Amit Kumar

For other people named Amit Kumar, see Amit Kumar (disambiguation).

Amit Kumar
Birth name	Amit Kumar Ganguly
Also known as	Ameet Kumar
Born	(1952-07-03) July 3, 1952
Genres	Bollywood and regional filmi playback, Rabindra Sangeet
Occupation(s)	Singer, Actor, Director, Producer, Musician
Instrument(s)	Vocalist, Percussion Instruments (Banjo)
Years active	1965 - Present

Amit Kumar (born 3 July 1952) is an Indian film playback singer, actor, director, and music director. He is the son of the legendary Indian singer and actor Kishore Kumar and the Bengali singer and actress Ruma Guha Thakurta. Like his father, Amit loved singing and from childhood used to sing during Durga Pooja functions in Kolkata. Once when he was performing on stage in a Durga Pooja function arranged by Bengali actor Uttam Kumar, people kept requesting more songs and this information reached his mother. She complained to Kishore Kumar that his son was singing "filmy" songs. Hearing this Kishore Kumar decided to bring him to Bombay.

Before this, Kishore Kumar had cast Amit as his son in two critically acclaimed films that he produced himself, Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (the well known song "Aa chalke tujhe, mein leke chaloon" was filmed with Kishore Kumar singing to his eleven-year-old son) and Door Ka Raahi (with Amit as a teenager).

He has sung many Bollywood and regional film songs since the 1970s and was more actively singing in Indian films from 1970-1994 as after death of R.D.Burman in 1994, citing lack of good quality music being composed, he withdrew from playback singing and concentrated on live orchestra shows. Apart from Hindi songs, he sang several songs in Bangla, Bhojpuri, Odia, Assamese, Marathi, Konkani. He has the original voice of Kishore without having any nasal touch to his voice like other Kishore clones but as he withdrew himself from film industry after 1994, he has been under-utilised by music directors, in-spite of him having extremely good voice.

1970s

Amit Kumar made his debut as a child singing and acting in his father's movie Door Ka Raahi. He recorded the song "Main ik panchi matwaala re", which was later removed from the film. His duets with Kishore like Haseeno Ke Chakkar Mein from Deewangee, Nazar Lage Na Saathiyo(Des Pardes) and Sun Chache Bol from Badthi Ka Naam Dadhi became popular. In the 1976 film Balika Badhu he sang "Bade achchhe lagte hain", by the legendary composer R. D. Burman, with whom he subsequently recorded many other songs.

In the late '70s "Aati rahengi baharein", from Kasme Vaade, was a huge hit, which he sang for Randhir Kapoor and again did playback for Randhir Kapoor in Chor Ke Ghar Chor(1978) and Dhongee.

Amit Kumar sang many hit songs in various films, including Aandhi, Aap Ke Deewane, Khatta Meetha, Gol Maal, Des Pardes, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Deewanagi(1976), Duniya Meri Jeb Mein, Parvarish, Humare Tumhare(1979), Baton Baton Mein, and others. The duet sung with Lata Mangeshkar from the film Baton Baton Mein - "Uthe sabke kadam" - and "Dekh Mausam Keh Raha Hai" from Duniya Mere Jeb Main became a rage and duet with Asha Bhosle like Dhal Din Kaise from Laal Khoti .

1980s

Amit sang all the songs for the 1981 hit film Love Story, and won a Filmfare Award for the duet "Yaad aa rahi hai" with Lata Mangeshkar. Composer R. D. Burman jokingly told Amit before its release that this song sounds like a "Bhajan".After success of Love Story, Rajesh Khanna asked Amit Kumar to do playback for him in Amit Kumar for the very first time in Fiffty Fiffty(1981) and then later Amit sang for Khanna in Aakhir Kyon?(1985), Ghar Ka Chirag, Jai Shiv Shankar, Swarg(1990) and Sautela Bhai.

