In today’s weekend blog, I am writing about a famous personality of Bollywood. He was a great singer, music director, and producer. Along with Bollywood, he was very famous in the Bangala Film industry as a composer and singer. Friends, I am talking about the legend HEMANT KUMAR.
He was born in Varanasi on 16th June 1920. He grew up in Kolkata. After passing the intermediate exams he joined the engineering course, however, he quit academics to pursue a career in music, despite objections from his father. He was inclined towards music from his childhood and recorded his first song for All India Radia in 1935. His first film song was for the Bengali film Nimat Sanyas in 1941 and his first. His first Hindi songs were in a 1944 film called Irada. He became music director with the Bengali film Abhiyatri in 1947. He migrated to Bombay in 1951 and joined Filmistan Studios, and scored the music of Anand Math and sang also in this film. In the coming years, he gave playback to Dev Anand’s songs in many films. His score of Naagin became very famous and fetched him his only Filmfare award for best music.
Although he had become Bengali film producer in the late 1950s, and became Hindi film producer with 1962 film Bees Saal Baad. Actually, by this time he had become very famous in Bengal as a composer and singer and won many awards also. As music director, his famous Hindi films were Anand Math (1952), Naagin (1955), Shart (1954), Jagriti (1955), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Bees Saal Baad (1962), Kohra (1964), Anupama (1966), Do Dooni Char (1968), and Khamoshi(1970). In between for some time he became so busy with his Bangla films and Hindi Playback singing, he used to curtail the music direction of Hindi films.
He had a unique playback singing voice, which was different from singers of that era. His daughter Rano also became a playback singer from childhood, and her famous song as a child was “ Nani Teri Morni Ko Mor Le Gaye, Baaki Jo Bacha Tha Kale Chor Le Gaye”. In the later years, she mostly sang for Bengali films.
Hemant Kumar died in Kolkata on 26th September 1989.
I am giving below some of my favourite Hindi film songs sung by Hemant Kumar, with their YouTube links. Please note that songs are in random order.
1 Yeh Raat Yeh Chandani Phir Kahan, Sun Ja Dil Ki Dastaan-1953– Jaal (Film), Sahir Ludhianvi (Lyricist), SD Burman ( Music Director). On-screen Dev Anand with Geeta Bali.
2 Yaad Kya Dil Ne Kahan Ho Tum- 1955 – Patita (F), with Lata Mangeshkar (S), Shailendra (L), Shankar Jaikishan (MD). On-screen Dev Anand with Usha Kiran.
3 Bekarar Karke Hamen Yun Na Jaaiye– 1962- Bees Saal Bad (F), Shakeel Badayuni (L), Hemant Kumar (MD). On- screen Biswasjeet with Waheeda Rehman.
4 Neend Na Mujhko Aaye, Dil Mera Ghabraye-1958-Post Box No. 999 (F), with Lata Mangeshkar (S), PL Santoshi (L), Kalyanji Anandji (MD). On- screen Sunil Dutt and Shakila
5 Jaag Dard E Ishq Jaag- 1953– Anarkali (F), with Lata Mangeshkar (S), Rajender Krishan (L), C Ramchandra (MD). On-screen Jr Artist with Bina Rai.
6 Tumhe Yaad Hog Kabhi Hum Mile The- 1959 –Satta Bazaar (F), with Lata Mangeshkar (S), Gulshan Bawra IL), Kalyanji Anandji (MD). On-screen Suresh with Vijaya Choudhary.
7 Tum Pukar Lo Tumhara Intezar Hai- 1970- Khamoshi (F), Gulzar (L), Hemant Kumar (MD). On- screen Dharmendra with Waheeda Rehman.
8 Na Tum Hamen Jaano, Na Hum Tumhe Jaane– 1962- Baat Ek raat Ki (F), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), SD Burman (MD). On-screen Dev Anand with Waheeda Rehman.
9 Jaane Who Kaise Log The, Jinke Pyar Ko Pyar Mila-1957- Pyaasa (F), Sahir Ludhianvi (L), SD Burman (MD). On-screen Guru Dutt with Mala Sinha
10 Na Yeh Chand Hoga Na Tare Rehenge– 1954- Shart (F). SH Bihari (L), Hemant Kumar (MD). On screen Deepak with Shyama.
11 Hai Apna Dil To Awara, Na Jaane Kis Pe Aayega– 1958- Solva Saal (F), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), SD Burman (MD). On-screen Dev Anand with Waheeda Rehman.
12 Teri Duniya Mein Jeene Se To Behtar Hai Ke Mar Jaayen– 1955- House No 44 (F), Sahir Ludhanvi (L), SD Burman (MD). On-screen Dev Anand with Kalpana Kartik.
Above are a few of my favourite songs by Hemant Kumar, hope you also like them.
Waiting for your views and comments.
Anil Malik
Mumbaai, India
21st May 2021v