Stray Thoughts & Opinions: August 2022

When Kishore Kumar released an LP of 12 Rabindrasangeet-s (in 1981), the record elicited mixed reactions. The purists felt that his enunciation of the words & his asserive throw of voice were a bit unsuitable for the style of rendering a Rabindrasangeet.

On the other hand, his fans, who liked the way he sang his Hindi & Bengali (both film & non film) songs, argued that Kishore Kumar was never a conformist. He charted new paths with his unconventional & spontaneous gayaki... and his bouquet of Rabindrasangeet-s was jus that.

These fans were not just ordinary fans. It included a certain movie director, Satyajit Ray, for whom Kishore Kumar sang a Rabindrasangeet for his globally acclaimed movie, Charulata (1964).

The western melodic progression of this tune, suited Kishore Kumar's style nicely (as did the ebullient on-screen persona of Soumitra Chatterjee)

Song: aami chini go chini tomaare (Charulata - 1964)

A year later, he sang a Rabindrasangeet as the title song of the movie, Ektuku Chhoaan Laage' (1965). The music director was Hemanta Mukherjee, who must have provided some valuable inputs to the singer. Kishore Kumar rendered this melodious, Pilu-based song, very very capably. He even managed to pay a quick tribute to his idol Kundanlal Saigal, by applying a gentle khaTka on the word 'laage' in the same way as Saigal did in his popular recording of the early 40-s.

Song: ektuku chhoaan laage (Title Song -1965)

K L Saigal's version (Movie: Parichay - 1941):

Kishore Kumar sang this song again, in the 80-s, in the set of songs, referred at the start of this post. For those set of songs too, it was Hemanta Mukherjee, who mentored Kishore Kumar. (These songs are easily available on YouTube)

Now for Kishore Kumar's very first Rabindrasangeet. This was released in 1958, for his self-produced Bengali movie, Lookochuri (with him playing a double role). This duet with Ruma Guha-Thakurta (his first wife and Amit Kumar's mother), is based on a blend of Bihag & Kalyan (something that Tagore was quite fond of) & showcases the mellow diction of Kishore Kumar.

Song: maayabono-bihaarini horini (Lukochuri -1958)

Once again, Hemanta Mukherjee, the music director Lukochuri, must have guided him appropriately.

Finally, after references of several Rabindrasangeet-s & Hemanta Mukherjee's name, I would like to dwell on the song of my choice.

This is not a Rabindrasangeet but a composition of Hemanta Mukherjee, who, as a legendary vocal exponent of this genre of songs, was an amazingly talented composer too. It is a song from the same movie as the last example (Lukochuri - 1958) & with the same co-singer (Ruma Guhathakurka).

The composition has a distinct touch of Rabindrasangeet.

Personally, it is this tonal quality of Kishore Kumar (during the cusp of the 50-s & 60-s) which is very close to my heart. It had the perfect mix of melody, lilt, pliancy & robustness.

Fans of Kishore Kumar deserved to have heard many more songs of this period (during which he was professionally de-focussed due to personal reasons).

This dulcet duet (an 'indoor song' in the movie) gently travels through the notes which are mostly in the first segment of the mid-octave. Kishore Kumar's resplendent rendition (that displays a beautiful vibrato in his voice as he holds on to the long notes) makes it an utter favourite of mine. He also negotiates the few low notes (down to the pancham of the mandra-saptak) with grace & aplomb.

Song: ei to hethaay kunjochhaayay

Artists: Kishore Kumar & Ruma Guhathakurta

Movie: Lukochuri (Bengali) (1958)

Music: Hemanta Mukherjee

Lyrics: Gauriprasanna Majumdar