Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 20: Playback singer Shaan recently shared a heartwarming story about the legendary Kishore Kumar, highlighting the personal and emotional side of the iconic singer, known as much for his eccentric genius as for his musical brilliance.
In a conversation at his office in Mumbai's Khar area, Shaan recalled how Kishore Kumar once sang two Bhojpuri songs for his father, composer Manas Mukherjee, for just Rs 3,000 — a fraction of his usual fee.
“Kishore da once sent a message to my father saying, ‘Why aren’t we working together? Don’t you want me to sing for you?’ My father told him that he only had a Bhojpuri film project. Kishore da immediately said, ‘I’ll do it for you.’ He took Rs 3,000 and recorded not one, but two songs,” Shaan shared.
The gesture was especially touching considering Kishore Kumar was, at that time, charging Rs 50,000 per song — a staggering amount in that era.
“He used to command Rs 50,000 per song, and he got it. Today, some singers charge close to Rs 1 crore. But if an artiste feels a personal connection, or if they respect the project, they will sing for less — because artistes are emotional people,” Shaan added.
On the Changing Landscape of Music
Shaan also reflected on the longevity of songs in the digital age. Having recorded over 3,000 songs, he noted that only a small percentage truly stand the test of time.
“Out of all the songs I’ve sung, how many are really remembered? Maybe 10% or 15%. That’s just how it is. Every era has good songs and bad songs. It’s not that today’s music is bad overall — there are still great composers and talented singers working today,” he said.
He pointed to changing audience habits in the era of smartphones and social media as a major factor impacting the shelf life of music.
“The attention span has drastically reduced. Everything is fast-paced and hyper-connected. The way we consume music today is totally different,” Shaan observed.
Shaan recently curated a special tribute show in honour of Kishore Kumar, whom he considers one of the most enduring and emotionally resonant voices in Indian music history.