Then how can I be a genius ? – Kishore Kumar
We have all seen the comic side of Kishore Kumar in most of his interviews, in books, anthologies and articles. But one has to go in deep and realize that this man was very serious in real life. I managed to acquire some very rare interviews/articles of his ( two of them are already here diary & portrait) and want to present this one too.
I am particularly fascinated by interviews of Kishore Kumar , written/spoken by himself in the media. It is the direct source for me to study every word/sentence of his, in details. This particular interview takes us deep into the world and thoughts of Kishore Kumar.
Its fun reading the questions that readers ask him…some of them, I am sure we all would have liked to ask him, had we met him in person. So the excitement is doubled !
Here goes one more installment on the genius :
Source : Madhuri (Hindi) – 1987
Both original article and translated versions are available below.
Translated by : Kaustubh Pingle
ORIGINAL HINDI VERSION :
Quote :
Aapki Baat Sitaaron Ke Saath
Q : Aap ek samay acting mein ‘top’ par the. Badi badi filmon mein kaam karte the. Aapne achanak acting karna band kyon kar diya (Sriram Swami – Nayi Dilli )
A : Kayi filmon mein kaam kar chukne ke baad maine mehsoos kiya ki ‘producer’ jo kahaaniyaan laa rahe hain, unmein koyi dum nahi hai. Ve mujhse sirf uchhalkood karwa ke kahaani aage badhaane ki baat karne lage the. Main kalaakaar nahi, ‘comedian’ ban kar reh gaya tha jabki ‘comedian’banana kabhi mera uddeshya nahi raha. Isliye maine abhinay se kinaara lena hi behtar samjha
Q : Pichhle dino khabar chhapi thi ki aapne apni patni Leena Chandavarkar ke kehne par masoori mein ek bangla khareeda hai. To kya aap Bambai chhod kar masoori mein rehna chaahte hain ? (Kailashchandra Sood – Dehradoon )
A : Humne, maine ya Leena ne Masoori mein koyi bangla nahi khareeda hai. Ek baar main masoori gaya zaroor tha par bangla khareedne nahi. Apne dal bal ke saath main Badrinath ki yaatra par gaya hua tha. Badrinaath se lautate waqt raaste mein ek jagah ek chhoti si pansaari ki dukaan dikhayi di jo mujhe badi pasand aayi. Use ek budhiya chalaati thi. Main wahin baithkar us budhiya maa se baaton mein lag gaya aur samaan ka bhaav poochhta raha. Ek daal uthaakar maine poochha, “yah kya hai?” Amma ne bataaya, “yah masoor ki daal hai”.
Bas, turant mujhe masoori yaad aa gayii, Maine poochha, “yahaan se Masoori ja sakte hain ?”
Sachmuch wahaan se Masoori ko ek seedha raasta jaata tha. Maine apna saara kaafila Masoori ki raah par moad liya. Shaayad tabhi yah afwah udi ho ki main Masoori mein bangla khareed raha hoon”
Q : Aap abhineta bhi hai aur gaayak bhi. Donon mein se khud aapko kya pasand hai, abhinay ya gaana, aur kyon? (Parasmani Pandey – Bareli )
A : Mujhe nischit roop se gaana zyaada pasand hai. Iski wajah bahut seedhi aur saaf hai. Main to gaana gaane ke liye hi Bambai aaya tha. Pehle gaana hi gaaya. Actor to baad mein bana. Acting chaahe kitni hi asli jaisi kyon na lage, rehti to sada nakli hi hai. Lekin sangeet mein nakal nahi hoti. Wah to param satya hai, dil se nikalta hai. Main yah bhi maanata hoon ki mujhe abhinay ne utna maan nahi diya jitna sangeet ne diya hai.
Q : Agar main filmon mein ‘playback singing’karna chahoon to mujhe kya karna chahiye ? (Devashish Karnad – Bangalore )
A : Agar aapki awaaz kisi mashoor ’singer’jaisi ho, ya aap uski tarah gaana pasand karte ho to ‘playback singer’ banane ki koshish chhod deni chahiye. nakal banane ki koshish se koyi faayda nahi. Agar awaaz mein aapka koyi apnapan ho aur aap nateeje ki parwah kiye bina lagataar mehnat karne ko raazi ho, to aapko do teen achcha ‘music directon’se milkar unhein apne gaane sunaane chahiye.
