MUSIC HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION BOLLYWOOD I WAS ALWAYS COMPARED TO MY FATHER: AMIT
This was his biggest struggle, says Kishore Kumar’s son, Amit Kumar; adds that pleasing everyone is a strenuous task
Amit Kumar admits that he may not have made a name as big as his father Kishore Kumar’s, but says he is in a good space. The singer, who has been performing at concerts worldwide, says people recognise him wherever he goes. He talks to us about why he prefers not to compose music for films, his struggles and more. I have been performing for more than 45 years, so people have accepted me now. Everywhere I go, they know me. Every place has a different type of audience. Mumbai has a more cosmopolitan crowd. The audience in Punjab is different from the people in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal. I have been noticing changes since the early ’70s, when I started out (playing at concerts) with my father. I was part of his troupe. A lot has changed since then. The new generation has replaced a certain space. However, the love and response I receive abroad is fabulous. Indians abroad have still held on to our cultural heritage. I am grateful to God that people still have the urge to listen to my voice. Even though I am no more part of Bollywood or Tollywood, I have got a fan following all over the world. It’s also because of social media. I have never felt that I have been dissed anywhere. People have always accepted me, except in a few places. But I can live with that. The fascination to compose music came from watching RD Burman and my father. Initially, people used to say I won’t be able to do anything. Even today, I am underestimated as a singer and a composer. I don’t know why, but it doesn’t matter. In 1987, Laxmikantji (of Laxmikant Pyarelal; music director duo) had told me, ‘Don’t think that we are signing you because you are Kishore Kumar’s son. Nobody can take Kishore Kumar’s place but you are equally good’. That was a big compliment. In fact, all the composers of that era encouraged me and never gave me a complex. There is still a group of people who are ‘anti-Amit Kumar’. I don’t know why they hate me. But today, I feel the negativity is decreasing and people have started liking me. They have realised that this man is not mediocre. Today, my fans love me a lot. Bollywood is the most unstable line, but I have seen stardom as well as failure. In fact, I have seen more failure, and that has made me stronger. I never stooped to conquer. I never flattered anyone. I also never struggled in the beginning. My biggest struggle was that I was compared to my father. But I am not a clone, I am original. It’s very difficult to be a composer who makes music for films. I haven’t specialised in it. Pleasing everyone is a strenuous task. I think I am better in my space because there is no interference. I am the king of my music company. But, if I work on film music, my composition will be changed. It will become commercial and I don’t want that. Film music does not sustain today. There are few melodious songs being made. There is more noise than poetry. The harmony is missing. Half of the music companies have money, but unfortunately they don’t have the brains. Money is not everything for me; mental satisfaction is. I am not degrading film music. I am just saying I won’t be able to do it.