Amit Kumar

Amit Kumar (born 3 July 1952) is an Indian playback singer, actor, music composer.

Kumar launched his own music production company, named Kumar Brothers Music.

He predominantly worked in Bollywood and regional film songs since the 1970s, including 150 Hindi and Bengali compositions by R. D. Burman.

Kumar sang professionally for the first time, outside his father's composition, at the age of 21 in 1973.

Among music directors, Amit Kumar was used more by Pancham from 1975 to 1994 and by Bappi Lahiri from 1983 to 1995.

In the 1976 film Balika Badhu, he sang "Bade Achchhe Lagte Hain" by the composer R.D. Burman, by which he attained national fame.

He sang in various films, including Aandhi, Aap Ke Deewane, Khatta Meetha, Gol Maal, Des Pardes, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Deewanagi (1976), Duniya Meri Jeb Mein, Parvarish, Humare Tumhare (1979) and Baton Baton Mein.

The duets he sang with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle began his public display.

Kumar's duet "Ka Janu Main Sajaniya" with Lata Mangeshkar and "Ram Kare Allah Kare" and "Humto Aap Ke Deewane Hai" with Mohd Rafi Saab.

This song was named the 26th most-popular film song of 1977 by the radio show Binaca Geetmala.

Kumar recorded 170 Hindi songs under R.D. Burman.

The song was "Hosh Mein Hum Kahan", composed by Sapan Jagmohan for the film Darwaza, which was released in 1978.

His duet with his father "Nazar Lage Na Saathiyo" from Des Pardes in 1978 became popular.

In 1978, he sang "Aati Rahengi Baharein" in Kasme Vaade, for Randhir Kapoor's character.

He also did playback singing for Randhir Kapoor in Chor Ke Ghar Chor (1978) and Dhongee.

In 1980, Kumar sang "Laila o Laila" for Qurbani.

Kumar sang for almost all music directors and actors in the 1980s, and was the second-most preferred male playback singer in Hindi films, after his father Kishore Kumar.

He became the voice of Kumar Gaurav in the 1980s and their combination gave many hit songs from films such as Romance (1983), Teri Kasam, Lovers (1983), All-rounder and Telefilm-Janam.

He was also the voice for newcomer Karan Shah in films such as Jawani, Anokha Rishta, Apne Apne and Chor Pe Mor and though the songs were popular, only Anokha Rishta and Chor Pe Mor were successful films.

In the late 1980s, Kumar sang songs for Anil Kapoor in films including Tezaab, Yudh and Aag Se Khelenge and continued to sing for him in the 1990s.

Then Amit sang all the songs for the 1981 film Love Story and won a Filmfare Award for the duet "Yaad Aa Rahi Hai" with Mangeshkar.

Composer R.D. Burman jokingly told Amit before its release that this song sounds like a bhajan.

After the success of Love Story, Rajesh Khanna employed Kumar for playback singing in Fiffty Fiffty (1981) and then later in Aakhir Kyon? (1985), Ghar Ka Chirag, Jai Shiv Shankar, Swarg (1990) and Sautela Bhai (1996).

The Asha–Kumar duet "Yun Toh Haseen Hazar" from Shradhanjali in 1981 became a hit.

He had several "chart-busters" in 1982 and 1983, and "hits" with the duets "Tu Rootha Toh Main Ro Doongi Sanam", "Gali Gali Dhoonda Tujhe" and solo songs "Halla Gulla Maza Hai" and "Mana Abhi Tu Kamsin" from the film Jawani (1984).

Kumar's singing in "Aao Naye Sapne Bune", composed by Basudev for Main Qatil Hun (1984).

In 1985, the duet "Dushman Na Kare" from Akhir Kyun was popular.

In 1986, the song "Mary Tu Hoja Meri" from Anokha Rishta and the duet "Roz Roz Ankhon" from Jeeva were popular.

He had solo and duet songs in hit films such as Hum Paanch, Bulundi, Itni Si Baat, Hamari Bahu Alka, Anokha Bandhan, Ustaadi Ustad Se, Bheegi Palkein, Khatron Ke Khiladi, Maalamaal, Ilzaam, Anokha Rishta, Rama O Rama, Jaaydaad, Tridev, ChaalBaaz, Aag Se Khelenge, and Dost.

The duets with Asha – "Pehle Pehle Pyar Ki" and "Yeh Tujhe Kya Hua" both from Ilzaam in 1986 and "Tere Naina Mere Naina" from Aag Se Khelenge and "Chotasa Parivaar Hamara" from Dost in 1989 became known in their respective years.

After Burman's death in 1994, citing a lack of quality music composition, Kumar withdrew from playback singing and concentrated on live orchestra shows.

In addition to singing in Hindi, has also performed in Bengali, Bhojpuri, Odia, Assamese, Marathi and Konkani.

He is the eldest son of singer-actor Kishore Kumar.

Kumar is the son of singer and actor Kishore Kumar and Bengali singer and actress Ruma Guha Thakurta.

Like his father, Amit started singing from an early age and he used to sing at Durga Pooja festivals in Calcutta.

At one such function arranged by Bengali actor "Mahanayak" Uttam Kumar, the audience continued requesting encores.

While his mother complained that he was singing "filmy" songs, his father decided to bring him to Bombay.

Kishore Kumar had cast Amit as his son in two films that he produced.

In the first, Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein he sang Aa Chalke Tujhe, Mein Leke Chaloon to his eleven-year-old son.

For the second film, Door Ka Raahi, a teenage Amit Kumar sang "Main Ik Panchi Matwaala Re", but it was removed from the final cut of the film.