but always made it a point to, as and when called, to sing exclusively only for Dev Anand as a gratitude for the break in Ziddi. After 1970 he became full time playback singer and sang for almost all the actors.
The period of 1960s was a lean patch in his career graph. During this decade he acted in few films like Ganga ki lahren with kumkum and Hum Sab Ustaad Hain with Ameeta and also produced Jhumroo, Door gagan ki chhaon mein and door ka rahi. In late sixties he faced some problems with tax authorities. To overcome his financial state of affairs kishore started stage shows which became rage in public and all the shows were packed to full house. During those shows kishore’s versatility was visible as people sang and danced with him. In between he acted in Padosan and its songs became hit. Eventually SD Burman gave kishore another chance for playback in Aradhana in which most of the songs were sung by kishore kumar for Rajesh Khanna. The film and its music became instant hit and as Rajesh Khanna started getting deluge of assignments Kishore also got work as Rajesh’s screen voice. After this kishore’s second inning as a playback singer started and till his death in 1987 he sang for each and every leading star in the film industry.