In 1980 the actor Feroz Khan produced the film Qurbani (1980 film), from which the song "Laila o Laila" became a big hit, with Amit Kumar rendering his voice for Amjad Khan. He had hit solo and duet songs from 1980-89 in films like Hum Paanch, Bulundi, Itni Si Baat, Hamari Bahu Alka, Anokha Bandhan, Jawaani, Jeeva, Khatron Ke Khiladi, Maalamaal,Ilzaam, Anokha Rishta, Rama O Rama, Jaaydaad, Khoj,Tridev,ChaalBaaz, Aag Se Khelenge etc.His songs were a hit irrespective of whether the film was a hit at the box office. Though Dhuan(1981), Lovers, Jawani, Apne Apne, Rama O Rama, Khoj inthe 80's were disasters at box office, his duet and solo songs from these films were hits.His song Aao Naye Sapne Bune composed by Basudev from Main Qatil Hun became famous in 1984.

His duet Hum Jis Raste Pe Chale with Lata and solo numbers Maang Loonga and Mere Geeton from Romance were chartbuster in 1982. His duets "Tu rootha toh main ro doongi sanam" with Asha Bhonsle and Gali Gali Dhoonda Tujhe with Lata and Halla Gulla Maza Hai from the film Jawani (1984), composed by R. D. Burman were a mega hits. Another chart-buster from 1983 from the film Haadsaa was "Yeh Bombay shehar haadsoon ka sheher hai" and in 1986 it was song Mary Tu Hoja Meri from Anokha Rishta.

In this decade, Amit Kumar sang for almost all music directors, actors, producing hit after hit. In the 1980s he was the second most preferred male playback singer in Hindi films with his father Kishore Kumar being the first choice to sing for the heroes. Among all music-directors, Amit Kumar as a playback singer was used more by Pancham from 1975-1994 and then by Bappi Lahiri from 1985-1995. He became the voice of Kumar Gaurav the 1980s and their combination gave many hit songs from the films such as Romance (1983), Teri Kasam, Lovers (1983), All rounder, and Telefilm-Janam. Later in this decade Kumar sang hits for Anil Kapoor, among newcomers of late 1980's, in films including Tezaab, Yudh, Aag Se Khelenge. The duet with Asha - Tere Naina Mere Naina from Aag Se Khelenge became famous.

The song from Tridev filmed with Naseeruddin Shah, "Oye oye- Tirchi topi waaley", was a nationwide hit and again Amit did playback for Naseeruddin Shah in the film Hero Hiralal which was famous as well.His duet Yeh Kismat Hai Kya Kisne Dekha Yahan with Alka Yagnik from Ghar Ka Chirag became popular in 1989.

Soon after Kishore Kumar's death, he and his half-brother Sumit Kumar released an album called Dui Kishore as a tribute to their father.

Early 1990s to mid-1990s

In 1990 the film Hum and the song "Sanam mere sanam" brought another big hit for Amit. Baaghi: A Rebel for Love had a smash hit in the song "Kaisa lagta hai". From the film Ghayal the song "Pyaar tum mujhase" was popular.

Amit delivered more hits even in 1993 with Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. The songs "Deewana dil deewana" and "Sachhi yeh kahani hai" were hits.

In this decade, he had hit songs in hit films like Sailaab, Police Public, Aaj Ka Arjun, 100 Days, Awwal Number, ChaalBaaz, Khel, Vishwatma, Honeymoon, Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj, Gurudev, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Judaai) and also had hit songs in the films which flopped at the box office like Jawani Zindabad , Afsana Pyar Ka, Indrajeet, Sangdil Sanam, Jaagruti, Deewana Mujhsa Nahin, Suryavanshi.

