The same guy who sung “Kuven Me Kood Ke Mar Janna! Yaar Tum Shaadi Mat Karna !”, how he ended up marrying four of the most glamorous women in the film industry is a mystery. Tumultuous from the beginning, Kishore-Madhubala marital fights made it to every tabloid in the country. First marriage with Bollywood actresses Ruma (now Ruma Guha Thakurta), niece to Satyajit Ray ended with a murky divorce. They have a son Amit Kishore Kumar. His third marriage was to Yogita Bali, niece to Geeta Bali but didn’t last long. Yogita fell in love with Indian cinema’s disco dancer on the sets of Khwab (1980) and divorced him to marry Mithun ( small post on him ).

His last marriage to Leena Chandavarkar not only raised eyebrows as she was 2 yr older than his son Amit Kumar, but added to his popularity and was a success. He was married to her till his death. She has a son from him Sumit Kumar.

He use to call all his wifes Bandariyas, as they all were from Bandra (a suburb of Mumbai)

He is known for his funny & eccentric behavior as much as for his pranks and caricatures. Few worth quoting are

He had names for all the trees in his garden (Janardhan, Raghunandan, Gangaram, Jhatpatjhatpat and so on) and would converse with them at length.

How he hoarded thousands of video cassettes from all over the world (with a distinct penchant for horror films)

How he would refuse to record a song correctly till he was paid his due in full. On another occasion, when producer R. C. Talwar did not pay his dues in spite of repeated reminders, Kishore turned up at Talwar’s residence one morning and started shouting “Hey Talwar, de de mere aath hazaar” (“Hey Talwar, give me my eight thousand”). He did this every morning until Talwar paid him.

In spite of his “no money, no work” principle, sometimes he recorded for free even when the producers were willing to pay. Such films include those produced by Rajesh Khanna and Danny Denzongpa. On one occasion, He helped actor-turned-producer Bipin Gupta, by giving him Rs. 20,000 for the film Dal Mein Kala (1964). When actor Arun Kumar Mukherjee died, He regularly sent money to his family in Bhagalpur. Mukherjee was one of the first persons to appreciate Kishore’s singing talent.

He used to set his dogs on income tax officers and was imprisoned. There’s this  interesting story about his romance with tax

He apparently made Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi hoping it would flop. He wanted to show losses in his income and avoid paying a huge income tax to the authorities. So he made two films, Lookochuri in Bengali and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi in Hindi, and waited eagerly for them to collapse. Both went on to be raging successes. Kishore was so disgusted with this that he gifted Chalti Ka Naam… and all its rights to his secretary Anoop Sharma, who retained the copyright The income tax case on Kishore Kumar was not solved even after forty years. Two songs in the film were plagiarised on Kishore’s request. Hum the who thi…is a take-off on The Water MellonSong and  Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si on 16 Tons from the album 16 Tons of Tennessee Ernie.

How his voice was banned from All India Radio because he offended the powers that be at the time by refusing to sing free of cost for one of their shows.

How Hrishikesh Mukherjee was denied admission in his house (Because of a sad misunderstanding. Kishore was expecting another man altogether and had asked his Man Friday not to let “That Bengali” in.) because of which the title role of the film Anand…..which was scripted specifically for Kishore Kumar…went to Rajesh Khanna

How he spent hours and hours locked up in his room practicing music and counting money.

there is no end really !

He had put a “Beware of Kishore” sign at the door of his Warden Road flat, where he stayed for some time while his bungalow was being done up. Once, a producer-director who owed him some money, visited his flat to pay the dues. He took the money, and when producer-director offered to shake hands with him, he reportedly put his hand in his mouth, bit it, and asked “Didn’t you see the sign?”.

When he left for Bombay, it is said that he owed an amount of Rs 5.75 to his college canteen in Indore. This probably may be the inspiration for the “Paanch Rupaiya Barah Aana ” song in his ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi”.

In another crazy incident, he once drove straight to Khandala from the film set by his car. The director was apparently unmindful and forgot to say “CUT” in a car scene where Kishore was supposed to drive. Kishore Kumar started the car and kept driving as the director didnt say cut…

He was very particular about his renumerations. Once a producer paid him half in advance and said that he would like to pay the rest once the film is completed. The next day, Kishore Kumar shocked everybody when he appeared with half of his head and moustache shaved! and he told everybody that he would continue appearing like this in every shot until he is given the full amount !

Once he started acting as if he had his son accompanying him everywhere. he would talk to the little kid and reply himself with a different voice. If he didnt like a song while recording, he would say in the child’s voice “baba yeh gana achha nahi hai”. Then he would say “nahin beta aise nahi bolte, ghar pe jake bolna” and so on. This continued for so long that his coleagues got used to his ‘manas putra’ (The child of imagination)

Call it eccentricity or dedication, Kishore insisted on getting under the skin of the songs to give it a full effect.

Apparently, for the film Don, he sang “Khaike Paan Banaraswala” while chewing paan. Kalyanji-Anandji, the music directors, were surprised at his request but being the sporty types, they played along and got the eccentric singer his paan.

