He became popular as the voice of Rajesh Khanna, but legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar, before rising to fame, had been the voice of the debonair Dev Anand and the dashing Shashi Kapoor. Combining the best of Kishore set to tune by SD Burman, ‘Gaata Rahe Mera Dil’, an evening of melodies, was staged by Chennai-based retro music group Satrangi recently in the city. With singer Pramod Nair, founder of Satrangi along with retro singer Usha Raj rendering a lineup of foot-tapping numbers, the show comprised hits from the 50s to 70s accompanied by pre-recorded tracks.
Beginning with Tere mere Milan (Abhimaan, 1973), the show traversed decades, bringing out the versatility of Kishore’s voice and the range of SDB’s music. Other numbers presented at the show included solos and Kishore’s duets with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle like shokhiyon mein ghola (Prem Pujaari, 1970) and Haal kaisa hai (Chalti Ka Naam Gadi, 1958). While Pramod effortlessly juggled genres, Usha mellifluently alternated between the female voices. But the highlight of the evening were rarely-heard-on-stage numbers-- Hey maine kasam (Tere Mere Sapne, 1970) and Gir gaya jhumka (Jugnu, 1973) .
Anchored by Uday Meghani the show was interspersed with interview clips of Kishore, SDB’s son and illustrious composer RD Burman, giving an insight into their long-standing association. In fact, SDB’s last numbers that were composed for Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Mili (1976) like Badi sooni sooni and Aaye tum yaad were sung by Kishore.
Audience were fed with interesting pieces of trivia on Kishore like how it was SDB’s Roop tera mastana (Aradhana, 1969) that vaulted him to fame, but SDB had spotted the singer’s potential much earlier, even during the time when Mohammad Rafi ruled the roost and Kishore was also an established actor. Some of his memorable numbers from the pre-Aradhana era were Dukhi mann mere (Funtoosh, 1956) and Jeevan ke safar mein (Munimji, 1955) that showcased his versatility. And, as they wrapped up the programme, it wasn’t enough for the enthralled crowd that sought another tribute to the immortal association.