Kishore Kumar’s duets by SD Burman
It is befitting that I am completing my (renewed) series on SD Burman with the singer he was most fond of. With 115 songs, he gave Kishore Kumar more songs than any other (male) singer. Surjit Singh’s site indicates that out of this only 53 were solos, and 62 were duets and other songs. If you just start recalling their songs, duets are as likely to flood your memory as the solos. Can SD Burman-KK be complete without Kora kagaz tha ye man mera, Gata rahe mera dil, Aasman ke neeche hum aaj apne peeche or Chhod do aanchal zamana kya kahega? Therefore, when I resumed the SD Burman series with his different singers, it soon became clear that I have to do Kishore Kumar duets, too, to complement his solos I did last year.
KK duets by SDB are important not only because of their larger number, but also because in this combo, one plus one is more than two. One important reason, which music lovers are very well aware of, is the great variety of singers SDB could use with equal felicity. This distinguished him from his famous contemporaries. Kishore Kumar was himself one of the most versatile talents in the film world – he could be wild, he could be crazy, he could be funny and he could be very sombre. He brought all that to the duets he sang for SDB, and the two together with an eclectic mix of companion singers created some unforgettable gems of different moods and genres.
SDB’s birth and death anniversaries fall in October (b. 1 October 1906, d. 31 October 1975). I am presenting some of his best duets for Kishore Kumar as the final tribute to him in this long series, and as a tribute to Kishore Kumar on his death anniversary (b. 4 August 1929, d. 13 October 1987).
1. Jalti hai duniya tera mera pyaar hai (with Shamshad Begum) from Pyaar (1950), lyrics Rajnedra Krishna
For historical importance let me start from where the combo began. KK’s debut with SDB was for Raj Kapoor in which he had a couple of solos and two duets with Geeta Dutt and one with Shamshad Begum. Jalti hai duniya tera mera pyaar hai is full of verve, with Shamshad Begum switching to Punjabi in a few lines.
2. Gori ke nainon mein nindiyaa bhari (with Shamshad Begum) from Angaarey (1954), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi
The dominant trait of both Kishore Kumar and Shamshad Begum was fun and joy, but they could be extremely soulful too. In this duet from one of the forgotten scores of SDB, they sing a very melodious lorie. Picturised on Jeevan and Paro, lip-synching the song, and Baby Nanda, the lady being put to sleep (Identification, thanks to Hans; see comments #23 and 25), their gestures slide into comic with some funny lines. In spite of this discordance, the overall effect of this song is very pleasing.
3. O ji O humein aaj koi na chhediyo (with Asha Bhosle) fromFuntoosh (1956), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi
Funtoosh was the first movie where SDB-KK came with a bang with eternal solo like Dukhi man mere, and two beautiful duets with Asha Bhosle. Wo dekhe to unki inaayat na dekhe to rona kya was picturised as a boat song with the lovers and a comic kabbab mein haddi. I think that song has been discussed earlier. In a complete change of setting, in O ji O humein aaj koi na chhediyo Dev Anand is pushing a thela carrying Sheela Ramani. But with his declared intention to entice the lady, who is thoroughly enjoying the experience, the song is pure joy.
4. O nigaahein mastaana (with Asha Bhosle) from Paying Guest(1957), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
SDB follows up with a bigger bang next year, which had an immortal KK soloMaana janaab ne pukara nahi, and two equally great KK-Asha Bhosle duets. It is a difficult choice between Chhod do aanchal zamaan kya kahega and O nigaahein mastaana. I find the latter a little more melodious, with Asha Bhosle’s humming joining as KK’s voice tapers off, and continuing to accompany the musical interlude. If you want to quibble, this ‘duet’ is really a solo – a special type of songs we had discussed in detail on SoY – but Asha Bhosle’s humming does enhance the song tremendously.
