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Shabbir Kumar:

Working out his own style

Shabbir Kumar's entry into the world of film music is just five years old. In so short a span, he's carved a niche for himself amongst the younger generation of playback singers. The 38- year-old singer, who came in with the image of being a Rafi clone, is now determined to work out his own style in singing,
His first love, however, was painting, not singing. Says Shabbir, "I had a tremendous craze for listening to the radio but never for singing." Shabbir recollects, "I was just 13 years old, my neighbours let me listen to the radio but they asked me to run errands for them in return. Soon I became the errand boy of my locality. I didn't mind doing anything sc~ long as I got to listen to Rafisaab's songs."
Shabbir, unable to turn down a request at a private gathering, hesitantly and nervously broke into a Rafi number, 'Himalaya ke bulundi se', from the film'Phool Bane Angare'. It dawned on all those present - including Shabbir himself - that he was endowed with a melodious voice. Shabbir discontinued his diploma in fine arts at the M S University in 1971, after Ashok Jagtap, the organiser of Opeta Music Circle, offered to make Shabbir a member of his stage group in Baroda.
At a paltry sum of Rs 15 per show, Shabbir was inducted into the group. Being a newcomer, he was allotted just about five minutes to render one number. There wasn't enough money coming in. Shows were held irregularly. Just then, cashing in on Shabbir's growing popularity, Melody Makers offered Rs 60 per show and promised at least six shows a month. Shabbir agreed.
Soon Shabbir was forced to come to terms with himself. "I wanted to prove that I could captivate the audience on the strength of my singing alone. "Shabbir went
went ahead with a solo performance of 33 Rafi numbers in a 2 1/2 hours' show -'Shabbir Kumar Nite'. It was a total success. The shows were continued for some time, until a financial mess he got himself into forced him to accept a job in a textile mill in Ahmedabad in 1978.
"Mohammed Rafi's death in July 1980 transformed Shabbir's life. "I was in Baroda at that time. I didn't want to believe the news was true. I was shattered. When I reached Bombay by train I dashed off to have the last 'darshan'. By sheer chance, just when Rafisaab's body was being lifted to lay it to rest, his feet got placed into my hands. What better way could I have hoped for to pay my last respects!" Just after the funeral, Junior Mahmood came in touch with Shabbir and put him up at a guest house at Bombay Central, for Shabbir was almost penniless. Shabbir was soon back on stage belting Rafi numbers. And then he was introduced to Usha Khanna by a musician friend.
Usha Khanna picked up the dark-complexioned, soft spoken stage singer and gave him his first break in the film 'Tajurba' in 198 1. "For this particular song 'Hum ek nahin hum do nahin', I had another young singer Suresh Wadkar accompanying me so I felt quite at ease.
"Shabbir also sang with Usha Khanna that year for'Sardar'and'Adat Se Majboor'. None of the films did too well. But the effort did not escape the notice of movie moghul Manmohan Desai. He was on the lookout for a new voice for Amitabh's playback for'Coo(ie'. He recommended Shabbir's name to Laxmikant-Pyarelal. The duo agreed to hear him.
Shabbir came through. "This was a real big break for me, my happiness knew no bounds. I was extremely grateful to Manji, Laxmibhai and Pyarebhai. During the recording of the song 'Mubarak ho turn sab ko Haj ka mahina', Manji used to bring me a flask full of turmeric milk to soothe my throat and keep me going through the takes."
Shabbir found another well-wisher in R D Burman who offered him all the male playback songs in' Betaab'. But 'Betaab'was a challenge of sorts for Shabbir. "I had to sing a duo with Latadidi. I was so nervous. But Latadidi spoke some kind words and put my mind at rest. Panchamji too comforted me and soon I was prepared to go through with the recording." The duet,'Badal yun garja to hai', went on to become a hit, giving his career a boost. Shabbir, however, still felt insecure. The reason, "I always had the fear of rejection. I knew I didn't have a trained voice and even a thousand Shabbirs could not make a Rafi."
Shabbir proved his versatility under different music directors, Laxmikant-Pyareial, R D Burman and Usha Khanna. Whether it was a romantic number, a racy lilting song or a sentimental rendering, Shabbir was able to deliver.
Shabbir signed up with HMV in 1982. The three-year contract resulted in only one album,'Ab Pesh Hai Ghazal'. 1982,'83,'84 proved the most fruitful years for Shabbir. Soon CBS, Venus and T Series released compilation albums of' Shabbir Kumar Hits'.
Looking back on the past five years, how does Shabbir feel today about his career? "Looking back, I feel I've yet to travel a long way and achieve something. Real success still eludes me. Although I had an opportunity to sing all types of songs, romantic, sentimental, disco, ghazals, geet, I feel there's still something missing. And that is having my own style."
Shabbir has still to sort out the Rafi problem. "I have not aped Rafi. If I had tried to sing like him I would not have lasted. One cannot act for too long. I didn't sing like Rafi. It is not my fault that my voice resembles his. Even the late Mukeshji in his early days sounded like the late K L Saigal. But over the years he managed to evolve his own inimitable style."
"Now I'm working on my own style!"


