Kishore Kumar Birth Anniversary: Five interesting facts to know about ‘The Voice of Bollywood'
Credit: X/@Dipayan_Silchar
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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Kishore Kumar once spoke about marrying Madhubala despite her heart condition: ‘I nursed her for nine years, watched her die before my own eyes'
In a candid 1985 interview, Kishore Kumar reflected on his four marriages, revealing the contrasting values with Ruma Devi and the heartbreak of caring for Madhubala during her illness. He admitted his third marriage to Yogeeta Bali was a mistake but found peace with Leena Chandavarkar, appreciating her understanding of life's fragility. Kishore Kumar was known for his unforgettable voice and unmatched talent, but behind the fame was a man who lived through love, heartbreak, and deep personal loss. In a rare interview from 1985, the legendary singer opened up like never before—talking about his four marriages, his emotional journey with Madhubala, and what truly mattered to him in life. His words, honest and moving, offer a glimpse into the man behind the music. A mismatch of values with Ruma Devi In conversation with Pritish Nandy, Kishore reflected on his first marriage to Ruma Devi, describing it as a mismatch of values. While he acknowledged her talent and ambition, he admitted they had very different expectations from life. Ruma was focused on building a career in music, while Kishore longed for a more traditional domestic partner. Their conflicting priorities ultimately led to their separation. A promise kept with Madhubala The iconic singer then spoke about his second wife, actor Madhubala, who battled a congenital heart condition and passed away at a young age. He revealed that he had known about her illness before they married but chose to honour his commitment nonetheless. For nine years, he cared for her as her health steadily declined, witnessing her pain and emotional struggle firsthand. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like List of 15 Foods You Should Avoid Eating during Pregnancy Undo Despite her suffering and confinement to bed, he remained by her side, offering constant support, laughter, and comfort—just as her doctors had advised—until her final moments. He was candid about his third marriage to Yogeeta Bali , calling it a mistake. He felt she was never truly committed to the relationship and was more focused on her bond with her mother than on building a life with him. The marriage, he implied, lacked seriousness and quickly fell apart. Finding peace with Leena Chandavarkar Kumar concluded the interview on a more reflective note, speaking warmly about his then-wife, Leena Chandavarkar. Though she was also an actress like his previous partners, he felt she was fundamentally different. Having experienced personal tragedy with the loss of her first husband, Kishore believed Leena had gained a deeper understanding of life's fragility. Her resilience and perspective, he said, brought a sense of peace and happiness to his life. A legacy beyond the mic Kishore Kumar was a multi-talented artist known for his work as a singer, actor, and music director. He began his career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies and got his first break with the song Marne Ki Duayen Kyon Mangu in Ziddi. Famous for his unique yodelling style—seen in hits like Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara and Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana—he drew inspiration from Jimmie Rodgers and Tex Morton. Honoured with the Lata Mangeshkar Award in 1985, he was later commemorated through the Kishore Kumar Award. He passed away on October 13, 1987.
Deccan Herald
18 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Kishore Kumar Birth Anniversary: Five interesting facts to know about ‘The Voice of Bollywood'
Kishore Da struggled for success until the age of 39. His breakthrough came in 1969 with Aradhana, which turned him into a sensation. Sadly, that was also the year he lost his wife, Madhubala. | Credit: X/@Dipayan_Silchar
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi: Madhubala and Kishore's defiant dance of joy amidst shadows
As part of our Retro Review series, we revisit 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi', where Madhubala and Kishore Kumar transform personal pain into timeless laughter, their radiant chemistry crafting a musical masterpiece that defies life's darkest Review: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)Cast: Madhubala, Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Anoop Kumar, Veena, KN Singh, Sajjan Director: Satyen BoseProducer: Kishore KumaradvertisementMusic/Lyrics: SD Burman, Majrooh SultanpuriWhere To watch: YouTubeWhy To watch: For Madhubala's laughs, Kishore Kumar's yodelling, and Ashok Kumar's punchesMoral of the story: Yahan Chalti Ko Life Kehte Hai, Pyaare, Pam-Pam-Pam'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' is Madhubala's rebellion against her own life. Through the film, she radiates peerless charm and mesmerising beauty in sarees, silken night suits, collared shirts, caps, and scarfs. Every few minutes, she breaks into laughter - the sound of bells chiming in a large, almond-shaped eyes dance with mischief, eyelashes fluttering like flirtatious butterflies, her