Kishore Kumar and I go such a long way back. I remember around 1975, I was part of his troupe. We would do a lot of shows in Kolkata. He had a five-member orchestra including my husband Arun ji on the accordion, Kaka Rajput on the saxophone, Diwan ji on the Congo Bongo, Maruti Rao Keer on the tabla. Just five musicians comprised his orchestra but what stalwarts! Today people have 100 musicians on stage. But those days were simpler and if I may so say, filled with geniuses. And then there was Kishore da who rode the stage like a lion, like a Colossus. I learnt how to connect with an audience by just watching him – the way he would involve them, make them sing. It was amazing. Uff! What a voice he had.
I remember we travelled in open ambassadors with no AC and dust all over our faces. We lived in Daak bungalows with not many amenities. It was all so beautiful. No ‘sho sha’, just pure talent. Kishore da was so caring, often Leena ji his wife also travelled on the shows. He made sure we were well looked after. I sang the duets with Amit (Kumar) and then Kishore da would take over. We were doing back-to-back shows at Burdwan and Durgapur and because of this constant travel and dust I think he had a sore throat. So before one show he told us, “After your playlist, you and Amit just run into the car.” I didn’t know what was happening. Someone had got wind that Kishore da had a sore throat and wouldn’t sing. So there was some ‘khar kar’ noise backstage. They were literally sawing off the wooden stage in protest. We fled for our lives.
People said he was eccentric and behaved strangely and all that. I never ever saw any of that. He was a simple, caring man. Even when recording he would do as the music director wanted. No changing tunes, no tantrums. I remember we sang about 30-35 duets including Oh dil jaani… Bol meri rani (Udhar Ka Sindur, 1976) for Rajesh Roshan and a rather nice piece for Laxmikant Pyarelal where I sing the semi classical portions, Teri payal ki jhankar… ke ghungroo toot gaye (Asha Jyoti, 1984).
I had met Kishore da at a recording for Kalyanji Anandji at film centre a few days before he passed away. He had just had a heart attack, lost a lot of weight because of no salt diet etc. But when he went on the microphone that day the voice that emerged was dazzling artistry.
I can go on and on about this great artiste. Just to say again, those were simpler times. Where art and talent ruled much more than hype.