These days when advertisements of musical shows start appearing in newspapers, it’s certain that some music person’s birth or death anniversary is around the corner. Same is the case with the day 4th of August, which happens to be exemplary, legendary singer Kishore Kumar’s birth anniversary . This multi-faceted personality, actor, producer, director, screenplay writer, lyricist, music composer and singer, literally ruled the film music industry for few decades from sixties onwards. All leading actors of Bollywood insisted to have him as a playback singer for them. His youthful, mischievous, melodious, enthralling, rejuvenating voice is equally liked by today’s generation (equal credit to music composers) in spite of they having grown up on western-beats-film music.
Many funny anecdotes and stories of Kishore Kumar’s eccentricities, though exasperating, have been doing rounds over the years. A few were added by a renowned journalist, editor, film producer Pritish Nandy at a Masterclass held by him a few days back. While talking about his journalistic career’s last, twelve page interview of Kishore Kumar, he said, “’I wanted to interview Kishore Kumar for the longest time but though a friend he always refused. And one fine day he was standing at the door of my Walkeshwar residence, after driving all the way from Juhu, in a Towel. I was not surprised. ‘I have come to give you an interview’ he said in a ferocious tone. After discussing Filmfare awards KIshore Kumar offered to perform at the function. He was to make a grand entry from a helicopter at Girgaon Chowpatty, but unfortunately BMC refused permission”.
Referring to another episode, Mr Nandy recalled “Kishore Kumar was doing a film ‘Musafir’, as a hero for Hrishikesh Mukherjee and as was his practise of taking money in advance for all his assignments he used to pester Hrishida about money who used to pay him too. But when film came half way Kishore Kumar stopped shooting stating that he should be paid in full, which culminated into Hrishida dragging him to court combatively. Court ruled in favour of the producers and instructed Kishore Kumar to report for shooting immediately. Next day Kishore Kumar did report on the sets but his half mustache and half head were shaven. Obviously, there wasn’t any shooting and when other producers came to know about this, they got annoyed and irate, not with Kishore Kumar but Hrishikesh Mukherjee.”