Amit Kumar Speaks (pulled it from another part of this forum which is not under Amit)

Author: Dr.Mandar

Speaking to Amit Kumar is like opening a treasure chest of mem­ories. This man has practically seen it all. Apart from being Kishore Kumar's (perhaps the most versatile Indian artiste ever) son, he has been around so many legends. He has also enjoyed a stint at the top of playback singing for a while, and then experienced the none-too-bright side of showbiz. Amit has accu­mulated an enviable wealth of memories and experiences, and he has a knack of sharing them in an inimitable way. Ageing has thickened his voice so much that it makes him sound almost like his late, great father. His calm maturity and mellowness while expressing his views belie his routinely perceived image of an eccentric person.



Why do you have this image of a moody and eccentric artiste?



Yes, I do agree that people call me eccentric and moody, but I don't really care. This talk started after my refusal to sing film-songs. I wanted to be away from the rat race in the playback indus­try which upset some people and hence the rumours. My favourite refrain is 'Nobody kicks a dead dog’.



What's keeping you away from playback singing?



I entered playback singing in the mid-Seventies when singers like Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle were active. The record­ings were live, unlike the elec­tronically-aided recordings of today. I had to deliver the goods to survive and I did that. At that time, the compe­tition was healthy. No one really tried to snatch oppor­tunities from you by under­cutting or politicking. But over the last decade or so, the scene has changed.



Before I entered this indus­try, it was like a fairy tale, but when I experienced it firsthand, it was a very different tale. Then, I decided that this was not for me. In fact, I would say I'm not ambitious enough to go­ through the rigours to reach the top. I have always been a happy-­go-lucky, easy-going guy and I don't want to change to survive in this field.



Do you think things would have been dif­ferent if Kumar Gaurav had become the next superstar as predicted at the time rI Love Story?



I believe it's fate. No one really knows what the future holds and that's especially true in films. When I sang for Kumar in Love Story with songs like Dekho Maine Dekha Hai and Yeh Ladh Zarasi the success was huge. We then paired successfully in films like Teri Kasam, Lovers and Romance, but slowly, both of us slumped out of the race. Who knows what would have happened had he really become the next superstar?



What was the Love Story success like?



In 1981, Love Story songs ruled the charts, but unfortunately, I couldn’t enjoy that success. That was the time my engagement had broken and my dad had suffered ­heart attack. For many months, I was just attending to his health. He was sick and weak but his elated face could tell me how happy he felt about my success.



How was the experience of growing up in the great Kishore Kumar’s family?



Being born into Kishore Kumar’s household, I grew up watching and interacting with so many legends. Dadamuni (Ashok Kumar) was my uncle. Sachinda (S.D.Burman) was my father’s mentor. These two along with my father made an indelible impression on my mind. They had such unique chemistry. In fact, I often think of writing a script woven around these three characters- each so individual, so talented and so humorous.



Dadamuni would sometimes catch me smoking on the sly. He would then scold me, ‘Your father never smoked in his life. That’s why he could sing so well for so long. You are spoiling your voice by indulging in this bad habit.’



Then after that tirade, he would softly ask me, ‘Amit, have you got any more cigarettes left? Let me have one!’



How was the experience working with Lata and Asha?



Oh, what can I tell you about them? I would say singers like them, Rafi-saab and my father are not made any more. They are a class apart. You have to keep them aside and then talk about rest of the singers. I first sang with Lataji in Duniya Meri Jeb Mein and then we have sung hit duets in many films including Love Story. She was always supportive and encouraged me. I have always felt more close to Ashaji. She is almost like my mother. She is very frank and would always criticize and correct me in my singing. But that criticism felt so nice.

Amit Kumar - An Intimate Interview

Author: Dr.Mandar

When I knock on Amit's hotel room-door, it's 11.30am- a day after the Asha Bhosle-Amit Kumar concert. On the phone, he has agreed to a meeting, but when he opens the door, I sense a hint of suspicious uncertainty on his face. I am a bit hesitant, as I have been forewarned about Amit's reputation as a 'difficult' person. But as our conversation starts unfolding and as he starts realising the genuineness of his visitor's love for his and his father's music, this so-called eccentric, egocentric man starts appearing more and more relaxed and friendly.



