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Apathy

Apathy means an attitude of "I Dont care". We come across a lot of people who suffer from apathy. What else can be the reason for low voter turn out, people spitting on the road, littering,etc.

Do we really care on the global warming front?Do we really care about the electricity shortage, water shortage, etc. Do we care how people are dying of hunger and we waste a lot of food?

We only care about some things which affect us directly. We don't understand or realize the impact of the things that impact us indirectly.I think many of us do care but then think what can I do alone. The amazing thing is most of us think this way. There is an uniformity in thinking. I admit I am also among the majority but do my bit (may be 1%). I have come across especially young people of my age who don't care about all these issues. We are becoming more and more self centered. We exploit the environment and then crib about low rainfall. We litter and use polythene bags and complain about water logging. I know this is not going to change anything. Because majority knows whatever is written.

As Helen Keller said we have found out the cure for virtually all diseases but still the most dangerous disease seems to have no cure- Apathy. (not the exact verbatim of what Keller said)

Music Industry's take on Amit kumar

Fans speak up

PRITAM
I still remember attending one of his para shows in Kolkata. Those were the days when all-night concerts were popular. He arrived at 3 am and sang till 5 am! When I recorded my first song with him I was extremely moved. He is an amazing singer, gifted with a very powerful voice. Unfortunately he hasn’t got his due. He is a living legend.

VISHAL (of Vishal-Shekhar)
He has a God-gifted voice. We worked with him in Jhankar Beats and that was a learning experience. The remake of Humein Tumse Pyar Kitna turned out to be superb! He often comes up with suggestions and the influence of Pancham comes through in Boss Kaun Hai. He doesn’t believe in competition. But he doesn’t fail to swing even after 40 years!

VIJU SHAH
He puts in his best to make any song stand out. We worked together in Janaam, just after Tridev. He has a strong voice. We spent a lot of memorable moments working together.

SADHANA SARGAM
Amit Kumar is a very energetic and lively singer, besides being a decent soul. His voice is close to that of his father’s but along the way he has developed a style of his own.

UDIT NARAYAN
He has an extraordinary vocal range ~ a bass voice. He can feel the pulse of any song. Amit Kumar lives the lyrics of any song when he renders it. I have great memories of recording with him.

JAVED AKHTAR
I’ve always been a Kishore Kumar fan. Being his son, Amit has a gifted timbre. There was a time he was highly accepted by listeners but I don’t know why he shifted focus from singing for soundtracks. He sang my songs in Tezaab (Ek Do Teen, Kah Do ke Tum Ho Meri Barna), Sailaab (Mujhko Yeh zindegi, Palko Ke Taale) and also in Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Drohi… He hasn’t got his due.

MILIND (of Anand-Milind)
Singing is not just facing a microphone. Songs need be acted out. Kishoreda was a master at this. Amit does the same. Recording with him has always been a good experience ~ since our first film, Ab Ayega Maza. He has even sung for our father Chitraguptji.

VISHWAS NERURKAR
He has a God-gifted voice, close to Kishoreda’s… Being an actor, he can put a lot into his recording sessions!

Amit Kumar turns 58

3rd July is the birthday of the singer Amit Kumar- son of legendary singer Kishore Kumar.
He turned 58 yesterday. Excerpts from an interview with Amit Kumar on his 58th birthday.

Still walking tall

Some people call him an eccentric ~ he doesn’t fly in aeroplanes during the monsoon ~ and some like to believe he doesn’t record songs often. The truth, as Sudipta Chanda finds out, is that the singer has been delivering hit after hit for the past 40 years. An exclusive interview with Amit Kumar

Looking back at the four decades behind you…
There is a popular English song Time Passes On. It feels like that; it feels great and I don’t have words to express my journey so far.

The moment you first walked into a recording studio…
It was for Door Ka Raahi ~ my father was the composer ~ and it was recorded at Bombay Film Lab in 1965. I had just reached Mumbai from Kolkata and rehearsed the song Main Ek Paanchhi Matwala Re ~ that was a tension-free session. An interesting point to note here ~ the video for the song was picturised on me and was filmed at Gourikunj. Unfortunately, the video was excluded from the film. The record released in 1969 with the song and I was credited as Amit Ganguly.

Your father was indeed your friend, philosopher and guide.
He was my mentor ~ he graduated me from studio to stage. My first Bangla song ~ Jinisher Daam Berechhe ~ was under Baba’s baton. He was my real critic. When I met Panchamda and sang Jhumroo real bad, Baba criticised me while returning home. I couldn’t sleep that night; time went by weeping. Later, when I started singing, he said that I would be sitting in a chair like the one he had at every studio.

Learning music…
The year was 1970, perhaps 1971. I suddenly decided that that I should get trained in Indian classical music. Baba laughed. But I was determined enough that he had ask Manna De to give me an appointment. And thus I met Mannada, who also laughed before recommending me to Ghulam Mustafa Khan, who used to visit Gourikunj twice a week. Suddenly, I felt the exercise was difficult and gave up learning. After Baba’s death, I once again learnt classical music from Satya Narayan Mishra and that definitely helped me to win back my confidence, add clarity to my vocal treatment. My singing style matured.

You have achieved a lot…
On my debut show in Mumbai, SD Burman was the chief guest. He was moved by my performance and threw a garland at me. Now, that’s a moment to cherish. I also remember receiving my first Filmfare award from Baba for Love Story in 1981. After Baba’s death Laxmiji said something really heart-warming, “Don’t think you are getting to sing my songs because you’re Kishoreda’s son. You have potential.” OP Nayyarsaab also heaped compliments on me, “Beta, your voice has gamaak which used to be in Rafisaab’s voice.”
How do you assess Amit Kumar, the singer?
I don’t consider myself to be a great singer. I sounded raw when I started my career. Now I sing much better.