Q : Aap filmein kyon banaate hain, paisa kamaane ko, naam kamaane ko, ya sirf aapki ichha poori karne ke liye ? (Uma Trivedi – Lucknow )
A : Paisa kamaane ko do tarah ki filmein banti hain. Ek ve jinmein bade bade ’stars’ hote hain. Doosri ve jinmein bharpoor ’sex’aur maraamaari rakhi jaati hai. Meri filmon mein na ’stars’ hote, na ‘commercia value’. Main na to ’stars’ke peechhe bhaag sakta, na theth masaala juta sakta.
Mujhe duniya bhar ki ‘classical’filmein dekhne ka shauk hai. Unki ‘video casette’ bhi main jama karta hoon. Unhein dekh dekh kar kuchh achcha kaam karne ki ichha jaagrat hoti hai. Isliye baar baar apni ichha ke mutaabik badhiya si film banaane ki koshish karta rehta hoon. Par yah dekhkar ki achhi, saaf-suthri filmon mein kisi ki dilchaspi rah nahi gayi hai, achhi film banaane ka shauk aur ichha dono hi khatm hote jaa rahe hai.
Q : Madhuri mein hi aapka ‘interview’ padha tha ki aap achhe gaane na milne ki vajah se dukhi hote hain. Kya aap bataenge ki achha gaana kya hota hai ? ( Kusum Upraiti – Ranikhet )
A : Iska jawaab apne hi dil se kyon nahi pooch letin. Agar wahaan se jawaab nahi milta to mere is sawaal ka jawaab sochiye ki aapko puraane samay ke gaanon aur aaj ke gaanon mein farq kyon lagta hai ? Kyon 20-20 baras puraane gaane aaj bhi sangeet premiyon ki zabaan par chadhe huye hain aur kyon wohi sangeet premi abhi do saal pehle ki filmon ke gaane nahi gungunaate ?
Q : Aap sabse zyaada kis cheez se darte hain ? Patni se, ‘income-tax’se, ya bhagwaan se ? ( Rajkumar Kohli – Bambai )
A : Bhagwaan ko prarthana se manaaya jaa sakta hai aur roothi patni thode nakhron ke baad, thodi khushaamad, thode pyaar se maan jaati hai. Lekin Income-Tax ? Bhagwaan bachaaye ! main usi se sabse zyaada darta hoon !
Q : Main ek baar aapse mili thi. Zara der ki us mulaaqaat mein aap mujhe bade gambheer aadmi lage the. Lekin jab bhi main aapke ’stage program’ dekhti hoon, to aap bilkul doosre aadmi nazar aate hain. Aapka kaunsa roop asli hai ? ( Savita Jain, Laal Kothi, Bhairon Ji ka rasta, Jaipur )
A : Mujhe aapka sawaal bada achha laga kyonki kalaakaron ko is tarah samajhne ki koshish kam hi log karte hain. Jis Kishorekumar ko aapne stage par dekha hai, wah banaavati hai, doosron ko khush karne waala, apne Gum, apni pareshaaniyaan dabaakar bhi naachne gaane waala. Asli Kishore wohi hai jo aapko mila tha – gambheer, apne aap mein khoya hua.
Q : Aapke mutaabiq is duniya mein pehle pahal sangeet ka janm kab aur kaise hua hoga ? (Chiranjeet, Patiyaala)
A : Insaan ko har khoobsoorat cheez ‘nature’se mili hai. ‘Nature’se matlab prakruti se. Sangeet bhi hamein prakruti se hi mila hai. Hawa chalti hai to uski apni awaaz hoti hai. Baadal garajte hain to alag dhwani hoti hai. Bijli kadakne, paani barasne, nadi ke behne, aur saagar ki lehron ke uchhalne sabhi ki awaaz mein apna ek ras hota hai. Iske saath mili hoti hai pakshiyon ki madhur dhwani.
In sabko hamaare poorvajon ne sur-taal mein baandha hoga. Phir raag raaginiyaan bane honge. Subah ke samay prakruti ki awaaz, din aur shaam ki awaazon se alag hoti hai. Isliye raagon ko gaane bajaane ka samay bhi alag niyat kiya gaya hoga.