Soon initial barriers are broken and we are animatedly chatting about various chapters of his colourful, eventful life. He has a flair for conversation, a razor-sharp memory and tons of memorable anecdotes and that makes him an ideal candidate for an intimate interview.



Here are the excerpts:

How was your childhood?



I was born in 1952. Till seven years, my childhood was like any other child. We used to stay in Saxeria Colony in Juhu, Mumbai. Life was fun.



Those days, I saw very little of my father (Kishore Kumar). Baba used to be very busy as his acting career was in full swing. My mother (Ruma Ganguli) was also a good singer, who used to sing in Bombay Youth Choir.



Before marriage, she had also acted in films like Afsar and Jwar Bhata, with heroes like Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar. So in a way, it was inevitable that I would become an artist.

When I was seven, my parents separated and I shifted to Kolkata with my mom.



How did the separation affect you?



Obviously I was sad but both my parents saw to it that whatever might be their own differences, they would never ever hurt my feelings. Either Baba would come down to Kolkata to visit me or I would go to Mumbai to meet him. This shuffling lifestyle became part of me. When I was in third standard, they tried keeping me at a boarding school in Hazaribaug. There initially I was depressed and missed my family but later, I improved a lot in my studies. But at the end of the academic year, my grandmom (Kishore Kumar's mother) made my parents bring me back home. Who knows, had I continued at Hazaribaug I might have become a doctor or an engineer!



What are your memories of your first film-song Main Ik Panchhi Matwara?



I sang that song for Door Ka Raahi, when I was just thirteen. It was more due to Baba's insistence rather than my liking. He had composed and even written that song. I think, I sounded quite callow — more like my mother. Baba picturised that song in one day — in the garden of our bungalow Gauri Kunj. That day, I was running fever, yet I gamely gave the shot, sitting atop a tree with a dafli in hand!



When did you take up singing seriously?



It was around 1968-69. Those days, I had witnessed some live shows of my father and I was just overwhelmed by his popularity. With some friends in Kolkata, I too started doing stage shows, singing my father's songs. Initially my mother was against it but dad supported me whole-heartedly. He arranged for a joint father- son concert at Mumbai's prestigious Shanmukhanand Hall and it became a huge success. I can never forget Sachindada Burman throwing a garland at me as a compliment! He told Baba, "Let him improve a little, I will make him sing in my music." Unfortunately I never got that opportunity.



So how did your early career shape up? Weren't you considered for the songs of Bobby?



Initially I sang a few songs for maestros like Salil Choudhury and Madan Mohan, but those films got canned and those songs never saw daylight. I had auditioned for Bobby songs but later got cold feet and went back to Kolkata. So finally I sang my first song Hosh Mein Hum Kahan in a Ramsay horror film Darwaza, under the baton of Sapan Jagmohan.



What about Bade Achche Lagte Hain?



One day, I had just gone to meet my father at Pancham-da's (R.D. Burman) music-room. Out of the blue, Pancham-da told me to sing something and I sang Baba's Jhumroo song. But I was so nervous that I messed it up totally. When we were returning home, Baba also lashed out at me and my misery was complete. Unexpectedly the very next day, Pancham-da called me and gave me Bade Acchhe Lagte Hain! That song for Baalika Badhu became my first big hit and established me in my own right.



Looking back, how do you analyse your career?



I have had lots of ups and downs in my career. In the eighties, I had hits like Love Story and Teri Kasam with Kumar Gaurav but then both of us had to face a lean period.

Then after Baba's death in 1987, there was a kind of a sympathy wave for me and my career flourished for a while. From 1994 onwards, again there was a slump. Now, I have decided to remain out of the rat-race of film music. There is too much politicking and I don't think I was ever ambitious enough to survive such a grind!

I am happy doing live shows and soon will be releasing a private album — Mehjabeen.



What about step brother Sumit's singing career?



Sumit has just started his career as a singer. He is his own man. He has a long way to go. He sang for Mudda and now he is busy doing some recordings in London.



How hard was it being always compared to the great Kishore Kumar?



Being the great father's son obviously has some disadvantages, too. Yes, I was initially disheartened by all those unfair comparisons but it was Baba who supported me in that phase. He said, "Kuchh to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kahena." (People will say all sorts of things. That's their job.) He advised me to keep working hard and assured me that my time will come. I have always followed that advice.