Amit Kumar enjoyed a special work relationship,in addition to R.D.Burman and Bappi Lahiri, with the music duo Anand-Milind, who heavily promoted Kumar in the early 1990s. Among their best works are: Baaghi: A Rebel for Love, Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hain, Maha-Sangram, Swarg, Anjaane Rishtey, Talaashi, Sangdil Sanam, and Rakhwala. Anand-Milind were one of the few new-age music composers of that period who regularly recorded with Amit Kumar, making him the voice for Salman Khan in Baaghi, Suryavanshi, Ek Ladka Ek Ladki, Jaagruti, Sangdil Sanam and of Aamir Khan in films like Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin and Jawani Zindabad. Amit Kumar's duets with Asha Bhosle in the film Afsana Pyar Ka, a box office dud, with Bappi Lahiri as music-composer like Nazrein Milin, Tip Tip Baarish were hit songs and were picturised on Aamir Khan. His duets like Palkon Ke Tale,Mujhko Yeh Zindagi Lagti Hai in the flop films Sailaab were hits too. By this he gained reputation of being a singer who belted out hit songs irrespective of the film being a commercial success or critically panned film or otherwise.

Amit Kumar also enjoyed success with another fresh talent from the 1990s, Jatin-Lalit, who had Amit Kumar croon hit numbers in several films such as Paandav(1995), Silsila Hai Pyar Ka, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham....

Later in the decade he declined most singing offers citing that the quality of music was deteriorating from 1990's and was also unhappy with the invasion of many other Kishore Kumar clones (whom he openly declared had nasal touch in their voices and were not singing like Kishore from stomach) and after the death of R. D. Burman in 1994, with whom Amit had a special bonding, Kumar withdrew himself from film industry. Kumar started undertaking more live stage performances in various parts of the world since 1996.

During these years, he composed and released music albums which were not much successful. Some of these are:

• MAD
• Pyaar toh bas pyaar hai
• Dam dama dam

Some music directors tried to recreate the old magic by composing songs similar to the ones in the 1970s sung by his legendary father. However, success on this front was elusive.

Television

• In the late 1980s, Kumar rendered his voice to TV serials on Doordarshan such as Chuanuti and Campus.
• He also did songs for the Telefilm Janam.
• He sang the title tracks for the Hindi-dubbed version of Disney's animated series Duck Tales and Bob the Builder.
• He was one of the main judges in the May 2008 singing competition reality TV show K for Kishore, where singers tried to recreate the magic of Kishore Kumar's songs on Sony Entertainment Television Asia.

2000- to Date

• He will be the main judge in the singing competition on Zee Bangla TV for the show: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Mr/Miss Universe 2010.
• He also sang two songs in Raju Chacha, starring Ajay Devgan, Kajol and Rishi Kapoor - "Dil dil ka yeh kaam hai" and "Kahin se ayi Rani".
• He sang "Tigde Tigde" with Neetha Subhir for Kandahar, starring Mohanlal and Amitabh Bachchan.
• He sang "Dilrubaon Ke Jalwe" in "Dulha Mil Gaya"
• 2012 - His Albums "MAD" and "Oh My Sweetheart" were relaunched and received excellent response.
• 2013 - He sang "Naino me sapna" song for the Sajid Khan(director)'s movie Himmatwala (2013 film) starring Ajay Devgan.

Bangla-Hindi connection

Not many people know that one of the most popular duet songs of Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, "Kya yehi pyaar hai" from Rocky (1981 film)Rocky]], the debut film of Sanjay Dutt, composed by R. D. Burman, was initially sung by Amit Kumar in Bangla film.

There are seven songs sung by Amit and his father separately. All Bangla songs were sung by Amit and their Hindi versions were sung by Kishore. Songs are:

Bangla	Hindi
Pran to maane na	Bachna ae haseeno
Kato din aar	Mujhko baas yuhi udaas rahene do
Patho cheye	Chhodo sanam
Sono rubi	Zubi zubi
Jenona jeona	Kya yahi pyaar hai
E paar bhange	Kabhi palkon pe
Ki kore janle tumi	Tum mere zindegi mein

Filmfare awards

Won

Year	Song	Film	Music director(s)	Lyricist
1981	"Yaad Aa Rahi Hai"	Love Story	Rahul Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi

