Abhas Kumar Ganguly was born in Khandwa, now in Madhya Pradesh, to Kunjilal Ganguly, a Brahmin lawyer by profession, and Gouri Devi, both of whom came from wealthy landowning families. Kishore was the youngest in the Ganguly family, preceded by Ashok, Sati, & Anoop. While Kishore was still a child, his brother Ashok became a Bollywood actor. Later, Anoop also ventured into cinema with Ashok's help. Post Ashok Kumar's stardom, the Ganguly family shifted base to Mumbai. This was also the time when Abhas Kumar Ganguly changed his name to Kishore Kumar. His first venture into the big cinema career was as a chorus singer in the film "Bombay Talkies". His first film as an actor was in the film called "Shikari" which was released in the year 1946, wherein Ashok Kumar was the lead hero. In 1948, Kishore Kumar got a chance to sing the song "Marne Ki Duayen Kyon Mangu" for the film "Ziddi". After this, he got many other assignments, but he was not very serious about a film career. Although his films flopped initially, he achieved success as a comic hero with movies like "New Delhi", "Half Ticket" and "Padosan". All the praise and honor for his acting skills was still not the platform for his successful throne. He achieved his varied and unrivalled fame only after he was recognized as an established singer. Spending time with his brothers, Kishore became interested in films and music. He became a fan of singer-actor K. L. Saigal—whom he considered his vocal guru—and tried to emulate his singing style.The popular music director Sachin Dev Burman, who was impressed by his singing skills, advised him not to copy Saigal but develop and condense his own style. Kishore kept this advice in mind and eventually developed his own style of singing, prominently featuring the yodelling that he had heard on some records bought by his brother Anoop. In the Bollywood music circles, yodelling became Kishore's trademark.
With time, music directors started recognizing the potential of Kishore Kumar and he became one of the leading singers in the Indian film industry. The 1960s was a lean patch in Kumar's career graph. Most of his films bombed at the box office. However, in 1969 the tables turned once again, as R. D. Burman took over the recording initiatives after S. D. Burman fell ill for the film "Aradhana". R. D. Burman deployed Kishore Kumar to sing the songs "Mere Sapno Ki Rani" and "Roop Tera Mastana", both of which gained instant recognition and success at the box-office. Kishore Kumar also won his first Filmfare award for the song "Roop Tera Mastana". During the 1970s and 1980s, he sang for Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff.
With R. D. Burman, Kishore delivered great hits "O Maanjhi Re" from Khushboo, "Yeh Shaam Mastaani" and "Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai" from Kati Patang (1971), "Kuchh To Log Kahenge" from Amar Prem (1972), "Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi" from Buddha Mil Gaya (1971), "Musafir Hoon Yaaron" from Parichay (1972), "Diye Jalte Hain" from Namak Haraam (1973), "Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si" from Anamika (1973), "Zindagi Ke Safar Mein" from Aap Ki Kasam (1974), "Agar Tum Na Hote", "Humein Tum Se Pyaar Kitna" from Kudrat, "Mere Naina Saawan Bhadon" from Mehbooba, and "Chingari Koi Bhadke" (Amar Prem), "Jab Bhi Koi Kangana" from Shaukeen. Apart from the Burmans, Kishore Kumar worked with other music directors such as Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Rajesh Roshan, Sapan Chakravarty, and Bappi Lahiri.
His low-profile marriages to some of the most popular and attractive Bollywood actresses (Madhubala, Yogeeta Bali, Leena Chandavarkar) raised eyebrows, but added to his witty, eccentric persona although close friends and colleagues remember him as being reticent and sentimental.