He had even put up a sign ‘Mental Hospital’ right outside his residence in Khandwa. He particularly disliked telephone calls, tax problems, cigarette smoke, alcohol and the studio  routine.

Yodelling king that he was, he learnt yodeling by listening to his brother Anoop Kumar’s Austrian records.

Died on the birthday of his eldest brother Ashok Kumar, there was only one such person in the history of Indian cinema ! that well-known Kishore Kumar mystique of lack of continuity, endless  little puzzlements & crazy things he did will never let us forget the legend.

I am leaving you all with this unforgettable 1985 interview with the legendary, hilarious and absolutely brilliant one and only Yodelling King. Enjoy !

Click here : Kishore Kumar Interview by Pritish Nandy 

1. Bidaai Ki Phir Ghadi Aai
2. Jai Jai Krishna
3. Kabhi Khole Na Tijori Ka Tala
4. Main Jaa Rahi Thi
5. Main Ne Tum Sang Pyar Kiya
6. Yeh Hai Mera Premi

1. Ch1 Chhoti Si Umar Mein
2. Main Bairagi Nachoon Gaoon
3. O Shankar Mere Kab Honge
4. Peete Peete Kabhi Kabhi
5. Sare Shaher Mein Aap Sa

“Chham chham baaje re paayaliya” is a semi classical song,and it is a kind of song that lay public would stay away from. But listening to this song turns out to be such a pleasant experience. First of all, the lyrics are so easy to understand. The first line “chham chham baaje re paayaliya” is the most important line, and other lines are tied to it. Lines preceding it needed to have words rhyming with “paayaliya” and the lyricist S H Bihari came up with words like “gagariya”, “dagariya”, “badariya” and “nagariya” . Great rhyming words he came up with !

The music is appropriately semi classical, and is so pleasant to listen to.

And what about the voice of Manna Dey ? Divine!

He has sung quite a few memorable songs like this in his career, and this song has to be among his very best. The singing is just sensational. I have just listened to this song a few times, and evey time I have been left spellbound.

Picturisation of this song shows Shammi Kapoor in disguise posing as a musician in a stage ( like Raj Kapoor in “Dil Hi to Hai” ). Even in that “Dil hi to hai” stage song, it was Manna Dey, who had sung another memorable song viz “laaga chunri me daag chupaaun kaise”.

Here Leena Chandawarkar and others dance to the song sung by Shammi Kapoor. Leena Chandawarkar may not have been a trained dancer ( unlike say Hema Malini etc) and I am not sure how good her dancing is, but the picturisation in any case was meant for lay public and the picturisation is colourful enough.

In summary, listening (and watching) to this song is a sublime experience.

Song-Chham chham baaje re paayaliya (Jaane Anjaane) (1971) Singer-Manna Dey, Lyrics-S H Bihari, MD-Shankar Jaikishan

Lyrics

aaaa

chham-chham baaje re paayaliyaa
chham-chham baaje re paayaliyaa
raah chalat lachke panihaari
raah chalat lachke panihaari
chhalke gagariyaa
chham chham baaje re paayaliyaa
haa chham-chham baaje re paayaliyaa…

gore badan par bheegi saari
bheegi saari
gore badan par bheegi saari
aur lage sundar ye naari
gore badan par bheegi saari
aur lage sundar ye naari
moti ban-ban tapke paani
moti ban-ban tapke paani
bheegat jaaye dagariyaa
chham chham baaje re paayaliyaa
chham chham baaje re paayaliyaa …

Chandramukhi jab lat bikhraaye
Chandramukhi jab lat bikhraaye
jag saaraa ye dhokhaa khaaye
Chandramukhi jab lat bikhraaye
jag saaraa ye dhokhaa khaaye
koyi kahe lo saawan aayaa
koyi kahe lo saawan aayaa
aayi kaari badariyaa
chham chham baaje re paayaliyaa
aaa chham chham baaje re paayaliyaa …

mukhde par aanchal malmal kaa
mukhde par aanchal malmal kaa
yaa koyi khiltaa phool kamal kaa
mukhde par aanchal malmal kaa
yaa koyi khiltaa phool kamal kaa
aayi na jaane kaun nagar se
aayi na jaane kaun nagar se
jaaye kaun nagariyaa
chham chham baaje re paayaliyaa
chham chham baaje re paayaliyaa
raah chalat lachke panihaari
raah chalat lachke panihaari
chhalke gagariyaa
chham chham baaje re paayaliyaa

His latest book outdid the sale of copies of Harry Potter in the global market. He is the yoga guru to celebs of the likes of Michael Jackson Nixon Reagan Clinton, Indira Gandhi, Dharmendra, Madonna, Deepak Chopra, George Harrison, Pandit Ravishankar and John McEnroe to name a few. What is more, the strapping six and half footer Roland Kickinger, Mr Universe and the Terminator of Terminator 4 swears that yoga guru Bikram Choudhary’s yoga technique has made a difference to his life. Now, the universe’s most sought after yoga guru Bikram Choudhary, and the man behind Bikram Yoga comes back to India with what he considers is the formula for True Fitness.

