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.
Zindagi Ka Safar
Kishore Kumar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
ज़िंदगी का सफ़र है ये कैसा सफ़र
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
है ये कैसी डगर चलते हैं सब मगर
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
मौत से भी मुहब्बत निभायेंगे हम
रोते रोते ज़माने में आये मगर
हँसते हँसते ज़माने से जायेँगे हम
जायेँगे पर किधर है किसे ये खबर
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
ऐसे जीवन भी हैं जो जिये ही नहीं
जिनको जीने से पहले ही मौत आ गयी
फूल ऐसे भी हैं जो खिले ही नहीं
जिनको खिलने से पहले फ़िज़ा खा गई
है परेशां नज़र थक गये चाराग़र
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
ज़िन्दगी का सफ़र है ये कैसा सफ़र
कोई समझा नहीं
"Zindagi Ka Safar" is a song that reflects on the journey of life and how unpredictable and challenging it can be. Kishore Kumar's soulful voice and the powerful lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty about life. The song begins with the questioning of the nature of the journey of life and how nobody seems to truly understand it. The lyricist believes that life is full of twists and turns that we must navigate, but nobody has truly grasped the nature of this journey.
The song continues with a discussion of love and how it is possible to love even in the face of death. However, the uncertainties of life make it difficult to know where we will end up, despite the best laid plans. The mention of people who were not able to live long enough to fulfill their potential is a reminder of how fleeting life can be. The song ends with a sense of resignation and confusion about the nature of life's journey.
Overall, "Zindagi Ka Safar" is a poignant reflection on the journey of life and the struggle to understand its complexities.
Line by Line Meaning
ज़िंदगी का सफ़र है ये कैसा सफ़र
Life is a journey, but what kind of journey is it?
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
No one understands it, and no one knows where it leads.
है ये कैसी डगर चलते हैं सब मगर
Everyone is walking on this path, but what kind of road is it?
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
No one understands it, and no one knows where it leads.
ज़िंदगी को बहुत प्यार हमने किया
We have loved life so much,
मौत से भी मुहब्बत निभायेंगे हम
we will even show love to death itself,
रोते रोते ज़माने में आये मगर
We came into this world crying, but
हँसते हँसते ज़माने से जायेँगे हम
we will leave it with a smile on our face.
जायेँगे पर किधर है किसे ये खबर
But where we will go, no one knows.
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
No one understands it, and no one knows where it leads.
ऐसे जीवन भी हैं जो जिये ही नहीं
There are also lives that are never lived,
जिनको जीने से पहले ही मौत आ गयी
where death comes before life.
फूल ऐसे भी हैं जो खिले ही नहीं
There are also flowers that never bloom,
जिनको खिलने से पहले फ़िज़ा खा गई
where the air polluted before they could even blossom.
है परेशां नज़र थक गये चाराग़र
The tired poet looks around and is troubled,
कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं
No one understands it, and no one knows where it leads.
ज़िन्दगी का सफ़र है ये कैसा सफ़र
Life is a journey, but what kind of journey is it?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: INDEEWAR, ANANDJI V SHAH, KALYANJI VIRJI SHAH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@padmkumarjain
I saw this movie in Palace Talkies in Hyderabad! Brings back memories of that era! Population of India around 550 million and no highrise buildings. Air was easy to breathe! Coffee in Tajmahal in Hyderabad was 30 paise! Fond memories! Lost lot of friends and dear ones in the last 55 years! This song is immortal song!
@sandeepgyan3485
Great experience u got
@kabuljankabul3357
I saw it a zelion years ago in Kabul,back then we had human valius but not any more.
@SPEARHEADGLOBAL
How old are u?
@user-iu1lw1ys1v
Rajesh Khanna, Kishore ki awaaz baaz awqat saans rook duty.. 😢
@samirkuilasona7893
2023 me ye gaana sunke bhi dil ko santi mil raha hai
@ye.kya.hua..
Phle bhi suna tha kya
@rudranshumallick1364
ये गान कौन गा रहा है?
किशोर कुमार या राजेश खन्ना
ऐसा लग रहा है कि ये गाना राजेश खन्ना गा रहा हो
ये खासियत थी किशोर कुमार के पास कि वोह किसी भी अभिनेता कि आवाज़ को अपनी आवाज़ से जोड़ लेते थे।
इसी लिए किशोर कुमार जैसा गायक हिंदुस्तान तो क्या पूरे विश्वा में कहि नहीं होगा।
किशोर दा एक हि था
किशोर दा एक हि है
किशोर दा एक हि रहेगा
@rathodpooja1996
😢
@shambhudahal9853
Only actor in Bollywood to invent the word Superstar.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