Andrew Kishore Kumar Baroi (widely known as Andrew Kishore, 4 November 1955 – 6 July 2020)[1] was a Bangladeshi playback singer. He is considered the "Playback King" of Bangladesh for his contributions to the golden era of dhaliwood.[2] He worked in more than a 100 films, where he was the lead playback singer in more than 15 thousand songs. He also judged in a popular reality TV show called Bangladeshi Idol.
Kishore's debut in Dhallywood began with the film Mail Train (1977). In the film a song called "Ochinpurer Rajkumari Nei Je Tar Keu", composed by Saley Alam Khan, was his debut playback song. After receiving critical recognition for the song "Ek Chor Jay Chole", penned by Alam Khan in the film Protigga (1979), Kishore had his breakthrough. Remembered for his iconic tracks, including "Jiboner Golpo, Achhe Baki Olpo", "Amar Buker Moddhe Khane", "Daak Diyachhen Doyal Amare", "Amar Shara Deho Kheyo Go Mati" and "Shobai To Bhalobasha Chae".[3]
At the age of six Andrew Kishore started acquiring formal singing training from late Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu, the then chief music director of Rajshahi Betar.[6] He was a student of Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu's 'Surbani Music School' in Rajshahi.[7] In 1962, he was listed on Rajshahi Betar as a child artist. And then the famous lyricist Mohammad Rafiquzzaman used to watch the children's section as the producer of Rajshahi Betar.[8]
Kishore has contributed to the national movement in his early life. During the 1969 Mass uprising in East Pakistan, he and other contemporary artists used to visit different places of Rajshahi city and sing protest songs. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Kishore took refuge in India with his family. He used to inspire the freedom fighters by singing in the refugee camps.[9] After the war ended, he was enlisted in the radio in Nazrul, Tagore, modern, folk and patriotic songs categories.[6]
Of course, my parents have inspired me since my childhood. They are my idols. My mother never blamed others for anything, rather she always tried to cope with the difficult situations with dignity and poise, and my father's caring, steadfast and disciplined lifestyle has always inspired me to perfect my craft, even at this point of my life. I have also been inspired by the late great Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu. He was always a very talented and skilled artist, who was never afraid to let his voice be heard, even in times of crisis, to show his support of the arts. He was also a great teacher, and had incredible eye for identifying not only the hidden talent a student possessed, but how that potential could be tapped into. Last, but certainly not least, I have always been inspired by the great music director, Alam Khan. He has been a great teacher and a great friend all these years, and even after all these years of working with him, I am still in awe of his genius.[12]
Andrew Kishore to The Daily Star — sharing his inspiration in singing
After completing his studies, he concentrated on business by owning a grocery store in Rajshahi. However, in 1977, he moved to the house of his childhood friend living in Dhaka.[9] In the same year, he participated in a talent hunt project initiated by Shahidul Islam, the then director of Transcription Service of Bangladesh Betar.[6] On the programme, he rendered the song "Soheli O Soheli", composed by Debu Bhattacherjee and he was able to catch the attention of well known music directors.[6]
Kishore debuted in playback singing in the film Mail Train (1977) where he sang "Ochinpurer Rajkumari Nei Je Tar Keu", composed by Alam Khan.[3] Introduced by A.H.M. Rafique, Kishore made his breakthrough with the song "Ek Chor Jay Choley" from the film Protikkha, composed by Alam Khan.[6]
In 1987, Kishore established an advertising agency called Probaho Media, for TV dramas, commercials and other productions.[13][14] Later in memory of his late teacher, in 2011, he also established a cultural organisation "Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu Sriti Shongshod" in Rajshahi.[7][12]
Andrew Kishore had dominated the Bangla film industry over the last 40 to 42 years.[15] He also earned acclaim for Hindi and Urdu playbacks. He is the only Bangladeshi artist to sing to the tune of R. D. Burman in an Indo-Bangladeshi venture film Shatru (1986).[16][17] He has also sung in Urdu film Ranjish (1993) to the tune of Robin Ghosh.[self-published source?][18]
TV and stage appearance
