Shoojit Sircar: ‘I don’t think there’s scope to make a Kishore Kumar biopic anymore’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Long before he dreamt of making a biopic on Kishore Kumar, filmmaker Shoojit Sircar was captivated by the legend’s uninhibited screen presence in “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi” and “Padosan.” In this conversation, Sircar reflects on discovering Kishore the actor before Kishore the singer, the aspect of his life he most wanted to capture on screen, why Ranbir Kapoor was always his first choice to play the icon, and why he ultimately walked away from the long-gestating biopic.

What was your introduction to Kishore Kumar?

I was first introduced to Kishore Kumar because of his acting. My first love for Kishore Kumar started from the film “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi” and then “Padosan.” In the beginning, when I was growing up, I didn’t have that much knowledge regarding singing. But of course, you could see someone acting and doing something hilarious, wild, and physical. He was showcasing humor with his voice, but also with his physicality. So, that’s how I came to know about Kishore Kumar.

Later, when I grew up a bit, I slowly came to know about his songs and started enjoying them, and started singing them. And whether you are a film buff or not, you cannot escape Kishore Kumar. He was there in every film when we were growing up. Everywhere, it was either Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, or Lata Mangeshkar songs playing. Somewhere or another, a song of his was playing. So, that was my introduction to Kishore Kumar. I ask my daughters nowadays, they are from today’s generation and they also listen to Kishore Kumar through a lot of remixes they’ve heard. So somewhere or another, his songs are still playing.

Why did you want to make a biopic on Kishore Kumar?

Because he was such a talented, creative person. He was a singer, musician, actor, writer, later, I learned, he was a director as well. And a foodie! So many stories around him — stories about the actors, the wars, how he would deal with some directors and producers and his tricks exist. For example, if he didn’t like a song, how he would get out of it, or how he would avoid singing it altogether. And also, for six months he couldn’t sing because he was banned and then he went away, and how he came back… all of that. And his personal life, how he came from there. Quite late in life, I came to know he was the brother of Ashok Kumar, so that was another twist! All that made me interested, so I started working on it.

What aspect of Kishore Kumar did you want to bring forth, something beyond what’s already in the public domain?

The one thing I always wanted to show is that he always wanted to go back home to Khandwa. From all my research, he always said he just wanted to earn some money and go back to Khandwa, do some farming, and live there.

Everything he did here, he would always talk about Khandwa: “I will go back to Khandwa.” I think that aspect and also how someone is a natural, instinctive artist. Not trained too much, but pure instinct. That’s the madness I wanted to capture. That’s why I think he always wanted to go back home. He never liked Bombay; he wanted to leave.

Is there still scope to make the Kishore Kumar biopic?

No, I don’t think so. At that time I was getting ready, but later I gave up because it went through so many rounds. Later, I got to know that Anurag Basu is making it. Anyway, I’ve moved on from it.

Who was in your vision as Kishore Kumar? 

It was always Ranbir in my head.

And that’s probably why you put your story on hold because Anurag was doing it with Ranbir?

Yeah, when I learned he was doing it, I said no. Anurag is a friend, Ranbir is a friend, so there’s no point doing it when someone else is doing it. Only one person should do it. Anurag understands music well. He’s very talented, so I thought it was in the right hands, and I gave up.

Today, if you want to remember Kishore Kumar through one of his songs, which song would that be?

I like the song “Ek Chatur Naar” from “Padosan” the best. That song, which features the voices of Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey, is mind-blowing.