Q : Aajkal jis tarah ke gaane aapko diye jaate hain, unke baare mein aapne baar baar shikaayat ki hai, ki aapko apni marzi ke gaane nahin milte. To phir aap khud hi ‘music director’kyon nahi ban jaate ? (Mohd Aslam Khan – Hubli )
A : Main to ban jaoon, par koyi mujhe apni film mein sangeet dene ke liye kahe bhi to ! Pyaare bhai – ‘film industry’ mein apni marzi nahi, darshakon ki marzi chalti hai. Maine ek baar music direction kiya tha. Film thi Veerappan ki “Zameen Aasmaan”, jo bilkul nahi chali thi. Tabse main apni hi filmon ke ‘music direction’ tak seemit reh kar khush hoon.
Q : Aap apni awaaz ko control mein rakhne aur use badhiya banaaye rakhne ke liye kya karte hain ? Kya ‘practice’ se awaaz sureeli ho sakti hai ? ( Natwarlal Purohit – Gandhinagar )
A : Awaaz ‘control’ mein rakhne ke liye koyi koshish karne ki mujhe kabhi zaroorat hi nahi padi, haan ‘recording’ se pehle din main bharpoor araam avashyak samajhta hoon aur ‘recording’ waale din ekdum halka bhojan karta hoon. Isase taazgi bani rehti hai. Abhyaas karne se, karte rehne se awaaz sur taal mein bandh sakti hai ismen koyi shaq nahi. Maine to kabhi kaheen sangeet ki koyi shiksha nahi lee hai. Jo kuchh gaa paata hoon sab sirf abhyaas hi ki den hai.
Q : Zindagi mein aap sabse zyaada khush aur sabse zyaada dukhi kis baat se huye hain ? ( Leela Kathmaal – Lucknow )
A : Sabse zyaada khush main tab hua jab 52 varsh ki aayu mein bhagwaan ne mujhe doosra beta diya, Sumeet. Sabse zyaada dukhi main tab hua jab ishwar ne haaari maa sareekhi bhaabhi ( Shrimati Ashok Kumar ) ko utha liya.
Q : Duniya ki bahut sair kee hai aapne. Bahut si jagahein dekhin hongi. Aapko sabse achhi jagah kaunsi lagti hai ? ( David Roop Kishore – Goa )
A : Mausam ke lihaaj se London, manoranjan ke liye Disneyland, jungli jaanvaron ki kudrati khoobsoorati ki drushti se Africa aur saare sukh chain ke lihaaj se Bambai stith mera ghar. Angrezi kahaawat suni hogi aapne “east or west, home is the best”
Q : Log aapko “eccentric genius” – yaani sarphira pratibhashaali purush kehte hain. Kya aap manate hain ki aap “genius” hain ? ( Parsaram Modi – Patna)
A : ‘Genius’ woh hota hai jiska har kaam kamaal ka ho. Maine acting mein nayi oonchaayiyaan buland nahin ki, mere gaane mein koyi badi khaasiyat nahi, meri banaayi filmein nahin chalti, tab main kahaan se ‘genius’ hoon ?
Unquote
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TRANSLATED ENGLISH VERSION :
Your chat with the stars.
Q : Once upon a time you were top in the acting profession, working in big banner films. Why did you stop acting, suddenly ? (Sriram Swami – New Delhi)
A : After working in many films, I realized that producers were bringing stories to me, but there was no substance in them. They just wanted me to do monkey-jumping and move the story forward. I became a comedian instead of an actor. I never aimed to become a comedian. Thats the reason I thought that it is better to go away from acting.
Q : Some days back there was a news printed that you had purchased a bungalow in Masoori, on insistence of your wife, Leena Chandavarkar. Then have you decided to leave Bombay and stay in Masoori ? (Kailashchandra Sood – Dehradoon )
A : We or my wife has not purchased any bungalow in Masoori. I surely did go once to Masoori but not to buy a bungalow. I went with our troupe once for Badrinath pilgrimage. While coming back from Badrinath, on the way, at one stop I found a small grocery shop, which I liked very much. One old lady was running the shop. I sat there itself and started chatting with the old lady, asking her the rates of various things. I picked up one daal (pulse) and asked her “What is this?” to which she replied “This is Masoor daal”
At that instance I remembered a place called Masoori (Mussorie) . I asked if there is a road to Masoori from that place. And what a co-incidence ! There was indeed a road straight ahead, leading to Masoori ! I turned the caravan towards Masoori ! I think that must be the rime when this weird rumour of me buying a bunglow must have published.
