Kerala

Reality show on just Kishore Kumar

Reality shows rule on Indian television these days. Popular entertainment channels of all languages air reality shows, mostly based on music. Still, a new show that went on air from December 21 on Sony can claim to be different — the programme is a competition featuring songs sung by Kishore Kumar.

“I watch ‘K for Kishore’ and I think it is an interesting concept,” says playback singer Srinivas, a Kishore fan. “There are many people who are mad about Kishore, my favourite singer by a long mile.”

In his student days in Thiruvananthapuram, Srinivas often got into arguments about Kishore with his friend G. Venugopal, who also went on to become a popular singer. “I argued with Srinivasan because I was not very wise at the time; later I realised the greatness of Kishore,” says Venugopal. “Though my favourite singers have always been Talat Mahmood and Mohammed Rafi — my style of singing follows their school — Kishore is a singer I have been in awe of; he was a genius. It’s certainly a good idea to have a serialised television show featuring only his songs, as he was a singer who sang an amazing variety of songs.”

The show, aired on Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m., is anchored by Babul Supriyo, one of the many Kishore Kumar clones in Bollywood, and actor Rageshwari Sachdev. The judges include Kishore’s son and talented singer in his own right, Amit Kumar, Sudesh Bhonsle, another playback singer who could do a fine imitation of Kishore, and composer Bappi Lahiri.

The show offers an opportunity for Kishore fans to listen to some of his greatest hits. And he is one singer who had so many beautiful numbers under his belt.

“Once when I sat down to pick 25 songs to perform at a Kishore show, I realised how difficult it was to make a selection,” recalls Srinivas.

P.K. Ajith Kumar

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