Kishore Kumar — Whats your type?
I have noticed a trend amongst the Kishore Kumar fans. Almost everyone enjoys the songs of Kishore Da but there is a trend in the songs that they enjoy.
- Kishore Kumar for Rajesh Khanna
- Kishore Kumar for Amitabh Bachchan
For sure, I fall in the first category. I find solace in Kishore Da’s songs that were picturized on Rajesh Khanna. Aradhana, Amar Prem, Aap Ki Kasam, Safar, Kati Patang,etc are just few examples of the Kishore + Rajesh Khanna combination.
I never really liked the Amitabh + Kishore combination in music. Silsila, Yaarana, Muqaddar ka sikandar, Zanjeer, Mili, Sharabi, etc are some well known films whose songs are hummed by many. But I would still rate Rajesh Khanna movies above these in terms of the music.
Rajesh Khanna flourished as the lover boy in the pre-emergency era of Bollywood where it was all about love, wooing the leading lady, society, etc. Amitabh Bachchan flourished as the angry young man in the post-emergency era where he personified the youth that was revolting against the establishment, the mafia, etc.
Further, the divide amplifies when you add the music director. I would any day prefer R.D. Burman and Kalyanji-Anandji over Laxmikant-Pyarelal who had more of a “dafli” style to their music.
The holy trinity of RD Burman + Rajesh Khanna + Kishore Kumar stands above all. I do not think that the Hindi film industry has had a combination better than this. Of all the songs that survive the test of time and generations, the magic of this holy trinity will be above all.