Amit Kumar wishes he was diplomatic

Rachana Dubey
Mumbai

Amit Kumar Ganguly is in the news for the hit, typically Mumbaiyya number, Dil mein baji guitar (Apna Sapna Money Money), played at least 20 times a day on every radio station.

He lives in a modest apartment at Thakur Village, Kandivli, with his wife and two daughters. His drawing room is dominated by a large collage of the photographs of his father.

Before he jets off to the US for an eightshow concert tour for a month, with his brother Sumit, the 54-year-old singer chats with me on a pleasant Thursday morning:

You have finally comeback.
I’m grateful to Pritam Chakravarthy for this. Pritam gave me a hit after a long dry spell. It was a high-pitched song, but that didn’t worry me. I never thought it would do well because I didn’t find it extraordinary. I was in America when I got a message that Dil mein baji guitar was doing very well.

How come there are two versions of the song?
(Laughs) The song has two versions – the other one’s by Mika Singh. I really don’t know the mystery behind this. When I bought the CD, I was very happy that my version hadn’t been dropped. Probably, Mika’s version was for Anupam Kher or Shreyas Talpade. I’m fine by this.

On hindsight, do you think you lost your way somewhere?
Once, there was sympathy for me, after my father passed away I was offered all the songs. My father would have been approached for if he were alive. Then, towards the mid 1990s my father’s clones cluttered the scene.

I was never a diplomat. I’ve always appreciated punctuality which I’m sorry to say was, lacking in the composers of the 1990s. I’ve walked out of recordings because composers arrived late. That got me a bad name.

My shows in India and overseas kept me going through. The period between 1994 – 2000 was the worst patch in my career. I think my daughter Muktika’s birth three years ago brought me luck. Life’s looking up now.

Do you think networking is rampant in the film industry today?
Too rampant. I don’t socialise much, but you don’t need to be a genius to know this. I see rivals hugging each other at parties as if they were long lost buddies. It’s strange how people bitch about others behind their back and praise them on their face when they need work. Chamchagiri works.

How are things between you and your stepmother Leena Chandavarkar and Sumit?
Perfect. Sumit and she come to my house very often. I go to their place quite often. We all are a joint family, but we don’t stay under the same roof. They stay at Carter Road. Hopefully we shall soon live together again. Leenaji, is a very talented lyricist. I’m 30 years older than Sumit. My daughters call Leenaji Bow Wow Dadi because she loves dogs.

Are you in touch with your mother Ruma Guha?
Of course, I am. She’s in Kolkata. She’s 73. She was very young when I was born. I’ve been close to her. She recently suffered a heart attack. She’s stable now. I talk to her once a day, every day She recently got a building for the Calcutta Youth Choir. She’s been working for that since decades.

Wasn’t there a property hitch back home in Khandwa?
No. Who told you this? This is absolute misinformation. There was no property hitch there. I had to transfer some property to Arjun Ganguly one of my cousins, which was his. I was only the guardian.

Whom do you miss today?
I miss Baba. Once, my father kicked an interior designer out of the house. He was trying to act smart. Baba had a weird plan for the interiors of the house, the designer was so upset that he never returned.

One career mistake you wish you could rectify.
I could be a little more diplomatic. No one waits for anyone in showbiz. I wish I’d realised that getting engrossed with an album dedicated to my father was getting me a bad name. I wasn’t around to prove it wrong. It was said I’d given up singing for others.

What next?
I wish to release an album of my father’s 10 unheard melodies. There’s also an album with Leenaji which has been unreleased since three years. We went from one music company to another. One company even said that the album was too melodious. I also have to get my plans for the Juhu bungalow. I’m singing for Viju Shah’s next project. And I’ve been doing some Bangla films too.

Exclusive interview - Amit Kumar
By Taru Talwar ©2003 Bollyvista.com

"Soone shaam savere, kab se hain mere, jab se gaye ho tum". The emotions in these words are apparent in the voice of the singer; a soft voice, full of expressions, resonates in the air as this song plays on. The voice reminds us of another legendary voice that made us happy, laugh and sad for decades. Yet, the owner of this beautiful voice remains hidden on the scenes of Indian Music Industry. His history is simple, born in a natural-musically-inclined family, he is the son of the legendary Kishore Kumar. He has to his credit, over 800 songs, a few pop music albums in which he has even composed music, showing us his multi-talented personality similar to his father. He even has to his credit a few movies, in which he acted while his father was still alive. A genuine, natural born artist, his talent speaks for himself. Oh yes! We are talking about Amit Kumar here. Upon request from several of his fans through his fan-club here at Bollyvista.com, we met up with him and asked him the questions that his fans wanted to ask him.