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When it comes to Rafi clones shabbir kumar is among my favs. then Anwar and then mohd aziz. Yes sonu nigam also comes under this category. but iam talking abt 80s era. Shabbir kumar really had a great run from eraly 80s to late 80s before he was replaced by Mohd aziz.He got nominated for FF awards 3-4 times only to be beaten by classy KK. After the death of Rafi saab , LP were v much missing their fav singer Rafi. hence started using Shabbbir in a big way.This association yielded many gems thorughout 80s.
He got great start with big hits in initial stage of his career like Betab, coolie etc. Betab is among the best works of Shabbir and among the few movies he did with Pancham.
Shabbir also sung for other MDs like ..Anu malik, Bhappi lehari, Rajesh roshan, etc

One more reason for liking him is that his songs reminds of my childhood. ie The late 80s. so I dont know whether he sung those songs well or not..but i like all those songs.

Starting with first song of Shabbir kumar.One of my personal favs . from pyar jhukta nehi.

" tumhe apna saathi banane ki".

co singers : Anuradha paudwal and lata mangeshkar
Music : Laxmikant pyarelal


open to corrections

God bless

Sonu


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Excellent article and the pictures as well, Sonu Bhai...

Shabbir Kumar is also one of my favorite singers. I hope this thread will give us his nice songs.

Keep going....

Hi friends, i am looking for this song:

Thak dhina dhin taak aaj apni darling ka aa gaya janam din
singers: Kanchan, Shabbir Kumar
md:Babla
lyrics: Ramesh Pant
film: Duty (1986)

plz help thnx!!

Nice thread Sonu.

That CD cover you have shown, do you have the track list from that? Very hard to find CDs on that label these days here. Track list/film name would be highly appreciated when you get the time.

Some of my favorites of his are Baith Mere Paas Tujhe Dekhta Rahun (Yadon Ki Kasam), Gaon Mein Mach Gaya Shor (Dacait), and Yeh Ankhen Dekh Kar Hum Saari Duniya Bhool Jaate Ho (Dhanwan).

Deewani,
I think that song has been rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Suresh Wadkar.


Rinki

yes if iam not wrong the song "aa beth mere near" is also by suresh and lata resp.

Sonu

You're both right I was thinking of Lata/Suresh duets - my bad - so sorry.

Okay, some of my fav Shabbir songs, then:
Log Tau Mandir Masjid Jayen (Na Sona Na Chandi) - Ek Chaddar Maili Si
Phir Milne Aap Kabh - Mahaguru
Gori Hai Kalaiyan Tu Laade Mujhe - Aaj Ka Arjun
Kangana - Woh 7 Din

And please Sonu if you have the track list from that CBS label - would very much appreciate it. (not a request for songs).

Deewaani ji Aise koi bat nehi request karo agar song mere pass hoga to jaror upload krunga. Maine apne sath thode lejaane hai uper.

yeh to pichture net se dload kari hai apoon ke pass nehi hai list.


Abhi tak shabbir ke gaane bhi nehi nikaale.....CDs se....