Nominated

Year	Song	Film	Music director(s)	Lyricist
1982	"Yeh Zameen Gaa Rahi Hai"	Teri Kasam	Rahul Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1988	"Ek Do Teen"	Tezaab	Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Anand Bakshi
1989	"Tirchhi Topiwale"	Tridev	Kalyanji Anandji	Anand Bakshi
1990	"Kaisa Lagta Hai"	Baaghi	Anand-Milind	Sameer

Acting stint

Amit Kumar acted in several films that were directed by and starred his father, notably Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964), Door Ka Raahi (1971), Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi (1974) and Shabhash Daddy (1979). In 1989 he directed and starred in his father's incomplete film Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein, which he completed and the film was released in 1989.

Filmography

See Amit Kumar Filmography

Some popular songs

1. "Dilrubaon ke jalwe" (Dulha Mil Gaya, 2009 / 2010)
2. "Main ek panchhi" (Door Ka Raahi)
3. "Main jis din bhula dun" (Police Public)
4. "Teri yaad aa rahi hai" (Love Story, 1981)
5. "Dekho maine dekha hai ye ek sapna" (Love Story, 1981)
6. "Aankho mein band karloon" (Sangdil Sanam)
7. "Aankhon mein band karloon" (Sad version) (Sangdil Sanam)
8. "One two three give me a kiss" (Sangdil Sanam)
9. "Sanam sangdil sanam" (Sangdil Sanam)
10. "Aap ko dekh ke" (Kishen Kanhaiya)
11. "Ye zameen gaa rahi hai" (Teri Kasam)
12. "Bade acche lagate hain" (Balika Badhu, (1976))
13. "Bombay shehar" (Haadsa, 1983)
14. "Deewana dil deewana (Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, with Udit Narayan)
15. "Sacchi Ye Kahani hai.. Kaise Don" (Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa)
16. "Dil dil dil le liya" (Bhagyawan)
17. "Nazrein mili (Afsana Pyaar Ka)
18. "Aashiq deewana" (Afsana Pyaar Ka)
19. "Tip tip tip baarish" (Afsana Pyaar Ka)
20. "Pehla Pehla Pyar Hai" (1988 Film: Woh Phir Aayegi. With Anuradha Paudwal)
21. "Tu rootha toh mein ro doongi sanam" (Jawaani, 1984 film))
22. "Dil mein bajey guitar" (Apna Sapna Money Money with Mika)
23. "Koi nahin aisa" (Dillagi)
24. "Makhna" (Bade Miyan Chote Miyan)
25. "Kehh do ke tum ho meri varna" (Tezaab)
26. "Jaan-e-mann jaan-e-jigar" (Ghazab, 1982)
27. "Laila o Laila" (Qurbani, 1980)
28. "Aati rahengi bahaarein" (Kasme Vaade with Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhonsle)
29. "Gabbar Singh yeh keh gaya" (100 Days, 1991)
30. "Le le dil de de dil" (100 Days, 1991)
31. "Hum Aur Tum Ab Nahin Paraye" (Jamai Raja, 1990, with Alka Yagnik)
32. "Ek do teen" (Tezaab)
33. "Oye oye- Tirchi topi waaley" (Tridev, 1989, with Sapna Mukherjee)
34. "Main hoon hero" (Ram Lakhan)
35. "Jao tum chahe jahan / Yaad karoge vahan" (Narsimha, 1991)
36. "Na jaane kahan se ayeeh" (Chaalbaaz)
37. "Kaisa lagta hai" (Baaghi: A Rebel for Love, with Anuradha Paudwal)
38. "Maang teri saja doon" (Baaghi: A Rebel for Love, with Anuradha Paudwal)
39. "Tap tap tapori" (Baaghi: A Rebel for Love)
40. "Rama o Rama" (Rama O Rama)
41. "Roz roz aankho tale" (Jeeva)
42. "Sanam mere sanam" (Hum)
43. "Suno suno ladkiyon" (Silsila Hai Pyar Ka, 1999)
