Kishore Kumar started his cinema career as a chorus singer in Bombay Talkies. His first film as an actor was Shikari (1946), in which Ashok Kumar played the lead role. As an elder brother Ashok persisted him to follow his footstep, but the young lad wanted to do something that interested him the most, ‘Singing’. However, he refused to rebel Ashok Kumar’s wish as he feared the consequences.

In 1948, Kishore Kumar got a chance to 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. He was just following the shadow of the elder brother with a destined path. However, after some initial flops as an actor, Kishore Kumar achieved success as a comic hero with movies like New Delhi, Half Ticket and Padoson. All the praise and honour for his acting skills was still not the platform for his successful throne. He achieved his varied and un-battled fame after he was recognised as an established singer.

Music director S. D. Burman spotted Kishore Kumar’s talent as a singer, and advancing his singing career. Some of their best duo is the films, Jewel Thief, Prem Pujari and Guide. Some of their intial hits included Maana janaab ne pukara nahin, Hum hain raahi pyar ke, Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si and Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka. The duet songs with Asha Bhosle composed by S D Burman picked the fame card with a flash. C. Ramchandra was another music director who recognized Kishore Kumar’s talent as a singer. In the late 1960s, S. D. Burman’s son Rahul Dev Burman also started patronizing his voice.

After nine years of smash hits and recognition he won his first Filmfare award for the song Roop Tera Mastana from the film Aradhana. From then there was no turning back. His career sore to great heights. Kishore Kumar sang for all leading actors in 1970s, including Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, and Rishi Kapoor. He swayed to such a successful height that there ws not a single person who could catch to his esteemed singing.

Kishore Kumar Lives on Among his memorable songs are “Haal kaisa hai janaab ka” from the 1958 hit “Chalti ka Naam Gaadi”, “Yeh raatein, yeh mausam” (”Dilli ka Thug”), “Aa chal ke tujhe” (”Door Gagan ki Chaon Mein”), “Mere mehboob qayamat hogi” (”Mr. X in Bombay”) “Mere saamne wali khidki mein” (Padosan), “Mere sapnon ki Rani” (”Aradhana”), “Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi” (”Khamoshi”), “Zindagi ka safar” (”Safar”), “Chingari koi bhadke” (”Amar Prem”), “Zindagi ek safar hai suhana” (”Andaaz”) “Chala jata hoon” (”Mere Jeevan Saathi”), “Musafir hoon yaron” (”Parichay”), “Main shair badnaam” (”Namak Haram”) and “Zindagi ke safar mein” (”Aap ki Kasam”).