Q : You are an actor and a singer too. Which profession do you like more, acting or singing, and why ? (Parasmani Pandey – Bareli )
A : Singing for sure. The reason is plain and simple too. I came to Bombay, only to sing. Sang songs in the beginning of my career too. I became actor only afterwards. Acting, though seems original, it is always fake. But music cannot be fake. That is the solemn truth, coming out from the heart. I also agree that acting did not give me that much of respect, what singing gave me.
Q : If I wish to do film playback singing, what should I do ? (Devashish Karnad – Bangalore )
A : If your singing is like some established singer, or if you like to sing in that fashion, then you must leave your efforts to become a playback singer. There is no use in imitating. If you have some originality in the voice and if you decide to work very hard, without bothering about the results, then you should meet a few good music directors and make them listen to your voice.
Q : Why do you produce films – to make money or fame or just to satisfy your wishes ? (Uma Trivedi – Lucknow )
A : There are two ways to earn money through films. One to have big stars in the film and second is to have sex and action-violence in abundance. My films had neither stars nor commercial value. I could not run after stars and also could not collect gross material for my films.
I am fond of watching classic-cinema from all over the world. I also collect their video cassettes. Seeing them over and over, gives birth to ideas to make good films. That’s why every now and then, as per my wishes, I try to make a good film. But after seeing that these days nobody is interested in good and clean films, my hobby and interest are dying down.
Q : I had read in an interview in Madhuri that you are sad because you are not getting good songs these days. Can you tell what is a good song ? ( Kusum Upraiti – Ranikhet )
A : Why don’t you ask the answer to your own heart ? If you don’t get an answer from there, then do give a thought and try to find an answer to my question : why do you find a difference in the songs of the old/golden era and the songs of today ? Why are the songs which are 20-20 years old, still on the lips of the music lovers and the same music lovers do not humm the songs which are even 2 years old ?
Q : What are you afraid of the most : wife, income-tax or God ? ( Rajkumar Kohli – Bombay )
A : God can be pleased with prayers and an unhappy wife can be gratified by means of pampering, tolerating her idiosyncrasies and giving her a bit of love. But income-tax ? God save ! I am afraid of that very thing, the most !
Q : I had met you once. After talking a while with you, I had noticed that you are quite a serious person. But whenever I see your stage shows, then I see a completely different man ! Which form of yours is real ? ( Savita Jain, Laal Kothi, Bhairon Ji road, Jaipur )
A : I liked your question very much because very few try to understand an artist, with such keen interest. The Kishore Kumar that you saw on stage was fallacious, trying to please others, hiding his own problems or sufferings and still dancing, singing on the stage. The real Kishore is the one that you met – serious, lost in ones own thoughts.
Q : According to you when and how could have music been created, the very first time ? (Chiranjeet, Patiyaala)
A : Man has received every beautiful thing from mother nature. Music is also the gift of nature. When the wind blows, it has its own voice. There is a different sonance when the clouds roar. The thunders, showering of water, flowing of rivers, and the surge of ocean waves, all these sounds have its own peculiar alluring quality. All this is mixed with the sweet chirping of birds. Our ancestors must have blended these sounds into tunes and rythms. Then must have formed Raagas and raaginis. The various sounds in the nature, heard in the morning time, are different from those of the day and evenings. That must be the reason for raagas to be played at different and specific times of the day.
Q : You have always complained about the kind of songs that you are getting to sing these days, that you do not get to sing what you desire. So why don’t you become a music director yourself ? (Mohd Aslam Khan – Hubli )
A : I am ready but somebody must also give a chance to me to score ! Dear brother – In the film industry, one cannot wish, its the public that demands and only that is sold. I did music direction once. Film was Veerappan’s “Zameen Aasmaan” , which was a flop. Since then I am happy to give music for my own productions.
Q : What do you do to control and consistently better your voice quality ? Can one be tuneful by practising ? ( Natwarlal Purohit – Gandhinagar )
A : To control my voice, I never felt the necessity to make any efforts. But yes before the recording day, I feel necessary to take complete rest and on the recording day, I have very light food. The freshness is maintained throughout the day. If you do practice, do a proper study, there is no doubt that you would be tuneful and in rhythm. I never studied music in a formal school. Whatever I have received, it is only with the help of self-study of music.
Q : Which was your most joyful and most sad moment in your life ? ( Leela Kathmaal – Lucknow )
A : I was the happiest man when at the age of 52, God blessed me with a second son, Sumeet. I was the saddest when our sister-in-law ( Mrs Ashok Kumar ) , who was like a mother to us, was taken away by God.
