Bangladesh’s playback music legend, Andrew Kishore, whose soulful voice defined many of the country’s cinematic anthems, would have celebrated his birthday today. Although physically no longer with us, his presence has only grown stronger among fans and colleagues alike, said renowned singer Konokchapa, a close collaborator of Kishore for many years.
Andrew Kishore, born on this day in 1955 in Rajshahi, is considered the king of playback singing, having lent his voice to over 15,000 songs. On his birthday, Konokchapa took to social media to share fond memories of the late artist. She posted a nostalgic photograph taken during the recording of the iconic song “Amar Nakeri Phul Bole Re Tumi Je Amar” from the film Tomake Chai, remembering the cherished moments of their musical partnership.
She wrote, “This photo was taken during the recording of the song ‘Amar Nakeri Phul Bole Re Tumi Je Amar’ for the film Tomake Chai at Symphony Studio. We were singing this song together, and I remain deeply grateful to the legendary composer and poet, Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul Bhai, who created such timeless melodies. He too is no longer with us, but my respect for him and Kishore da is eternal.”
Reflecting on Andrew Kishore’s enduring influence, Konokchapa added, “Happy birthday to the liquid gold-voiced king of playback singing, Andrew Kishore Da! We are so proud that our Andrew Kishore is still with us — not physically, but in spirit, he is even closer and more essential to us now than ever before.”
Konokchapa described Andrew Kishore’s voice as a “flowing river of molten gold,” explaining, “When his songs played in cinemas, the whole theatre would resonate with his sound. His voice didn’t need any fancy Dolby surround system to carry its power. When he sang ‘Dak Diyechhe Doyal Amare,’ you could feel every listener’s heart ache with emotion. And when he sang ‘Tumi Amar Jibon,’ every man felt he was expressing his feelings for his loved one.”
Having worked alongside Andrew Kishore for 34 years, Konokchapa still finds herself in awe of his voice every time she performs. “I sang with Kishore Da for 34 years. Though he is no longer with us, I still find myself in awe of his voice. Every time I perform on stage, I bow in respect. I often think, how did I deserve so much honor in my life? Allah, how generously you’ve blessed me!”
Andrew Kishore, born in 1955, hailed from a musically inclined family. His mother, a fan of the legendary Kishore Kumar, named him after the iconic singer, hoping to see her son follow in his footsteps. He began his musical training at the age of six, marking the beginning of his extraordinary career.
His big break in the Bengali film industry came in 1977, when he sang “Achinpur-er Rajkumari Nei Je Tar Keu” from the film Mail Train, composed by Alam Khan. With his powerful and emotive voice, he brought life to a range of emotions — from joy to sorrow, love to separation — capturing the essence of the human experience in his songs.
Andrew Kishore passed away on July 6, 2020, after battling cancer for 10 months. However, his legacy remains alive in the hearts of his fans and the annals of Bengali music.