8 Best Movies of Kishore Kumar

Kishore Kumar is one of India's most celebrated singers of all time. His 93^rd birth anniversary was this month. A legendary playback singer, he rendered his voice predominantly in the Hindi language. But he was equally popular and sang in several other Indian languages too. Besides being a playback singer, he was also a noted actor, lyricist, composer, producer, director, and screenwriter.

Without an iota of doubt, movie lovers and music lovers accept Kishore Kumar as one of the most successful playback singers in the Hindi film industry. However, against his wishes and will, his more prominent actor brother, Ashok Kumar, pushed him to act. Not surprisingly a few movies of Kishore Kumar are still evergreen in the minds of fans.

Kishore Da as was fondly called, confided in an interview, “I only wanted to sing. Never to act. But somehow, thanks to peculiar circumstances, I was persuaded to act in the movies.” Lo and behold. In spite of his loathing, a few movies by Kishore Kumar were blockbusters back then. As an actor, he did shine in the limelight. Andolan released in 1951 was one of the first movies of Kishore Kumar in which he played the lead role.

Among the many, a few of the best movies of Kishore Kumar are listed here.

Movie: Musafir

Year: 1957

Duration: 2h 27m

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Cast: Dilip Kumar, Kishor Kumar, Suchitra Sen

IMDB rating:  7.6 

Three subplots are well knitted to narrate a beautiful story, which has one common factor, a house. In a rented-out house where three different families become tenants and vacate for different reasons. The transition of time and subsequent developments are subtly presented to the audience even as different sets of families come and go.

Movie: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi

Year: 1958

Duration: 2h 51m

Language: Hindi

Director: Satyen Bose

Cast: Ashok Kumar, Madhubala, Anoop Kumar, Kishore Kumar

IMDB Rating: 7.9

A major notable part is that the three real-life brothers are acting together in this movie. The brothers, Brijmohan, Manmohan, and Jagmohan Sharma run a garage. A chance encounter between Manmohan and Renu takes the story forward. The brothers who shunned women their whole lives began to change their outlook towards women. Gradually each of them falls in love. The movie is one of the popular movies of Kishore Kumar.

Movie: Chacha Zindabad

Year: 1959

Duration: 2h 36m

Director: J. Om Prakash

Cast: Kishore Kumar, Anita Guha, Anoop Kumar

IMDB rating: 7.7

A romantic comedy story that revolves around Vinod and Renu whose parents are friends. The parents decide to get their children married. However, Vinod and Renu do not like each other. Hence, without hurting their parents, they plot a plan to disrupt the marriage. But in the process, their plan is foiled and they fall in love with each other.

Movie: Half Ticket

Year: 1962

Duration: 2h 46m

Director: Kalidas

Cast: Kishore Kumar, Madhubala, Shammi

IMDB rating: 7.3

Vijay pretends to be a halfwit kid to claim half ticket in a train and later to win over the heart of a woman by the name of Rajini. While his tricks and plans to catch her attention go on, Raja Babu, a thief crosses his path. Taking Vijay to be a halfwit kid, the thief plants his booty in Vijay's pocket. The real adventure of the engaging story thus begins between the two.

Movie: Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein

Year: 1964

Duration: 2h 31m

Language: Hindi

Director: Kishore Kumar

Cast: Kishore Kumar, Supriya Choudhury, Amit Kumar

IMDB Rating: 8.3

The critically acclaimed movie adapted from the film The Proud Rebel was written, directed, and produced by Kishore Kumar. The real-life father-son duo of Kishor and Amit act as father and son in the movie. The story revolves around a soldier, Shankar who returns from the force only to see his family perish in a fire accident. However, his son, Amit survives albeit going mute. The rest of the story unfolds in his search for a cure for his mute son. And his bout against Thakur's atrocities.

Movie: Padosan

Year: 1968

Duration: 2h 36m

Director: Jyoti Swaroop

Cast: Sunil Dutt, Kishore Kumar, Saira Banu

IMDB rating: 8.00

Bhola falls in love with Bindu who coincidently shifts to his neighborhood. Bindu however is attracted to Master Pillai. The comedy-romantic entertainer has the plot going forward when Bhola is aided by his friends Vidyapathi and Banarasi. The pair is part of a musical group with the help of which they devise plans to make Bindu fall for their friend, Bhola.

Movie: Hungama

Year: 1971

Duration: 2h 40m

Director: SM Abbas

Cast: Kishore Kumar, Vinod Khanna, Zeenat Aman, Mehmood

IMDB rating: 7.1

Two brothers, Bade and Chote, notorious for their miserly and mean conduct are businesspersons in the town. However, their nephew, Jagdeep is a reckless man. The brothers decide to get their nephew married. But on the wedding day, he runs away. Now, the brothers have an array of issues to be sorted out.

Movie: Door Ka Raahi

Year: 1971

Duration: 2h 17m

Director: Kishore Kumar

Cast: Kishore Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Tanuja Samarth

 IMDB rating: 7.9

Another film was written and directed by Kishore Kumar. It is said that the plot of the movie is based on the philosophy of Kishore Kumar. From a vibrant and multifaceted artist, the vibe this movie sends out is quite different. It is considered one of the best movies of Kishore Kumar.

An old, dying man has his life's episodes being played one by one in his memory. Prashant, a youth in his quest to serve the oppressed goes on a journey. By doing so, he does everything possible to find meaning in life, bring joy to others and serve the needy. Despite the obstacles, he goes on determined to complete his mission.