During the Indian Emergency in 1975-77, Kishore refused to sing for Indira Gandhi's 'Emergency Propaganda'. In retaliation, she banned his songs on all national media. When Amitabh Bachchan refused to do a guest appearance in a film produced by him, Kishore stopped singing for the actor, which affected the latter's future film endeavours immensely. By the late 1980s, Kishore had grown tired of the type of songs he was singing and decided to retire from the industry. Later in the 1970s and early 1980s, Kishore Kumar produced and directed movies such as "Badhti Ka Naam Daadhi" (1978), "Zindagi" (1981) and "Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin" (1980). His last appearance as an actor was in "Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin". In the mid-1980s, Kishore Kumar sang for Anil Kapoor in Kapoor's debut film as a leading man, "Woh Saat Din" and also recorded "Mr. India". He sang a duet with Alka Yagnik, "Tumse Badhkar Duniya Mein Na Dekha" for "Kaamchor". He also recorded some songs for the film "Saagar" with R. D. Burman.
On October 13th 1987, co-incidentally also the birthday of his elder brother Ashok Kumar, Kishore suffered a heart attack and breathed his last. His untimely and unexpected death shocked the entire nation. He left behind a rich vocal and visual legacy and millions of fans who still prefer his rich-coffee baritones over present-day playback singers.
Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke
Kishore Kumar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
jo bhee pyaar se milaa, hum usee ke ho liye
dard bhee humei kabool chain bhee humei kabool
hum ne har tarah ke fool haar mein piro liye
dhoop thee naseeb me, dhup mein liyaa hain dam
chaandanee milee to hum chaandanee mein so liye
dil pe aasaraa kiye, hum to bas yoo hee jiye
yek kadam pe has liye, yek kadam pe ro liye
raah mein pade hain hum kab se aap kee kasam
dekhiye to kam se kam boliye naa boliye
The first two lines of the song, "hum hain raahee pyaar ke hum se kuchh naa boliye, jo bhee pyaar se milaa, hum usee ke ho liye," translate to, "we are travelers on the path of love, do not say anything to us; whatever we have received through love, we have become theirs." The lovers are on a journey together where they have come to accept the pain and pleasure that comes with love. They ask others to not say anything because at this point, their love is beyond the words of others. They have embraced everything that comes with love, good or bad, and have committed to being together.
The next two lines, "dard bhee humei kabool chain bhee humei kabool, hum ne har tarah ke fool haar mein piro liye," translate to, "we accept both pain and peace, we have adorned every type of flower in our garland." Here, the lovers have embraced everything that comes with love. Whether joy or sorrow follows in their path, they have learned to accept and live with it. The second line refers to the metaphor of a flower garland made by them, signifying that they have accepted all the good and bad that comes with love.
The final four lines talk about how the lovers have made each other their lives. They have been through good and bad times, and have both laughed and cried together. They pledge their commitment to each other and ask others to witness their love. "raah mein pade hain hum kab se aap kee kasam, dekhiye to kam se kam boliye naa boliye" translates to "we have taken your oath and been on this path for a long time, at least see us and say something or say nothing at all."
Overall, Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke is a beautiful song that talks about the journey of two people in love. It is an excellent portrayal of the different emotions that come with being in a relationship, the good and the bad, but accepting them all the same.
Line by Line Meaning
hum hain raahee pyaar ke hum se kuchh naa boliye
We are traveling on the path of love, don't say anything to us. Whatever we receive with love, we make it our own.
jo bhee pyaar se milaa, hum usee ke ho liye
Whatever we get with love, we accept it as ours.
dard bhee humei kabool chain bhee humei kabool
We accept both pain and peace as part of life.
hum ne har tarah ke fool haar mein piro liye
We have embraced all types of flowers, whether they are beautiful or not.
dhoop thee naseeb me, dhup mein liyaa hain dam
We were destined to face hardships, so we have learned to survive in tough situations.
chaandanee milee to hum chaandanee mein so liye
When we found a moment of peace, we embraced it fully.
dil pe aasaraa kiye, hum to bas yoo hee jiye
We rely on our own feelings and emotions and live life accordingly.
yek kadam pe has liye, yek kadam pe ro liye
We have experienced both joy and sorrow in life.
raah mein pade hain hum kab se aap kee kasam
We have been traveling on this path for a long time, as we have promised you.
dekhiye to kam se kam boliye naa boliye
At least look at us, if you don't want to say anything.
Contributed by Max M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.