Q : You have roamed all over the world and seen many places. Which is your most favourite place ? ( David Roop Kishore – Goa )
A : As far as the climate is concerned, I like London, for fun and entertainment its Disneyland, natural wildlife beauty is in Africa and considering all the happiness and peace, my home in Bombay ! You must have heard the English saying “east or west, home is the best”
Q : People call you eccentric genius – meaning a mad-multi talented man. Do you accept that you are a genius ? ( Parsaram Modi – Patna)
A : ‘Genius’ is one whose every work is the best. I have never touched new heights in acting, there is nothing great in my singing, my films do not run – then how can I be a genius ?
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Beautiful interview and lovely work of translation Kcp Saab!
‘Lekin Income-Tax ? Bhagwaan bachaaye ! main usi se sabse zyaada darta hoon !’
hahaha great work once again kcp, keep the series going!!!
Wow! Pure Gem! Lovely work once again, KCP! Thanks a ton for the English translation!
Waah waah! waah waah!
Thanks a million, zillion for sharing it!
Thanks!!!!!!!!! Brilliant
Thank you…Thank you..thank you!!!KCP bhai..you rock!!
“Veerappan ki “Zameen Aasmaan”
Was there really movie by that name?
The Masoor ki daal episode is hillarious, also the Income Tax one..lol!!
now thats a genius. thanks for sharing kcp!
@kcp,
Thanks a lot for a new addition in your KISHORE kUMAR SPECIAL series. Good to read it.
Thanks KCP
Pardon my ignorance, but I never knew this ‘Mrs. Ashok Kumar’ story.
Yes OM bhaiyya – you “must” listen to the 4 songs ( that I am particularly fond of ) from Zameen Aasmaan : Ek Raat Ki Hai Baat (Asha), Kisne Yahaan Kisko (Asha), Aankhein Tumhaari (Kishore) & Hum Tum Chale (Kishore+Asha). Jeevan saphal ho jaayega ;)
Rajarshi@10 – there is no more story. A connected episode ( I think many know it ) is that Kishore sang the song “Ye Jeevan Hai” to Ashok Kumar ( when they came back from the funeral ) – repeatedly the whole night.
Om,
The film was titled Zameen Aasmaan and directed by A Veerappan.. This is the only film where Kishore Kumar worked as a Music Director without being an Actor or Producer/Director.. All other films where he provided music were his inhouse films.. It was a family drama based on a very famous novel/play of south.. Aankhen tumahari do jahaan and Hum chale tum chale can anyday be included in the showcase of talent of Kishore Kumar as a music director..
What about the 2 Asha solos, Pavan ?
another gem from u…awesome stuff… keep them coming…
thnx 4 the post….masoor dal…mussoorie….awesome…
also liked how he said that “The Kishore Kumar that you saw on stage was fallacious, trying to please others……..”
Reminded me of Mera Naam Joker….
KCP, thanks a lot for another KK’s interview. Why don’t you compile all the KK’s interviews and other materials and come out with a booklet for his fans. I’m sure you have enough material.
Thanks kcp and P1j..for the info on Zameen Aasmaan
@kcp
thanks a lot for this wonderful read……
Great effort for the translation Kaustubh. Thank you…
thanx for this
I might have also said this last time you put up something like this & will likely say it again – I appreciate this and things like this so much – old Hindi films and music are relatively new to me, and I am so happy when I come across something like this as I didn’t grow up knowing about any of these people at all.
Though that said, I do have a question, didn’t he marry Madhubala, and if that is right, when was that in relation to this interview, in which her name does not come up? I have a vague idea they did not live together much but I don’t know where I got it.
The Masoor dal story is going to come into my mind for the rest of my life when I see that in a cookbook or on a menu. Thanks (really)!!
Thanks for all the hard work in transcribing and translating! Kishore Kumar’s own line:
“Mujhe aapka sawaal bada achha laga kyonki kalaakaron ko is tarah samajhne ki koshish kam hi log karte hain”, comes to mind for you. Kudos!
Thanks a lot kcp, for your sincere efforts to put up this rare interview. The series of your posts made us know a completely different side of Kishore Kumar.
‘I have never touched new heights in acting, there is nothing great in my singing, my films do not run – then how can I be a genius ?’- that’s what is called modesty.
btw- did you find the picture of Kishore with Tenzing @ Darjeeling ?
KCP ji,
Absolutely amazing article and painstaking translation. Hats off to you for writing such wonderful blogs.
Gulab