post news network
Bhubaneswar, August 4: ‘Sama Hai Suhana’, ‘Khilte Hain Gul Yahan’, ‘Bhole O Bhole’, ‘Tujh Sang Preet’, ‘O Mere Dil Ke Chain’ and other famous songs of legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar were performed on his 87th birth anniversary at Rabindra Mandap Thursday.
The commemorative musical event was organised by Achyut Nanda Mishra, an associate professor at BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar, and he presented the songs along with his troupe.
The evening started with the solo song ‘Sama Hai Suhana’ from ‘Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani’, which Achyut sang. His repertoire also included ‘Mere Mehboob’ from ‘Mr X in Bombay’; ‘Sheeshe Ke Gharon Mein’ from ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’; ‘Rim Jhim Gire Saawan’ from ‘Manzil’; and ‘Pyar Manga Hai Tumhise’ from ‘College Girl’ among the 24 songs that he presented. The programme featured a total of 28 songs.
According to Achyut, the event was a “humble tribute” to the doyen of playback singing. Pratyasha Dash, Chhanda Mishra, Jyotirmayee Nayak, Prativa Dash, Lobha Biswal and Koushik Pattanaik were among the other performers at the event.
“The songs of Kishore Kumar have had a great impact on my life. The best thing about him was that before he lent voice to a song, he would imbibe the tonal qualities of the actors in the song and sang in voices that matched theirs. He gave different voices to different actors,” the 57-year-old said.
Achyut recalled the time in college when he had started singing. “I had learnt classical music from guru Chitaranjan Pani and used to present melodies. But I stopped singing after marriage. I returned to music only after getting my son and daughter settled in jobs,” he said.
He was inspired to return to music by the appreciation he received from his students and the college principal.
“In the 26 years that I had worked as a professor no one had appreciated me for anything else. But after I sang ‘Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi’ at a college party, students approached me for my autograph. It was a big encouragement.
“The principal of BJB College once said I sounded very much like Kishore Kumar after he heard me sing ‘Khilte Hai Gul Yahan’. Such appreciation got me singing again,” Achyut said.
The professor, who teaches chemistry, had started his career from Paralakhemundi College. He moved to DAV College, Koraput, and then a college in Puri before coming to BJB.