What was the first movie that you recorded a song for?
The film was "Door Ka Rahi" and the song was "Mai Panchi Matwaala" which was eliminated from the film. That was "the Kishore Kumar style of working". It was recorded at the Bombay Labs in 1965, music and lyrics were by Kishore Kumar. Another song 'Beeti Jaaye Zindagani" was also recorded for the film, but that was also eliminated.

As far as we know, you have given music for your non-filmi albums, but did you ever give music for any movies as well?
No, none. I am not a regular composer- I just have inborn talent and as R.D. Burman said at the release of Mad- I am 25 years ahead of my time (Mad was released by R.D. Burman). However, I have given music for Bengali movies.

Have you ever written lyrics for your non-filmi as well as film albums?
Yes, for Bengali albums- Amanat, Tai jodi hoto, my next release "Mahjabeen" has lyrics by Leenaji. She is a superb lyric writer who can grasp the mood and translate it into meter. It is commendable for a person not trained in the art of writing.

Have you ever recorded in any other languages besides Hindi and Bangla?
Yes, in Marathi, Punjabi and Oriya.

In the late 80s, there was an interview of yours published in the Filmfare where you sounded very upset with HMV for not giving you the royalty money for all Kishore Kumar songs released by HMV, and a subsequent letter by Mr. Vijay Kishore Dubey, then VP (?) of HMV wrote that no royalties were owed to Kishore Kumar or his estate since HMV's royalty contract was with the producers of a film and not with the singers for any film, could you shed some more light on the issue as well as give us your views on it?
No comments. It's water under the bridge and there is no need to bring it back up.

Did you ever sing for free in any movie?
No.

While we are the subject of money, have you ever given any money to any charities or benefits?
Yes, I have given money to Ram Krishna Mission and Mother Teresa- when I did the show Dui Kishore in Calcutta.

What are your views on today's music industry? Where do you think it is headed?
Today, everything is a facade, poetry has vanished and melody is non-existent. There is no originality left in the music and no depth in the lyrics. Compositions lack creativity. There are no sad songs being written or composed-only happy and romantic songs for the generation X. But life is not like that- "kabhi khushi hai to kabhi gam", music companies are only promoting happy songs as they believe that is what sells and that doesn't give variety in one single album. It's not nice to listen to the same emotion again and again, music should also reflect life, but in the end the people will listen to what is doled out to them.

Do you like A.R. Rahman's music?
ARR is a very talented composer. He knows his stuff, he knows music. His arrangements are very good. The background score for "Lagaan" was superb.

A lot of people would love to see you singing for ARR, do you think that is a possibility?
Who wouldn't like to sing for Rahman- everybody would- and I am no different.

What are your views on R.D. Burman? How were your relations with him?
Pancham da was the most fascinating music director of our times, the most complete music director. The energy his work reflects needs no words. He was the creator of trends, introducing western elements in Hindi film music. True fusion started with him. He was a family friend as was his father SDB. We shared a great family feeling between us. This was in 1971-72 when Pancham da came to know that I also could sing- hua yun ki during durga puja I had prepared to sing five songs for the entertainment function, (a function promoted by Uttam Kumars family in his locality), this was without my mothers knowledge. Five songs gave way to ten songs and well I sang my father's film songs. Later my mother came to know about this and was furious. She immediately called my father in Bombay and told him - look at your son he is singing baaje baaje (terrible!!) film songs in the lanes of Calcutta. My father was thrilled.

It so happened that I had a concert - my first - at Rabindra Sadan a little later. And my overjoyed father flew down for it. I had reserved the first row seats for him but he said if people know I am there no one will listen to you. So in the end arrangements were made for him to go to the sound and light booth high up behind the theatre. When I was singing, I could see him up there dancing away in his own inimitable style. This is one of my most unforgettable memories of him. After this he took me to Bombay with him and this is when Pancham da took my audition. I mucked up as I was nervous and my father was very angry with me as we left in the car. But I think Pancham da knew I was nervous and recognized my talent and to our amazement called me for a recording the next day. This is the kind of love and affection he had for me.

