“That’s why am dedicating the evergreen song ‘Parda Hai Parda’ as my fond tribute to Rafi-Saab,” shares Amit Kumar

By Chaitanya Padukone

“Many retro-music fans may not be aware that I (Amit Kumar) have sung and recorded some 11 to 12 songs with legendary Mohd. Rafi-Saab. On July 31st which is Samaritan singer Rafi-Saab’s death anniversary I am dedicating this one evergreen qawwali song ‘Parda Hai Parda’ (Amar Akbar Anthony — the year 1977) to his (Rafi-Saab’s) fond memory, “revealed Amit Kumar. The ‘Teri Yaad Aa Rahi Hai’ singer (Amit-da) just completed the recording of his tribute song called ‘Kishore’ (he has sung last evening with popular celeb-singer Jasveer Singh) which in turn is dedicated to his own iconic father — the multi-faceted genius singer-actor Kishore Kumar whose birth-anniversary falls on August 4th.

Amit Kumar with singer Jasveer Singh at recording of Kishore tribute track

Amit Kumar with composer Sanjay Raj at ‘Kishore’ recording

What was the reason-rationale behind unassuming Amit-da’s decision of selecting this particular ‘Parda..’ song? “That’s because I want my die-hard fans and retro-music lovers to know that with Rafi-Saab I have also sung in that song Parda Hai Parda, especially the line ‘picturized on Amitabh Bachchan, which goes ‘toh toh toh toh Akbar Teraaa Naam Nahee’. Strangely, there is no official title credit given to me,” informs Amit-da.  But then why did the producers not ask his super-talented father Kishore Kumar who has sung all the other songs picturized on the Big B, to also sing this one line in this ‘Parda….’ song?   Reacts Amit with his jestful candid wit, “Apparently, they didn’t have a high budget to get Kishore-da for that song. So, composer Laxmikant-jee pulled me into his car and made me sing those lines. They paid me Rs 500/- fees with which I bought ice cream, “, who has his own YouTube channel with nearly two lakhs genuine fan-following.

Rafi-saab with Kishore Kumar–mutual admiration

Amit Kumar with his singer-actor father-Gurudev Kishore Kumar at song-recording

Also read: “Rafi-Saab worshipped music, also enjoyed kite-flying, loved to watch ‘kati-patangs’ descend”, shares his son Shahid Rafi

Coming back to the special vocal tribute (“Gaurav-Gatha”) song titled ‘Kishore’ sung by Amit Kumar and Jasveer Singh which is composed by multi-talented Sanjay Raj and lyrics by Dharmendra Ehsaas.  Confided Amit-da, “it was a tough creative challenge for me to infuse some of Kishore-da’s vocal signature elements into this song and yet retain my identity. But I enjoyed recording this song which I am confident will emerge as a trending viral chartbuster,” enthuses affable Amit.   The lyrics highlight the gist of Kishore-da’s colorful natkhat personality and glorious singing-acting career.  The foot-tapping song mukhda (refrain) goes “Saat suron ka alhadd sa, Jo safar tay kiya Aap ney—Sangeet-premiyon ka jeevan –sangeetmay kiya Aapne”.

Amit Kumar with Chaitanya Padukone at the Kishore song recording

What is sentimental Amit Kumar’s take on the appeal made by lakhs of Kishore-da’s loyal followers who strongly feel that he deserves the coveted national civil awards like Bharat Ratna? “While respecting the sentiments of all his diehard fans, frankly speaking, super-versatile Kishore-da himself is the supreme-award-ratna for all his global fans.  Maybe I should be given the awards, “quips Amit-Da whose popular music YouTube channel will soon cross two lakhs, viewers, while on FB he has over 6,13,000 loyal Followers. As is already widely known and also reiterated by Amit-da last evening that his father Kishore-da and Mohd. Rafi-Saab had this mutual admiration bonding-vibes between them and tremendous respect for each other’s extraordinary talent and caliber.

(The writer Chaitanya Padukone is an eminent senior film & music journalist-author of memoirs book R D BurMania)