If you are a cinema and music lover, you are bound to be in awe of Kishore Kumar! A Sampurna Kalakar with God gifted voice and talent, he has to be most popular playback singer across generations. In a career spanning 41 years, he sang to many beautiful compositions of the most respected music directors. My personally favorite phase of Kishore Kumar songs are the gems he produced with S.D. Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Hemant Kumar and others in the pre-Aradhana phase, but it was post Aradhana in a period of time in 70s to mid-80s where he almost single-handedly topped the musical charts of hindi films, being the voice of some of the most popular and evergreen songs. Naturally, there are so many of his songs which still dominate our playlists to date and offer a diverse listening pleasure.
However, there are so many beautiful songs of Kishore’da that are still less heard or remembered and can easily be part of best of his playlists. Many of these songs are from the post Aradhana phase of his career, where a host of more popular songs hogged the lion’s share of limelight. So on his 90th birthday, here is an attempt to list down 50 such less appreciated solo songs of Kishore Kumar – they aren’t necessarily all rare, but some of them are also in the list because they somehow don’t get remembered as much today because they weren’t either part of a popular film, or got overshadowed by a more popular song of that album, or just have not received as much love as they deserved.
Time then to sit back, relax and enjoy this updated playlist of Kishore Kumar with his underrated songs:
01. Akela Hoon Main Is Jahaan Me | Neela Asmaan (Unreleased) | Kishore Kumar
02. Man Kare Yaad Woh Din | Akhri Badla | Salil Chowdhury
03. Mil Gayi Achanak Mujhe Har Khushi | Agni Pareeksha | Salil Chowdhury
04. Aye Zindagi Huyi Kahaan Bhool | Namumkin | R. D. Burman
05. Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan Chand Roz | Sitamgar | R. D. Burman
06. Chura Ke Dil Ko Le Gayi | Ulta Seedha | Rajesh Roshan
07. Tere Jaisa Koi Dekha | Pyar ki Manzil | Usha Khanna
08. Kabhi Khili Dil Ki Kali | Gharibi Hatao | Sharda
09. Rang Doonga Sabko Main | Andhera | Sonik Omi
10. Tanha Main Akela | Sachche Ka Bolbala | Bappi Lahiri
11. Rahi Tha Main Awara | Sahib Bahadur | Madan Mohan
12. Pyar Ajnabi Hain | Pyar Ajnabi Hain (Unreleased) | Kishore Kumar
13. Aaj Rona Pada To Samjhe | Girl Friend | Hemant Kumar
14. Kaun Sunega Kisko Sunaye | Sauten Ki Beti | Vedpal
15. Humrahi Manzil Ke | Anokha Daan | Salil Chowdhury
16. Maine Tumse Kuchh Nahi Manga | Katha | Raj Kamal
17. Yun Neend Se Woj Jaane Chaman | Dard Ka Rishta | R. D. Burman
18. Gham Ki Raahon Me Mujhe Chhod Ke | Jeena Hain Pyar Me | Basu Manohari
19. Na Jaane Din Kaise | Chala Murari Hero Banne | R. D. Burman
20. Jab Tak Maine Samjha Jeevan Kya Hain | Bheegi Palkein | Jugal Kishore
21. Aate Hain Chale Jaate Hain | Yaadgaar | Bappi Lahiri
22. Sabse Nirala Rangeela Dil Wala | Agent Vinod | Ram Laxman
23. Phirte Hain Kab Se Darbadar | Duniya | R. D. Burman
24. Panthi Hoon Main Us Path Ka | Door Ka Raahi | Kishore Kumar
25. Kaise Din Jeevan Me Aaye | Apne Paraye | Bappi Lahiri
26. Jo Raah Chuni Tune | Tapasya | Ravindra Jain
27. Yeh Rut Hain Haseen | Harjaee | R. D. Burman
28. Main Akela Apni Dhun Me Magan | Man Pasand | Rajesh Roshan
29. Kali Kali Taaron Wali | Joru Ka Bhai | Jaidev
30. Yaaron Manao Jashn-e-Bahaaran | Maa | Chitragupta
31. Mere Humraaz Kaisa Hain Yeh Raaz | Ghunghroo Ki Awaz | R. D. Burman
32. Pyar Ko Pyar Ki Roshni Mil Gayi | Beqasoor | Bappi Lahiri
33. Yaadon Me Woh Sapnon Me Hain | Swami | Rajesh Roshan
34. Kitne Raanjhe Tujhe Dekh Ke | Aahsas | Bappi Lahiri
35. Moti Ho To Baandh ke Rakh Doon | Daulat | R. D. Burman
36. Chup Ho Ja Ameeron Ki | Bandi | Hemant Kumar
37. Hum Aur Tum The Saathi | Humare Tumhare | R. D. Burman
38. Pyaar Baantte Chalo | Hum Sab Ustaad Hain | Laxmikant Pyarelal
39. Maine Kuchh Khoya Hain | Mere Sajna | Laxmikant Pyarelal
40. Udte Udte Pyaase Panchhi | Zindagi Jeene Ke Liye | Rajesh Roshan
41. Na Ro Na Munni Na Tu Ro | Aangan Ki Kali | Bappi Lahiri
42. Haath Chhudake Mere Haathon Se | Gumrah | Usha Khanna
43. Mera Jeevan Kuchh Kaam Na Aaya | Mera Jeevan | Sapan Jagmohan
44. Mere Dil Me Tu Hi Tu Hai | International Crook | Shankar Jaikishan
45. Chhota Sa Ghar Hoga | Naukri | Salil Chowdhury
46. Yeh Bandhan Hain Kachhe Dhaago Ka | Bandhan Kachhe Dhaagon Ka | Hemant Bhosle
47. Dil Toota Kya Hai Apna | Mr. Romeo | R. D. Burman
48. Chup Ho Aaj Kaho Kya Hai Baat | 36 Ghante | Sapan Chakraborty
49. Tune Humein Kya Diya Ri Zindagi | Zindagi Zindagi | S. D. Burman
50. Meri Jaan Meri Jaan Kehna Maano | Do Chor | R. D. Burman
And there are more of such melodies that can be further added to this list, like Aye Khuda har faisla (Abdullah), Chal saathi chal (Ishq Ishq Ishq), Tere sau deewane (Shareef Badmash), Chal sapno ke shahar me (Deewangee) and others. These aren’t offhand remembered very commonly, but are beautiful songs by themselves.
Do share more of such songs that demand more attention and love. There can’t be enough of good music anyway.
And yes once more – Happy 90th Birthday Kishore’da! We miss you!
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