How did you feel when RDB switched to Kumar Sanu for '1942 A Love Story'?
Pancham da was going through a lean period as everyone knows and probably didn't have any say in the matter.

There was a song in your voice in "Door Ka Raahii", "Main ik panchhi matwaalaa re", a lovely number by the way. This song was repeated in your voice again in "Mamta Ki Chhaon mein" almost 20 years later. What was the reason why that song was repeated? Was it your idea or your fathers?
Kishore Kumar had his own style and his own reasons for doing things, so one did not know why he would do certain things.

Going back to the same interview with Filmfare in the late 80s, you also mentioned a cassette collection that contained Kishore's last Bengali recordings by the name of "Dui Kishore", did that album ever make it to the market? (a lot of fans, have been looking for that album forever but we can't find it). If that album did make it to the market, under what company was it released? And what's the availability of that album?
In 1993, I did a Bengali show of Dui Kishore in Calcutta, with Sumit.

Also, there was a talk of an album of yours by the name of "Do Kishore" in which you and your younger brother Sumit sang some of Kishore's songs, what's the availability of that album? Which company released it?
It was released by Sur Mandir of Gujarat- you could probably talk to Rajiv Shukla (sound recordist) at the Empire Recording Studio about it- he may know something.

Talking about your albums, the availability of "Mad", "Pyaar To Bas Pyaar Hai", "Dam Dama Dam" is decreasing a lot, as a lot of your fans just can't get a hold of these albums, any comments on that or any suggestions as to where we can find them?
The music companies that released these albums either folded up or faded into oblivion - Mahesh Bhatt's Plus just folded up. Also not enough publicity and marketing is responsible for this unavailability

A few questions regarding Kishore Kumar as we believe you may be the best source to get this information from: there was an incomplete film (with Madhubala) in which there was a song of Kishore. This song was mentioned in a documentary on Kishore. Could you shed some light on that if there was any incomplete film with Madhubala?
Well, the name of the film was Neela Aasmaan. Songs had been recorded but the film hadn't begun. One song was "akela hun mai, akeli meri daastaan". It was about a padri and a famous actress who are shipwrecked and the only survivors marooned on an island. There was another film for which three reels had been canned called "Pyaar Ajnabi Hai" this was with Leenaji, Shammi kapoor and Kishore Kumar. Four songs had also been recorded of which one solo which Lataji sang and a ghazal and solo by Kishore Kumar. This was around 1985.

In your opinion, what would be the top 10 songs of Kishore?
1. Chota sa ghar hoga badlon ki chaaon mein (From Naukari by Salil Chowdhury)
2. Aaj rona para to samjhe hasne ka mol kya hai (From Girl Friend by Hemant Kumar)
3. Husna bhi hai udaas udaas (From Fareb by Anil Biswas)
4. Khilte hain gul yahan (From Sharmilee by S.D. Burman)
5. Chingari koi bharke (From Amar Prem by R.D. Burman)
6. Miltey hi nazar aap mere dil mein aa gaye_(From New Delhi by Shankar Jaikishen)
7. Kuen mein kood ke mar jana (From Parivar by Salil Chowdhury)
8. Yeh dard bhara afsana (From Shriman Fantoosh by Laxmikant Pyarelal)
9. Majhi re (From Khushboo by R.D. Burman)
10. Deewana leke aaya hai (From Mere Jeevan Saathi by R.D. Burman)

What are your favorite songs that are sung by you?
1. Barre ache lagte hain (From Balika Badhu by R.D. Burman)
2. Soone shaam savere (From Khel by Rajesh Roshan)
3. Har ghari dhal (From Saransh by Ajit Verman)
4. Yeh zameen ga rahi hai (FromTeri kasam by R.D. Burman)
5. Aaj teri aankhon mei (From Zakhmi insaan by Nadeem Shravan)
6. Daur e fiza tha dil (From Shabaash Daddy by Kishore Kumar)
7. Gali gali dhoonda tujhe (From Jawani by R.D. Burman)
8. Kehdo ki tum ho meri (From Tezaab by Laxmikant Pyarelal)
9. Onnophoole shajano (From a Bengali private album)

You are seen often singing songs in the SONY HARMONY, a lot of these songs are Kishore Kumar's songs; do you plan to release any album with the songs that you have been singing in Harmony?
A music company has asked me to do cover versions of my fathers. I had been resisting for a long time, it felt as if I was disrespecting my fathers' memory by doing so. But now I am seeing other singers make a mess of it, it is unbearable. So, I decided to do it as I am easily the best person for the job.

