Speaking to Amit Kumar is like opening a treasure chest of memories. This man has practically seen it all. Apart from being Kishore Kumar's (perhaps the most versatile Indian artiste ever) son, he has been around so many legends. He has also enjoyed a stint at the top of playback singing for a while, and then experienced the none-too-bright side of showbiz. Amit has accumulated an enviable wealth of memories and experiences, and he has a knack of sharing them in an inimitable way. Ageing has thickened his voice so much that it makes him sound almost like his late, great father. His calm maturity and mellowness while expressing his views belie his routinely perceived image of an eccentric person.
Why do you have this image of a moody and eccentric artist?
Yes, I do agree that people call me eccentric and moody, but I don't really care. This talk started after my refusal to sing film-songs. I wanted to be away from the rat race in the playback industry which upset some people and hence the rumours. My favourite refrain is 'Nobody kicks a dead dog’.
What's keeping you away from playback singing?
I entered playback singing in the mid-Seventies when singers like Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle were active. The recordings were live, unlike the electronically-aided recordings of today. I had to deliver the goods to survive and I did that. At that time, the competition was healthy. No one really tried to snatch opportunities from you by undercutting or politicking. But over the last decade or so, the scene has changed.
Before I entered this industry, it was like a fairy tale, but when I experienced it firsthand, it was a very different tale. Then, I decided that this was not for me. In fact, I would say I'm not ambitious enough to go through the rigours to reach the top. I have always been a happy-go-lucky, easy-going guy and I don't want to change to survive in this field.
Kesariya Balam