Andrew Kishore sang on Bangladesh Television in the pre-1985 years of his career. But for more than a decade, he played behind the scenes in numerous Bengali film playbacks, but did not appear on the TV screen. After a long 15 years, this talented artist came back to the TV screen in 1999 with the song "Poddo Patar Pani".[a] Since then, he had been a regular artist at Ityadi aired on Bangladesh Television.[8]
He has also been a judge on a music reality show. He was a regular judge of Bangladeshi Idol, a reality television song contest aired on SA TV in 2013.[20]
In addition, he has been seen singing or giving interviews at various times on various channels whose videos exist on YouTube. In the Wind of Change (Bangladeshi TV program) aired on Gaan Bangla music channel, Kishore sang his famous "Haire Manush Rongin Fanush"[21] and "Beder Meye Josna Amay Kotha Diyeche"[22] in a re-composition by music director Kaushik Hossain Taposh, which was once again widely acclaimed by the new generation of listeners.[23]
He has also did numerous concerts at different times in the country and abroad. Andrew Kishore's last musical TV show was "Koto Rongo Jano Re Manush" aired on Channel i.[24]
Personal life
Andrew Kishore was born on November 4, 1955, in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. His parents are Khitish Chandra Baroi and Minu Baroi. Andrew's father was from Kotalipara Upazila and worked in Rajshahi. He was involved in the medical profession in Rajshahi and Andrew was born and raised in there.[25] Andrew's mother Minu Baroi was a teacher at Bolanpur Mission Girl's High School, Rajshahi and was a music devoted person. Her favorite singer was Kishore Kumar. That is why Andrew named Andrew Kishore Kumar Baroi. She wanted her son to name one day like Kishore Kumar. He started his first lesson in music with Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu of Rajshahi at the behest of his mother.[26] Since a young age, Kishore had a passion for media which lead him to stardom eventually.
"The name in my certificates was not Andrew Kishore. There was Andrew Kishore Kumar Baroi. One day director Dewan Nazrul told me that my name is very big. According to him commercially my full name had no value! He also said that most of the stars of the world have used two words because their names are big. Such as Elvis Presley, Lata Mungeshkar, Uttam Kumar, Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar all have two words in their names. So the director suggested using two-word names. Then I decided to shorten my name as Andrew Kishore."
Kishore married Lipika Andrew (Eti) in 1988.[b][29] They have a daughter, Minim Andrew (Songa), and a son, Jay Andrew (Saptok).[30] Kishore has two siblings, Shikha Biswas and Swapon Baroi. He was the youngest among them.[25]
Kishore was diagnosed with Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma on 9 September 2019.[8][29] He also had kidney- and hormone-related diseases.[31] His chemotherapy treatment started under Prof Dr. Lim Soon Thye at the Singapore General Hospital.[24] He returned to Bangladesh on 11 June 2020.[29] He had been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit of a clinic adjacent to his sister's house and run by his sister after his physical condition had significantly deteriorated.[32]
He died on 6 July. Andrew's brother-in-law Dr Patrick Bipul Biswas confirmed the news to the press.[33]
His coffin was later brought from City Church to the Christian Cemetery of the Church of Bangladesh in Srirampur area of Rajshahi city on 15 July 2020 at 11am. He was buried at 11:30 am. He was buried in front of the cemetery. This cemetery contains the graves of his parents.[34]
^The source indicates that in the 15 years prior to the release of this song, Andrew Kishore did not appear on television. The song "Poddo Patar Pani" was released in 1999, which indicates that 15 years before 1999, in 1984, he last appeared on TV.[19]
^The sources indicate that Andrew went for song recording at "Don Studio" at the call of director "Ali Hosen" on the day of his marriage. In the movie "Byathar Daan", Andrew Kishore sang to the tune of "Ali Hosen". That movie got censorship certificate on 17 January 1989 and released that year. In other words, it can be easily assumed that the cinematography of that film was going on in 1988 & Andrew also got married that year.[27][28]
^"Ēnḍru kiśōra" এন্ড্রু কিশোর [Andrew Kishore]. gaankhobor.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2018-02-21. পড়ালেখা করেছেন রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে। [He has studied at the University of Rajshahi]