44. "Uthe sabke kadam" (Baton Baton Mein)
45. "Na bole tum na maine kuch kaha" (Baton Baton Mein)
46. "Salma pe dil aa gaya" (Salma Pe Dil Aa Gaya, Title song)
47. "Le jhing kur kur" (Olot Palot - Bangla Film 2009)
48. "Ms. India marti mujhpe" (Dhamaal with Adnan Sami)
49. "Juhi ne dil maanga main nakkho bola" (Ehsaas: The Feeling, 2001)
50. "Chori ki baatein" (Fight Club – Members Only, 2006, with Shweta Pandit)
51. "Yeh raat yeh tanhaiyaan" (Gunaah—1993 film, with Sadhna Sargam)
52. "Vinashak aatha hai" (Vinashak – Destroyer, (1998))
53. "Aana re aana re dil yeh deewana re" (Gurudev (film), 1993, with Asha Bhonsle and Shailender Singh)
54. "Ek din tera dheere se dharwaja kholunga" (Gurudev, 1993)
55. "Dheere dheere dheere chori chori chori (Imtihaan, 1995, with Alka Yagnik
56. "Chal naujawaan aage chal" (Jaagruti, 1992)
57. "Dil jigar ke jaan" (Jaanam, 1992, with Anuradha Paudwal)
58. "Teri chahat ke siva" (Jaanam, 1992, with Anuradha Paudwal)
59. "Humein tumse pyaar kitna" (Jhankaar Beats, 2002, with K. K.)
60. "Maalum hai kya" (Jhankaar Beats, 2002, with Vishal Dadlani)
61. "Rukh rukh rukhna" (Jhankaar Beats, 2002, with Vishal Dadlani)
62. "Naam hai mera Fonseca" (Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, 1992)
63. "Aaya main aaya" (Maha-Sangram, 1990, with Udit Narayan)
64. "Aa baahon mein aa" (Maha-Sangram, 1990, with Anuradha Paudwal)
65. "Filmy very filmy" (Page 3, 2005, with Blaaze and Tannishtha Chatterjee)
66. "Aadhi raat ko" (Parampara (film), with Lata Mangeshkar)
67. "Dil dil ka yeh kaam hai" (Raju Chacha, 2000)
68. "Kahin se ayi Rani" with (Raju Chacha, 2000, with Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shweta Pandit, Shrradha Pandit and Kajol)
69. "Tu roop ki rani tu choron ka raja" (Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, 1993, with Kavita Krishnamurthy)
70. "Chai mein chini" (Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, 1993, with Kavita Krishnamurthy)
71. "Parda utha" (Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, 1993, with Kavita Krishnamurthy)
72. "Aala re paoos aala" (Safari, 1999, with Alka Yagnik)
73. "Kajal kajal teri aankhon ka yeh kajal" (Sapoot with Asha Bhonsle)
74. "Jaane de jaane de" (Shola Aur Shabnam, 1992, with Kavita Krishnamurthy)
75. "Tere liye saari umar jaagun" (Yaad Rakhegi Duniya, 1992)
76. "Gali gali mein gana" (Yaad Rakhegi Duniya, 1992)
77. "Tooti khidki makdi ka jangla" (Yaad Rakhegi Duniya, 1992, with Kavita Krishnamurthy)
78. "Pyaar bada mushkil hai" (Yodha, 1990)
79. "Do bechare" (Victoria No. 203, 2007, with Udit Narayan)
80. "Dil le gayi teri bindiya" (Vishwatma, 1992, with Sapna Mukherjee)
81. "Bole chudiyan" (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..., 2001, with Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam and Udit Narayan)
82. "Salma Pe Dil Aa Gaya" (Title Song, 1997, with Asha Bhosle, Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan)

External links

• Official website
• Amit Kumar Fan Club
• Amit Kumar at IMDb
• The Statesman on his 58th Birthday