pearly teeth sparkling as she grins - a flash of lightning. She pirouettes, sings - even tries to seduce. Yet, beneath the dazzle, a shadow lingers, hinting at battles fought off-screen. Who would have thought?Tooti Phooti SahiBehind her effervescent spell, 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' coincided with the darkest chapter of Madhubala's life. The vivacious beauty, hailed as the Venus of the East, faced an untreatable hole in her heart, a silent thief of her personal life unravelled, torn between her tyrannical father, Ataullah Khan, and her lover, Dilip Kumar, whose impatience grew. Bound by her father's grip, she withdrew from Naya Daur's (1957) outdoor shoot, only to be replaced by Vyjayanthimala. The bitter court case, where Dilip Kumar testified against her, shattered their six-year romance. Tooti Phooti Saheee Chal Jaye Theek Hai—like the film's spirited refrain, 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' became her vehicle for driving headlong into her tragedies, emerging with a defiant she putting up an act? Was it her way of showing the middle finger to Dilip Kumar and the world?Chal Jaye Theek HaiPaired opposite her was Kishore Kumar, a genius masking his own wounds with impish charm. His dark, expressive eyes twinkled with a comedic glint, yodelling 'di–di-deeei, di-yudee-deei' like a carefree vagrant, yet betraying a soulful depth.A reluctant actor, pushed into films by his elder brother Ashok Kumar after composers and producers rejected his singing, Kishore produced 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' as a prank, hoping its failure would offset his tax Madhubala, he too nursed a broken heart, his first marriage to Ruma Guha shattered by clashing dreams, driving him into seclusion. Yet, from this collision of two wounded spirits sprang a miracle - a laugh riot, a romantic musical for the ages, defining Madhubala and Kishore Kumar the immortal 'Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka', Kishore and Madhubala call each other mad - pagli, he croons, pagle, she retorts - a fitting mirror to their turbulent lives in the era of 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'. In their madness and broken hearts, Madhubala and Kishore weave a tapestry of joy, much like the joker of 'Mera Naam Joker', whose tears fuelled a spectacle of eternal creativity. Maarega Bhaiyya, Na-Na-NaThe film is an ode to an era of innocence, where Ashok Kumar could play a boxer, Anoop Kumar a blundering romantic, and Sajjan Vyas (later the ghost Betaal in 'Vikram Aur Betaal') a suitor vying for Madhubala's three Ganguly brothers - Brijmohan, Manmohan, and Jagmohan - run a ramshackle garage. Brijmohan, scarred by betrayal, forbids romance, but fate intervenes when Renu, a free spirit played by Madhubala, seeks shelter on a stormy portrayed by Kishore Kumar, is smitten, their flirtatious encounter sparking 'Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si', brimming with mischief. As Renu's car repairs draw her back, their banter blossoms into love, set against the playful 'Paanch Rupaiyya Barah Aana', where Kishore redefines singing with his signature falls for Sheela, unveiling a web of deceit involving a smuggler, a stolen car, and a kidnapping plot. Mistaken identities and madcap chases ensue, with the brothers navigating goons and their own Renu dances through the chaos, while Kishore's Manmohan yodels and jests, their chemistry pure alchemy. In one scene, they drive with her father in the backseat, Kishore fumbling his lines, Madhubala breaking into peals of laughter, teasing yet guarding their shared secret, her ethereal beauty magnified in a tight another, Madhubala knots her saree's pallu, feigning talk of marriage to stoke Kishore's envy, his eyes drifting with philosophical depth before snapping back with a playful retort. Satyen Bose, director of classics like 'Dosti', weaves understated tension between these charismatic a whirlwind of laughter and romance, love triumphs over mistrust, cementing 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' as a timeless musical, where joy prevails amidst life's Ashok Kumar gets to walk into the sunset, his heart lit up by the warmth of forgotten love - actor Veena, a timeless beauty and star of the 1940s, returning to lead the film to a rollicking Si Baat Na Samjha Zamaana'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' remains a vibrant pulse of India's cinematic heritage, encapsulating a post-independence optimism that celebrated simplicity, and subtly rebelled against caste and class divides. Its blend of slapstick, romance, and music crystallised a cultural moment, offering audiences an escape into a world where love could outwit chaos, conquer film's enduring appeal lies in its universal relatability - doting but bickering siblings, forbidden love, and the thrill of outsmarting villains - rendered timeless by SD Burman's eclectic 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' endures, it whispers a truth: from the wreckage of broken hearts, art builds bridges to eternity, carrying Madhubala and Kishore's spirits forever their lives, the film also imparts profound lessons with simplicity. As Majrooh Sultanpuri's poetic pen declares:Itni Si Baat Na Samjha Zamana,Aadmi Jo Chalta Rahe Toh Mil Jaye Har duru-duru–dooou. Ha-ha-ha.- Ends
