As music lovers celebrate Kishore Kumar’s 97th birth anniversary today, his sons Amit Kumar and Sumeet Kumar reflect on the singer’s enduring legacy after recently paying tribute to him through a special charity concert for cancer patients. In a conversation with Bombay Times, the two speak about the timeless appeal of Kishore Kumar’s songs, and why staying true to his individuality matters more than trying to imitate him. Excerpts...

Amit Kumar: I believe the timeless appeal of my father, Kishore Kumar, lies in the honesty and emotional depth with which he approached his music. He never restricted himself to a particular style or generation. Whether it was romance, joy, heartbreak, or humour, he sang every emotion with remarkable authenticity. His voice had a unique ability to connect directly with the listener's heart. I think today's younger generation continues to relate to his songs because emotions are universal and timeless. His music remains as fresh and relevant today as it was decades ago.

Amit Kumar: It is always a deeply emotional experience for me. I approach his songs both as a son carrying precious memories of my father and as a singer who has immense respect for the artist he was. Every time I sing his songs, I feel a sense of nostalgia, but at the same time, I understand the responsibility of presenting them with sincerity and respect. I do not try to imitate him; instead, I try to preserve the spirit and emotion of his music while allowing my own voice and interpretation to come through. For me, performing his songs is a beautiful way of keeping his memory and musical legacy alive.

Amit Kumar: Beyond his extraordinary talent and his well-known sense of humour, my father was a deeply sensitive and emotional person. He had a very strong sense of individuality and was someone who valued simplicity and authenticity. He was also extremely passionate about creativity and believed in doing things in his own unique way. People often remember his laughter and playful nature, but there was a very thoughtful and sensitive side to him as well. I feel that this depth of emotion is one of the reasons why his voice continues to touch people's hearts even today.

Sumeet Kumar: My father was always a very curious and creative person who embraced new ideas in his own unique way. I believe he would have been fascinated by the technological advancements taking place in music today. At the same time, he would have strongly believed that technology can support creativity, but it can never replace genuine emotion and human expression. He would probably have explored these new platforms with his characteristic originality and sense of humour, while continuing to believe that music must come from the heart and connect with the soul of the listener.

Sumeet Kumar: Carrying forward my father's legacy is both an honour and a great responsibility. I believe that preserving his legacy does not mean simply imitating him; it means respecting the values, emotions, and musical spirit that made his work timeless. I try to present his songs with the same sincerity and love while bringing my own personality and interpretation to every performance. My father has been my greatest inspiration, but I also believe that every artist must find their own voice. My endeavour is to celebrate his timeless music while continuing to grow and establish my own identity as a performer.

On August 4, his 86th birth anniversary, Kishore Kumar will get a gift. Sons, Amit Kumar and Sumeet Kumar, are launching their music label, Kumar Brothers Music (KBM), online, with a six-song album, Baba Mere. The title track has been sung by Kishore's granddaughter, Muktika Ganguly. The 10 year old has also featured in the music video which sees her meeting her dadaji for the first time in a dream.

“The idea came to me four years ago. I composed a tune which I sang to my daughter every night like a lullaby. Leenaji (Kishore's wife Leena Chandavarkar) wrote the lyrics and I began urging Muktika to sing it. We recorded it last September,“ says Amit.

Muktika admits that for the first four days, she was so terrified that every time the subject came up, she'd burst into tears. On the fifth day, she entered the studio but as soon as Amit stepped inside, she started crying. “My father stomped out, looking angry. But chachu (Sumeet) coaxed me to sing freely. With every take, the beats got easier. And baba proudly told everyone his daughter had sung it,“ she beams. Muktika celebrated her grandfather's birthday by decorating the living room and cut a cake. This year, they will celebrate with her debut song. “My favourite song is my dadu's Koi hota jisko apna from Mere Apne. It's melodious and emotional, like Door Ka Rahi, my favourite film,“ she says.

Despite her shyness, Muktika is a prankster like Kishore who'd scare the watchman pretending to be a ghost. “I scare my parents too by popping up from behind the door. If dadu was around, we could have been naughty together,“ she laughs.

She has accompanied Amit for concerts but never sung. Even in school she needs a couple of other students to join her. But she wants to follow the family tradition and become a singer. “Baba is already planning another song with the entire family,“ she says.

This song will not be in this album which has five other tracks including one which goes Main hoon badnaam. “Leenaji has written the songs, I've composed all of them and sung a few, Muktika has crooned one, Sumit has arranged two and the title of the album came from my wife Reema. So this one too is a family effort,“ Amit signs off with a smile.