Monday, September 28, 2009

Amit Kumar

Born: 3 July 1952, India

Birth name: Amit Kumar Ganguly (Known as Ameet Kumar)

Amit Kumar was born on 3rd July 1952.  He is the son of famous singer and actor Kishore Kumar and Bengali singer and actress Ruma Guha Thakurta. Like his father he too loved singing since childhood and used to sing in Kolkata during Durga Pooja functions. Once he was performing on stage in Kolkata in a Durga Pooja function arranged by Bengali actor Uttam Kumar, people kept on requesting for more songs and this information reached his mother. She called in Kishore Kumar and complained that his son was singing 'filmy' songs. Hearing this Kishore Kumar decided to bring him to Bombay.
 

He also acted in films which were directed by and starred his father. His notable ones were Door Gagan Ki chhaon mein (1964), Door ka Rahi (1971),Badhti Ka Naam Daadhi (1974) and Shabhash Daddy (1979).

He made his debut in singing and as a child actor in his father's movie "Door Ka Rahi". He recorded a song "Main Panchi Matwaala Re" as child singer artist. This song was removed from the film later by Kishore Kumar.In 1976 the film Balika Badhu with the song Bade Achchhe Lagte Hain.. brought him on the tinsel town big stage. This song can easily be kept in some of the best melodies of all times. The song was composed by legendary R.D. Burman. After that he recorded many songs with R.D. Burman.

In late 70s he sang few songs for various films. The song Aati Rahengi Baharein from the film 'Kasme Vaade' was a huge hit. He sang for Randhir Kapoor in this song while Kishore Kumar sang for Amitabh Bachchan.He sang many hit songs in the films like Aandhi, Khatta Meetha, GolMaal, Des Pardes, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Deewanagi, Duniya Meri Jeb Mein, Parvarish, Baaton Baaton Mein etc. The duet song with Lata Mangeshkar from the film 'Baaton Baaton Mein' Uthe Sabke Kadam was quite popular.

1980s started with a bang for him with mega hit film Love Story. He sang all the songs of the film and got his Filmfare Award for the duet Yaad Aa Rahi Hai with Lata Mangeshkar. About this song music composer R.D. Burman jokingly told him before release that this song sounds like a "Bhajan".

In 1980 the actor Feroz Khan produced a super hit film Qurbani. There was a song Laila O Laila in this film that became a really big hit. He rendered his voice for this song for Amjad Khan.His duet song Tu Rootha To Main Ro Dungi with Asha Bhonsle from the film "Jawani" in the year 1984 composed by R.D. Burman was mega hit. Another chartbuster from 1983 from the film Haadsaa was Ye Bombai Shahar Haadsoon Ka Shaher Hai. This song was super hit.In this decade, he sang for almost all music direrctors, actors and produced hit after hit.
He later became voice of Anil Kapoor in 1980s. But before this many hit songs too were released for Kumar Gaurav in films like Romance, Teri Kasam, Lovers, All Rounder, Telefilm-Janam, etc. In this decade he sang super hits for Anil Kapoor in the films like Tezaab, Yudh etc.The song from Tridev filmed on Naseer Oye-Oye was such a huge nationwide hit that it became the second identity of Naseer. He sang for Naseer in the film Hero Hiralal too.

1990 started with films like Hum and the song Sanam Mere Sanam brought another big hit for Amit. Baaghi had a smash hit in the song Kaisa Lagta Hai. From the film Ghayal the song "Pyar Tum Mujhase" was popular.He delivered more hits for the film Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. The songs Deewana Dil Deewana and Sacchi Ye Kahani Hai were hits, especially the former.In this decade, he sang for some other hit films too like Awwal Number, ChaalBaaz, Khel, Vishwatma, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Judaai, Indrajeet etc.

Later in the decade with the invasion of many other Kishore Kumar clones his career started fading. The great R.D. Burman too was no more with whom he had a special bonding. He started withdrawing and making himself more busy in live stage performances in various parts of the world.In this phase, he lost out to sing for R.D. Burman's last mega hit 1942: A Love Story. He stated in another interview that R.D. Burman was under pressure to use another singer for the songs because it was the 'trend' in those days.

During these years, he composed and released music albums which were not much successful. Some of these are : MAD, PYAR TO BUS PYAR HAI and DAM DAMA DAM. Some music directors tried to recreate the old magic by composing songs similar to the ones in 1970s sung by his legendary father Kishore Kumar. However, success on this front was elusive.

In the late 90s,he was almost an invisible name on the music relases.Songs like "Koi Nahi Aisa" from film Dillagi was recorded in 1999. Later films like Beti No. 1, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam had featured his voice too. But in the year 2003, a film inspired by R.D. Burman Jhankar Beats again used his voice.

In year 2006, the film Apna Sapna Money Money carried a song Dil Mein Baji Guitar was a big hit.In 2008 are songs from films called "Khushboo", "Abhimanyu", "Ishq Ho Gaya Mamu" to name a few.

The latest in 2009 is a Bangla Song of a film Olot Palot -- "Jhing Kur Kur".

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