Five most prominent actors associated with Kishore Kumar songs

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Kishore Kumar, born August 4, 1929, began his innings as a chorus singer with Saraswati Devi, the Parsi composer, in Bombay Talkies’ productions. Bombay Talkies was co-owned by elder brother Ashok Kumar. Banka sipahiya ghar jaaye ho saw him sing with S.D. Burman and S.L. Puri in Eight Days (1946) as his first featured song.

The composer’s 1946 Shikari saw Kishore, real name Abhas Kumar Ganguly, in his first cameo, while Kishore became a full-fledged playback singer with Khemchand Prakash’s Ziddi (1948), including his famous solo, Marne ki duaen, and his first duet, Yeh kaun aaya re with Lata. Sati Naari (1948) marked his debut as a leading man, while Jhumroo (1961) was his first film as composer and lyricist (for the title-song). In his lifetime, Kishore also was producer, director, film writer and non-film singer and composer, and sang in multiple languages, including mother-tongue Bengali.

A top star from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s (his last film as an actor was his own Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin in 1982), Kishore Kumar refused to sing for anyone other than himself and his good friend Dev Anand for a long while. He even turned down Kalyanji-Anandji’s classic Kasme vaade pyar wafaa from Upkar. But with his tenure as an actor entering a low phase, he relented and began singing for everyone, with notable exceptions like Pradeep Kumar and Manoj Kumar.

Here is a look at 5 most popularly stars associated with him.

Kishore Kumar

Kishore Kumar was obviously his own voice as an actor. The classic musicals included Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Bhagam Bhag, New Delhi, Shararat, Ragini, Naya Andaz, Aasha, Half-Ticket, Naughty Boy, Dilli Ka Thug, Bewaqoof, Mr X In Bombay, Shriman Funtoosh, Padosan, Pyar Kiye Jaa, Jhumroo, Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein and others. Of course, when the song warranted, he gladly let other singers come as his playback voices, like Mohammed Rafi in nine songs (including the famous Man mora banwara from Ragini), Manna Dey in three songs, including Pehle murgi bani ke anda in Krorepati and even Hemant Kumar in a Bengali film.

Top Five

Paanch rupaiya barah aana—Chalti Ka Naam Gadi

Mere mehboob qayamat hogi—Mr. X in Bombay

Mere saamnewali khidki mein—Padosan

Eena meena deeka—Aasha

Nakhrewali—New Delhi

Dev Anand

Dev Anand’s list spanned from Ziddi in 1948 to Sacche Ka Bol Bala in 1989, with a classic crème-de-la-crème list that included Nau Do Gyarah, Funtoosh, Guide, Jewel Thief, Prem Pujari, Banarsi Babu, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Heera Panna, Gambler, Duniya, Amir Garib, Jaaneman, Des Pardes, Mahal, Johny Mera Naam, Teen Devian, Taxi Driver, Paying Guest, Munimji and Manpasand.

Top Five

Gaata rahe mera dil—Guide

Dukhi man mere—Funtoosh

Chhoid do aanchal—Paying Guest

Jeevan ke safar mein raahi—Munimji

Aankhon mein kya ji—Nau Do Gyarah 

Rajesh Khanna

With the sledgehammer impact of Aradhana as a music score, the film too got a terrific boost and so did Rajesh Khanna. The actor and singer formed a hit team whose songs went well into the 1980s. Among their magnificent combos were films like Do Raaste, Mehboob Ki Mehndi, Haathi Mere Saathi , Aan Milo Sajna, Daag, Anurodh, Prem Kahani, Saccha Jhutha, Safar, Maryada, Andaz, Khamoshi, Premnagar, Kati Patang, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Amar Prem, Apna Desh, Namak Haram, Souten, Agar Tum Na Hote, Joroo Ka Gulam, Aap Ki Kasam, Ajnabee and many more, including films bankrolled by the superstar like Roti, Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka and Alag Alag.

Top Five

Roop tera mastana—Aradhana

Mere pyari beheniya—Saccha Jhutha

Chal chal chal mere saathi—Haathi Mere Saathi

Sacchai chhup nahin sakti—Dushmun

Yeh kya hua—Amar Prem

Rishi Kapoor

Though Shailendra Singh was initially identified with Rishi Kapoor, with O hansini in Zehreela Insaan, Kishore Kumar became the first choice. Khel Khel Mein, Jhoota Kahin Ka, Saagar, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Doosara Aadmi, Duniya Meri Jeb Mein, Aap Ke Deewane, Karz, Do Premee, Badaltey Rishtey, Deedaar-E-Yaar and some others cemented the Rishi-Kishore team. True, Kishore had a lot of hits too with Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor and Jeetendra, but these actors were always associated more with Mohammed Rafi.

Top Five:

O hansini—Zehreela Insaan

Ek main aur ek tu—Khel Khel Mein

Aao manaaye jashn-e-mohabbat—Doosara Aadmi

Om shanti om—Karz

Sagar kinare—Saagar

Amitabh Bachchan

An association that began with a bang in Bombay To Goa, it went on to include Abhimaan (Amitabh’s home production), Majboor, Mili, Do Anjaane, Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarish, Khoon Pasina, Don, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Kasme Vaade, Mr Natwarlal, Manzil, Dostana, Ram Balram, Shaan, Laawaris, Silsila, Yaaranba, Kaalia, Namak Halaal, Sharaabi and more.

Top Five:

My name is Anthony Gonsalves—Amar Akbar Anthony

Khaike paan Banaraswala—Don

Chhookar mere man ko—Yaarana

Rimjhim gire saawan—Manzil

Pag ghunghroo—Namak Halaal