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.
O Majhi Re
Kishore Kumar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Apna kinara nadiyan ki dhaara hai
O majhi re
Saahilon pe bahnewale, khabi suna to hoga kahin o
Ho kaagazon ki kashtiyon ka kahin kinara hota nahin
O majhi re majhi re
Koi kinara jo kinare se mile woh apna kinara hai
Paniyon mein bah rahe hain kai kinare toote hue o
Ho raaston mein mil gaye hain sabhi sahare chhoote hue
Koi sahara majhadhaare mein mile jo, apna sahara hai
O majhi re apna kinara nadiyan ki dhaara hai
O majhi re
The song 'O Majhi Re' is a beautiful portrayal of the life of a boatman, his love for the river and his kinara. The song is sung by Kishore Kumar, with music composed by S.D. Burman and lyrics written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The boatman is the singer of the song, who cherishes the river which is his life and livelihood. The song starts with the boatman addressing himself, calling himself 'O Majhi Re'. He acknowledges that the river flow is his shoreline, his kinara. The boatman is calling out to his own self to remind him of his identity and his relationship with the river.
The second stanza of the song describes the life of the boatman. He says that those who live on the shores of the river must have heard about him. He then says that there is no shore for those who are on the paper boats. The line may mean that the boatman and his life are not meant for only those who read and write on paper, but also for those who experience the river and everything that comes with it. He then repeats the phrase "O majhi re" to indicate his feelings of pride and passion for his work.
The third stanza of the song talks about the hardships that the boatman and people around him face. The song says that many shores have broken down in floods, and people have lost their anchors on the roads. The only help that people can find is in each other. The boatman then says that if someone finds any shore amidst the rapids, then that shore is their own kinara.
Overall, the song 'O Majhi Re' is a beautiful ode to the river, its flow and the relationship between the boatman and his life.
Line by Line Meaning
O majhi re o majhi re
Oh, boatman, dear boatman
Apna kinara nadiyan ki dhaara hai
Our shore is the river's current
Saahilon pe bahnewale, khabi suna to hoga kahin o
Those who flow along the shores must have heard that
Ho kaagazon ki kashtiyon ka kahin kinara hota nahin
The paper boats don't have a defined shore
O majhi re majhi re
Oh, boatman, dear boatman
Koi kinara jo kinare se mile woh apna kinara hai
Any shore that meets another shore becomes our shore
O majhi re
Oh, boatman, dear boatman
Paniyon mein bah rahe hain kai kinare toote hue o
Many broken shores are flowing in the waters
Ho raaston mein mil gaye hain sabhi sahare chhoote hue
All the supports have been left behind on the paths
Koi sahara majhadhaare mein mile jo, apna sahara hai
Any support found in the river is our support
O majhi re apna kinara nadiyan ki dhaara hai
Oh, boatman, our shore is the river's current
O majhi re
Oh, boatman, dear boatman
Writer(s): SULTANPURI MAJROOH, MAJROOH SULTANPURI, RAHUL DEV BURMAN
Contributed by Sebastian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bhupinderkumar1286
When RD Burman , Kishore Kumar and Gulzar sahib are met then there is a Qayamat .❤❤❤
@nicerajnikant
Kishore da's voice is like honey. Effortless singing. R D Burman was crying during this recording. He said how come someone can sing like this. He said Kishore da is not a singer he is a mucisian. Lovely sings
@saptarshisanyal4869
He may have won the most number of filmfare awards(8), but he deserved 100 filmfare awards with the monumental talent he had.
@sitamberbabu418
Kishore da is no 1 singer of this planet ,RDB is no 1 music director in the planet
@neelesh2771
Absolutely right....
@rimjhimsensharma6039
Rat 10.25 pm .....charho taraf sannata....lockdown....dil ko kitna sakun milti hay...kya bolun...music is the best medicine of ❤
@dr.babarrashid7032
Kishore was a legend. He will remain alive in hearts of music lovers, all around the world...
@bishalsarkar.8948
KISHORE KUMAR IS A LEGEND 💖💖
@sunderganeshanplsundergane1329
No doubt about it....100% correct.
@rajivpanvelkar4273
Actually should have shown origional video or still photos of original