People who helped you to succeed.
First, my listeners, fans… they made it possible. Then my Baba and Ma. All my composers who believed in me ~ Shankar-Jaikishan, Madan Mohan, Salilda, Nayyarsaab, Rajesh Roshan, Bappi Lahiri and, of course, Shaktida, Tarun Mazumdar and RD Burman.

RD Burman was your mentor…
Of course… after Baba, Panchamda was my mentor. I spent some lovely days with the maestro. I became his fan when Chhote Nawab released. Outsiders were not allowed in his sitting room but I was an exception. Thanks to him, I found my first hit in Balika Badhu, the only Filmfare Award for Love Story and, after Baba’s death, he helped me with Rama O Rama… I never had to look back. His recording sessions were very creative, enjoyable, extremely comfortable. I still feel he is around.

You’re a master of stage shows…
I started performing in Kolkata, the first being in Uttam Kumar’s locality ~ Bhowanipur. Later I joined Calcutta Youth Choir as a percussionist. Suddenly Baba was informed that I was doing shows and he called on me. Ma was very much confused about my future as I started losing interest in studies. This was the time when Baba introduced me at a gala show ~ “Papa Kishore and Sunny Amit Together” ~ in Mumbai, where SD Burman was the chief guest. I had my first big stage show at Rabindra Sadan ~ it was arranged by Gautam Mukherjee. And in 1972 Suprakash Gargari presented “Amit Kumar Presents Kishore Kumar”, a memorable musical extravaganza. Besides, I did shows with Laxmi-Pyare, Kalyanji-Anandji, Ashaji, Bhupinder Singh, RD Burman and many others.

Your idols.
My parents introduced me to a wide range of music. I love South American music and singers like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Jose Feliciano, the orchestra of Ray Conniff and so on. I still love jazz ~ Benny Goodman, Harry James are worth a mention. I would like to believe that music has no boundaries.

It’s a mad, mad world.
Baba was known for his eccentric activities but the saying goes ~ baap ka beta, sipahi ka ghoda. Kuchh nehin to thoda thoda (chip off the old block)! A few years back a few journalists asked me a cliched question: how I assessed remakes and remixes. I wanted to run away from them and answered, “Oh great! I love remakes and remixes. It sounds better than the originals. I don’t listen to Kishore Kumar’s songs.” They were confused and stopped asking me questions. I can recall another incident that took place in Benaras one year ago where a reporter asked me why I was not performing often. I said, “This donkey’s braying has been well accepted for 40 years. Khuda maherban to gadha bhi pahalwan (God willing, even a donkey feels strong)!” Then I rattled off a list of songs from my forthcoming films. There was a long silence.

Future projects.
Dulha Mil Gaya, Aladin, Mukti, Rama The Yoddha, Leela, Harano Sur, Osama, First Forward, Hang To Death, Ekbaar Take Chaichhi and so on. There is a special stage show ~ “Do Kishore” ~ in memory of Baba. Hopefully it will start in October. And I plan to record an album ~ Baakwas.

IPL and World Cup

The timing of the IPL was perfect. BCCI took the advantage of the fact that India had won the inaugural T20 world cup. I think it would have been difficult for BCCI and Lalit Modi to introduce IPL had the performance of India in the last world cup been similar to this year's world cup.

Was the timing of IPL perfect or the timing of the Indian team's performance?

When the inaugural World cup was held already countries were having domestic T20 tournaments. Its an open secret that India is the biggest market for cricket.So a domestic T20 tournament was round the corner in India taking into consideration the popularity it gained in countries like West Indies & Pakistan. If you remember the match against South Africa where they were chasing 150 odd runs and struggled to even reach the par score to reach the semis.The point which I am trying to make is that BCCI needed to announce the IPL at a point when it will be a sure shot hit. Indians performed well or may be were forced to perform well in the inaugural T20 Worldcup and made life easy for BCCI. The finals with Pakistan was an icing on the cake.

You never know India did well (or were made to do well) in the last world cup to make IPL a hit.

Go short with India

In the last two matches of T20 world cup, Indian batsmen have been found wanting against aggressive pace bowling. West Indies and yesterday England used the same tactics to keep the Indian batsmen under check. Fidel Edwards slingy action means that his bouncers will skit from the turf and yesterday I thought all the England fast bowlers bowled really magnificently. They had a definite plan against the Indian batsmen and executed it to perfection. Raina is a wonderful player but showed his vulnerability against short pitch stuff. Ravindra Jadeja struggling for most part oif the innings meant that the run rate went out of reach for Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan who tried their level best but couldn't convert the defeat into victory.
Stuart Broad and Sidebottom bowled excellent overs in the end. Broad has a big heart to come back in such a manner especially after having bowled the last over against Netherland for a lost cause and in his last match against India Yuvraj singh hit him for 6sixes in an over.
I was watching the match with my friends and when 60 runs were needed of 30 balls i told them the Yuvraj's crucial miss field in the last over of Harbhajan could make the difference. In the end we lost by 3 runs. Some of the players looked relaxed (rather happy) even during the stages when India were down.Dont know if it means something.
Dhoni made a terrible mis calculation I guess when 9 runs were needed of 2 balls Yusuf hit the ball although there was only 1 in it they should have gone for the second run atleast we sould have had the chance of leveling the scores of the last ball. Also it was strange to see England booed at their home ground. As Collingwood said that incident meant no pre match motivational talk was required.
It was thrilling to watch the match nonetheless.