5. Aankhon mein kya ji rupahala baadal (with Asha Bhosle) fromNau Do Gyarah (1957), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
The year 1957 saw a landmark film Pyaasa which marks the beginning of the middle phase of SD Burman’s music when Rafi emerges as his top singer. In Nau Do Gyarah, he does a balancing act between the two, with just a little tilt towards KK. Here is one of his greatest duets to complement his iconic solo Hum hain raahi pyaar ke. Notice how after O O.., SDB switches to whistling and, soon after, a variety of percussion instruments. The three way dialogue between the male and female voices and musical instruments, with whistling, continues throughout the song.
6. Hum the wo the aur samaan rangeen samajh gaye naa (with an unknown male voice) from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi was the most famous film showcasing the wild, crazy and funny Kishore Kumar. This had an outstanding solo Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si,and a number of duets. There are ‘pure’ duets with Asha Bhosle – Haal kaisa hai janaab ka and Main sitaaron ka taraana, and you have Hum the wo the aur samaan rangeen – another duet which in a way is really a solo, because the other male voice responds only with ‘Mannu tera hua, ab meraa kya hoga’, but that is enough to make the song, with KK and Anoop Kumar’s antics, a laugh riot. As for the unidentified male voice, my guess is it is SD Burman himself.
7. Tum jahaan jahaan hum wahaan wahaan (with Asha Bhosle) from Apna Haath Jagannath (1960), lyrics Kaifi Azmi
The wild Kishore Kumar also had a great romantic side. I had included Asha Bhosle solo from this film, Tujhe mili eroshani mujhako andhera, as one of my special favourites. This duet is also one of my greatest favourites of Kishore Kumar duets by SD Burman.
8. Are yaar meri tum bhi ho gazab (with Asha Bhosle) from Teen Deviyaan (1965), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
With Lata back in SDB fold, Teen Deviyaan has him balancing between her and Asha Bhosle (as also between Rafi and Kishore Kumar) in the film. So, if you have Likha hai teri aankhon mein –a KK-Lata duet on one hand – you have Tum bhi ho gazab, KK’s duet with Asha Bhosle on the other. This one has more of unexpected bends, when Kishore Kumar responds with Tum kali to zaroor hai in an entirely different tune when Asha Bhosle ends her stanza.
9. Gata rahe mera dil tu hi meri manzil (with Lata Mangehskar) from Guide (1965), lyrics Shailendra
SD Burman’s music was the high point in this landmark film from Navketan. When SDB suggested to Dev Anand to look for another music director as he was ill, Dev Anand was clear it had to be him and no one else, and he was willing to wait as long as he took to recover. The only duet in the film, Gata rahe mera dil,depicts the joy Waheeda Rehman feels on being with her lover, the Guide Raju, after breaking from her hapless marriage to an uncaring and adulterous archaeologist.
10. Aasman ke neeche hum aaj apne peechhe (with Lata Mangehskar) from Jewel thief (1967), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
Jewel Thief marks the beginning of the third phase of SD Burman’s music when he resumes his tilt to Kishore Kumar. He had a Rafi-Lata duet, Dil pukare aa re aa re. This was overshadowed by the opening KK solo, Ye dil na hota bechara,and this wonderful duet.
11. Gham pe dhool daalo kahkahaa laga lo (with Bhupendra) fromPrem Pujari (1970), lyrics Neeraj
Neeraj joins Navketan-SDB for the first time with some incredible songs, but the film had a tepid response. Shokhiyo mein ghola jaaye is a very popular pure duet with Lata Mangeshkar. Gham pe dhool daalo is a fun duet between Kishore Kumar (for Dev Anand) and Bhupendra (for Anoop Kumar on the wheel), targeted at the sulking Zaahida at the back of the jeep. The picturesque setting enhances the beauty of the song.
12. Jeevan ki bagiya mahkegi (with Lata Mangeshkar) from Tere Mere Sapne (1971), lyrics Neeraj
I end with this beautiful duet from a very sensitive film from Navketan. This too was not a great commercial success, but it must be one of the best directed by Vijay Anand, who also played a very powerful role in the film. The duet refers to the new entity that is to come into the life of Dev Anand-Mumtaz. The film had another great KK-Lata duet, Hey maine qasam li, and a beautiful Lata solo, Mera antar ek mandir hai tera. The film and the songs picturised on Mumtaz established her reputation as an actress par excellence.