True Fitness, a sprawling 60,000 sq ft fitness, yoga and spa experience in Andheri (W) is the brainchild of Patrick Wee together with Bikram Choudhury has yoga as the base of a complete fitness regime, complete with a spa.

Launched amid fanfare at JW Marriott on Nov 26, the event was attended by the who’s who of Bollywood. Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Anil Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, Leena Chandawarkar, Bappi Lahiri with family, Jatin Pandit, Meghna Naidu, Sudhanshu Pandey, Rahul Dev, Bappa Lahiri, Chandrachud Singh, Hard Kaur, Shibani Kashyap, they were all there to cheer Bikram’s homecoming with True Fitness. “Bikram Yoga is used to treat people with chronic diseases and we explain the mechanism behind yoga and how it helps prevent chronic diseases. We extensively research it with NASA and therein lies the authenticity of it,” explains Bikram Choudhary. “I am happy I am back home, but it took a visionary like Patrick Wee from Asia to bring me back to my home. No Indian thought of it,” says Bikram Choudhary., talking of True Fitness.

Keeping in mind the comfort of the urban fitness buff, the 60,000 square feet fitness, yoga and spa centre offers you a complete rejuvenating experience in the lap of luxury, along with a health food café among others.Equipped with international facilities including state-of-the-art Cardio Machines by Life Fitness®, Power Plate® workout area – the accelerated fat burning method, Aerobics Studios, Resistance and Free Weight Area, Steam & Sauna Rooms, a dedicated Women’s Work-out Area, and Bikram Hot Yoga, a scientifically designed style of yoga by Bikram Choudhury.

A BACKGROUNDER ON THE PEOPLE BEHIND TRUE FITNESS

The founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India, Bikram Choudhury, comes back to India, to set up his Bikram Hot Yoga Centre, as an integral part of True Fitness, founded by the Singapore based Patrick Wee, one of the biggest names to reckon with Internationally in the business of Health.

As part of the expansion plans across Asia, the True Group will launch their first ever centre in India, at a mall in Andheri West, Mumbai, on the 26th of November 2008, with an all-in-one centre offering Fitness, Spa and Bikram Hot Yoga.

Bikram Choudhury introduced a new style of yoga, involving guidance from a U.S. certified Bikram Hot Yoga instructor by a specific dialogue, that pumps the mind, body and spirit via a 90-minute session through 26 postures and two breathing exercises, and all these while in a studio that is preheated to a minimum temperature of 41 degree Celsius. A practice of the ancient art of Indian yoga that incorporates a steam-room type setting, participants are pushed to the max with a focus on deep and heavy breathing, challenging poses, combined with sweltering heat. The trend has flourished in recent years, and is a fantastic mind and body workout. Says the enigmatic Bikram Choudhury, “The more crises the world goes through, the more they are going to feel the need for yoga, to achieve a sense of well being and to calm body, spirit and mind.” Beginning with his first studio San Francisco in 1973, it has grown to over 900 studios across the United States of America and this is the first Center in India brought in by the True Group.

Patrick Wee is the founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Asia’s leading fitness, yoga and wellness network, the True Group. He is the son of Wee Chong Jin (former Chief Justice of Singapore) and a lawyer by training. Patrick introduced and revolutionized the business of Yoga in Singapore with the opening of True Yoga in 2004. The subsequent 4 years saw the extension into other fitness, spa and aesthetics businesses in Singapore as well as the establishment of the True Group’s presence in regional countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and India. The True Group has built a strong regional brand and the concepts cater well to the fitness and wellness industry in Asia.

The True Group, intends to live up to its promise in being the only complete fitness lifestyle centre in Asia, offering the best in yoga, fitness, spa and aesthetics treatments under one umbrella. Since its establishment in 2004, the True Group has grown to be one of the largest fitness, yoga and wellness groups in Asia with more than 100,000 members across the region, offering a complete approach to health and well-being.

In March 2008, Dubai International Capital (DIC) acquired a significant minority stake in the True Group. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Holding, DIC manages an international portfolio of diverse assets that provide its stakeholders with value growth, diversification, and strategic investments. The partnership marked a milestone for the Group as DIC’s first private equity investment in Asia to enable further growth of the group’s operations and expansion internationally.

Currently, with the True Group’s presence in five countries, namely India, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, spanning over 25 centres and more than 700,000 square feet of space, the Group is aiming to grow to 100 centres in the next 5 years across new territories such as the Middle East, establishing the True Group as a truly global wellness brand. Also, for the first time in India, Bikram Hot Yoga – the yoga practiced by Hollywood Superstars such as Madonna, Matthew McConaughey, Sharon Stone, George Clooney, etc. – will also be making its debut at True Fitness!

Sumit Kumar & Leena Chandavarkar