Any USA/Canada tours in sight?
No, not for the time being- though I am planning a stage show with a story line in the near future so maybe sometime later.

Any other projects you are working on? Filmi or Non-Filmi? We have heard about this album entitled "Mahjabeen", any news on it?
Mahjabeen has been recorded for the last one and a half years. I was only on the lookout for a good release and it should be done in a couple of months. The entire album has been written by Leena ji. She has written marvelously- for a person not trained in writing lyrics its commendable how she has bound it in meter and yet kept it so lyrical. Sumit has also arranged parts of a track. The album deals with a variety of emotions and situations- one song has already been picturized.

Any other future projects? What does the future hold for Amit Kumar and his fans?
There is a music show coming up on stage with a story line. I also recorded a song for Ashutosh Rana, film Choat "gai re gai bhens paani mein".

Watch out for Amit Kumar's album Mahjabeen, it should be out soon. If you want to send any message to Amit Kumar, visit his fan-club hosted here at bollyvista.com and we will make sure that we send your messages to him. We all hope that he will take on more music assignments and his fans won't have to yearn any more to listen to his wonderful singing.

From an article in Mid-Day, one of Bombay's afternoon newspapers (circa 2005?)


The 52-year old son of the late Kishore Kumar, Amit, is today married with a three-month old daughter, Muktika, and a ten-year old stepdaughter, Vrinda. We caught up with the singer who never got his dues, even though he is immensely talented.

Though his voice is a replica of his famous father’s, filmmakers prefer poor copies like Babul Supriyo and Kumar Sanu.

Filmi politics and thriving competition drove the reclusive singer into a life of oblivion. Now, the singer is happy doing live shows and albums.

We catch the reclusive singer in a rare tête-à-tête:

When did you get married?
On June 24, 2003. Rima is a singer by profession and has sung for my album Le Chalo, which I shall be releasing on my dad’s birthday, August 4. We have a daughter called Muktika (born on December 31, 2004); her name means a wet pearl.

Le Chalo is an album based on my relationship with father. Now I want to do an album today on my relationship with my daughter Muktika.

Was it a love marriage?
Yes. I met Rima during a stage show in 1990 in Assam, where she was performing too. But we fell in love in 1996-97 during a country tour. We were doing shows together and soon the friendship turned into love.

But she was married then. Reema got divorced four years ago. We faced some turbulent times then and there was some tension, but everything is fine today. Rima’s husband and I are friends today.

Why have you shifted out of your father’s bungalow?
Because there is renovation work going on there. We have leased the ground floor out to an NRI lady who is opening the Serenity Salon there. We are getting good money.

The bungalow is in the name of Sumit Kumar’s trust, of which I am the main trustee. Leenaji (Chandavarkar , Amit’s step-mother) has helped me a lot in this. I am extremely attached to the bungalow. It is like a temple to me; it’s where I was born. On Monday, we all go for the Shiva puja at the temple on top of the bungalow.

Did you move out because of problems with Leena and her son Sumit?
No. That’s rubbish. Kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna. In fact, Leenaji has written the lyrics of Le Chalo and Sumit has arranged the music with Richard-Kashi.

Sumit is a part of my stage shows. Today, we are leaving for a show in Jamnagar. We keep shuttling between Kandivali, Juhu and Bandra (where Sumit and Chandavarkar stay).

You never got your dues from Bollywood. Comment.
I don’t hate Bollywood. I got disillusioned. Though I have given many hits here, I have opted out of the rat race. There is too much politics here.

My father had once told me that to survive here you have to wear a mask and I can’t do that. I am too old to indulge in that. I would rather sit at home. I am happy with my shows. But I would like to direct the music for a film because I love composing.