Sonu

Ok, koi baat nahin Sonu, thanks for the reply. In my experience that CBS label is hard to find, so was curious what films on that label he has done work for, since I could not find a place online with the info.

has any got this song by shabbir kumar it goes like this 'mere daddy kitni pyari hai... sab se payara meri daddy hai'.

many thanks

here are some i posted earlier

Film: Mera Haque
Singers: Shabbir Kumar & Anuradha Paudhwal
Bijali_Gira_Ke_Hosh_Bhulaake

Film: Mera Haque
Singer: Shabbir Kumar
Mehbooba_O___Mehbooba

Film: Aap Ke Saath
Singer: Shabbir Kumar
Chand_Chupta_Hai

Film: Sultanat
Singers: Shabbir Kumar & Asha Bhosle

these are all uploaded at: Shabbir Kumar Songs

Also if anyone else has Bijal Gira Ke Hosh Bhoolake in CDQ from Mera Haque please upload it!

Thanks again!

Meiopwk sir thanks for these songs..........I had missed th at thread

please contribute all info and songs related to Shabbir saab

God bless


Sonu

D ji aapke song upload karaha hoon : apke fav se

another song frm me of Shabbir kumar



Song : gori hai kalaiyan

Film : AaJ ka arjun

Music : Bhappi laheri

Singer : lata ji , SHABBIR KUMAR

post 87 song hai so uploaded here :

http://www.savefile.com/files/8013270

Bhapi da ne kaafi kaafi LP type music diya hai. one of myfavs also of that time.

Quality is good @128kbps

45 mint lamba upload


god bless

Sonu

It still sits in my favorite playlist to this day - great song for Amitabh. Have CD rip already but the gesture was sweet, and I'm sure others will enjoy. That's the main problem with a Shabbir thread, since many are post 87, and also most of them are quite common - at least the ones I have.

Anyone plz?

45 mint lamba upload

Jay,

I have the song but you will have to wait for me to get back online.

Hopefully will be soon. I have another long outstanding request of yours, Star 10

Regs
Saj

hi dosto one more Shabbir Gem from me. This is again a Shabbir_lata Duet. probabily one of the best lata_Shabbir duet

Song : Zehaale muskil...sunai deti hai jiski dhadkan

Film : Akhri gulam

Lyrics : Gulzar

Music Director : LAXMIKANT PYARELAL

Singer : SHABBIR , lata

Kwality of song is good @ 128 kbps....seems CDQ


One of those Rare LP_ gulzar flms. just 3-5 songs in film .

Base music has been used by LP in many songs..... lambi judai is one such.

Notice the mandolin, shehnai in middle and also the Clap sound in the back grd(low vol)

Any way enjoy this duet.......one of the best by lata_shabbir..........KOI SHAKK ??


God bless

Sonu

PS : Admins are free to delte this song if they think this is common. koi tenson wali gal nehi.

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song Bol do meethe bol from Sohni mahiwal has been uploaded by Dewaani ji in asha forum

link for the osng is


http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?show...16&#entry261316


Sonu

I thought this song was from the film 'Ghulami'???

Also friends since it is fathers day some one kindly upload this song:

Song: mere daddy kitne pyaare hai
Singer: shabbir kumar
music: anu malik
lyrics: anjaan
film: pyar ki do pal

i have been looking for this song for a long time but no luck!!! anyone kind enough to upload it please!!

Heres one from me

Mere Jeevan Saathi

Film: Baazi

Courtesy: HF

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thanks for song meiopk

Yes you are right the film name of " zeehale mushkil" is ghulaimi....

thoda memory problem hai apoon ko


Sonu

Hi Saj bhai! thnx al lot! plz u/l the song of Duty and STAR 10 outstanding bro! thnx again!!

hiya,

what a wonderful read thanx mate!

im an absolutely massive - huge fan of shabbir kumar.

his like an elder brother to me. i often keep in touch with him & his family.

after the great kishore kumar/mohd. rafi/mukesh.

amit kumar & shabbir kumar are my favourites followed by:

mohd. aziz, anwar etc.

p.s.

his real name is shabbir ahmed.