I’ve so many reminiscences with the genius of a person, Kishore Kumar. It may replenish a e-book. The primary music we sang was for composer Pannalal Ghosh, it was a duet. I believe Kishore da was additionally performing in that movie. Then one other considered one of our earliest duets was Aati hai humko yaad.. January February from the movie Muqaddar. This should have been round 1949-50. He actually handled me like a youthful sister. I’ve identified him since my oldest youngster Hemant was a child.
Now we have sung so many duets, I’ve actually misplaced rely. We should have sang most variety of duets collectively.
As soon as we have been recording for Dada Burman (SD Burman) for Paying Visitor (1957) and my work was over. I used to be leaving the recording studio and Kishore noticed me. He mentioned wait a minute I want you on this recording. It was a male solo music. However Kishore insisted that I sing an alaap for him whereas he sung for Dev Anand. And he sung Oh Nigaahen mastaana. Dada readily agreed to his suggestion. You possibly can hear my buzzing after every line. There are such a lot of recording room tales and reminiscences.
We used to sing many songs collectively for Pancham (RD Burman). Pancham and Kishore da had an outstanding tuning. I bear in mind we did so many stage reveals collectively. As soon as we have been in Kolkata doing a stage present and I used to be singing Ek important aur ek tu and he felt I used to be doing very nicely. So instantly the following music he sang was Eena Meena Deeka and he lay on the ground and began flailing his legs and arms. Maintaining the mike away from his face he requested me, “Ab kya karegi tu,” I began laughing a lot I simply couldn’t end the singing that music.
As soon as I believe we have been recording for Laxmikant Pyarelal and the ultimate take was okayed. After the take I quietly advised him, that one specific portion he may have completed higher. He took offence at that and out of the blue introduced to each one which he would not sing with me.
Later Pancham reprimanded me and mentioned why was it obligatory for me to voice my opinion about the whole lot. I advised Pancham that music was my soul and faith and I could not be untruthful. Kishore da sulked with me for some time.
Then later we met for a Bappi Lahiri recording. I greeted him and turned my face away. And started to attract circles on the recording wall subsequent to me. Kishore da began singing and out of the blue known as reduce and angrily requested me, “Why are you not wanting in my path and paying consideration or correcting me?” So I mentioned, Dada you get indignant once I appropriate you. He mentioned, “Asha you understand I’m loopy. Yeh sab chalta hai, now face me once I sing.” And we each burst out laughing. It was powerful retaining a straight face whereas recording a duet with him.
One other mark of his genius got here by throughout a music I used to be recording for Kalyanji Anandji. I rehearsed the music however there no signal of Kishore da. He had not turned up. I used to be fairly aggravated. And simply once we have been going for the take, he sheepishly got here in. He didn’t even desire a rehearsal. He simply picked on my cues and sang his parts. I can’t wrap my head round how he did it with no rehearsal. If this isn’t genius, what’s. After I requested him how he did it, he simply laughed it away and made gentle of the second and mentioned, “I do know the Kalyanji Anandji’s fashion.” I really feel like touching Kishore da’s ft each time I consider that incident.
I can’t bear in mind the identify of the movie, we have been recording a duet for Bappi Lahiri and our names have been within the music. Our names have been additionally talked about within the lyrics of that music like a tribute. After the recording, like a physician, he used to verify the heart beat of his hand and say, “The heartbeat is coming and going Asha… ab important zyaada nahi rahoonga.” I’d inform him don’t say such issues and that he will probably be round for a very long time.
At the same time as a music composer Kishore da at all times made me sing all his finest songs. He used to essentially recognize my singing and felt I used to be finest suited to his compositions. One can confirm a lot of the movies during which he has composed, he has used my voice.
His life’s final music additionally was a duet with me for Bappi Lahiri. I believe it was Guru guru ho jao shuru. He advised me, “Kal milte hai Asha.” He was leaving for some present in America. However we needed to report one more music the following day, earlier than he left for America. However that was to not be.
Be it Ankhon mein kyaa ji or Haal kaisa hai janaab ka or all of the duets we did for everybody from Dada Burman to Pancham to LP to Bappi Lahiri, all of the reminiscences come dashing to me. Some are crystal clear, some not so. A few of my finest music reminiscences are with Kishore da. When he went away, one thing in me went away, too.
