Singer Sumit Kumar recently revisited some of his fondest childhood memories while appearing on the music reality show Indian Idol. The son of legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar became nostalgic after contestant Manraj performed the classic song Eena Meena Deeka. The performance reminded him of the countless stage shows where he watched his father entertain audiences with timeless hits.During the episode, Sumit also shared a heartwarming anecdote involving his father and elder brother. He recalled how a spontaneous moment during one of Kishore Kumar’s performances became an unforgettable memory from his childhood.
‘Eena Meena Deeka’ brought back treasured memories
Speaking about the performance, Sumit revealed that “Eena Meena Deeka” always reminds him of his growing-up years. He said the song was a regular feature in Kishore Kumar’s live concerts and instantly transports him back to those special moments.Sharing the memory, Sumit said, “My memory of this song, Bachpan mein Bhaiya aur Baba both used to perform this song on stage. So this song, I used to recall. Aur ek gaana tha, ‘Ek Chatur Naar,’ jismein it was not planned, par end mein jugalbandi mein Baba Bhaiya ke upar aake baith jaate the aur main Bhaiya ka pithoo. I could never stand ki aise kaise ho gaya ki Bhaiya haar gaye. Main stage pe jaake dono ke upar baith jaata tha. This song, particularly ‘Eena Meena Deeka’, Baba used to perform this song in all his stage performances. Aapne bohot accha gaaya hai, maza aa gaya.” (“This song brings back so many childhood memories for me. When I was young, both my elder brother and my father used to perform this song on stage, so whenever I hear it, I remember those days. There was another song, ‘Ek Chatur Naar.’ It wasn’t planned, but during the final jugalbandi, my father would climb onto my brother’s shoulders. I was always on my brother’s side and couldn’t accept that he had ‘lost.’ So I would run onto the stage and climb on top of both of them. ‘Eena Meena Deeka’ was one song that my father performed at almost every stage show. You sang it beautifully. I truly enjoyed listening to it.”)
A playful memory from ‘Ek Chatur Naar’
Sumit’s recollection also included a charming behind-the-scenes moment linked to another iconic song, ‘Ek Chatur Naar’. According to him, Kishore Kumar would sometimes climb onto his elder brother’s shoulders during the performance’s final jugalbandi. As a child, Sumit admitted he could not accept seeing his brother “lose” the playful contest. He would rush onto the stage and climb on top of both of them, creating an unscripted family moment that delighted audiences.
Kishore Kumar’s unforgettable musical legacy
Kishore Kumar remains one of the most celebrated playback singers in Indian cinema. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he recorded thousands of songs across several Indian languages and delivered numerous chartbusters that continue to resonate with audiences. His remarkable classics such as ‘Roop Tera Mastana’, ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’, ‘Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas’, ‘O Mere Dil Ke Chain’, ‘Yeh Shaam Mastani’, ‘Rimjhim Gire Saawan’, ‘Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si’ and ‘Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana’. These songs remain favourites across generations.Beyond playback singingApart from his immense contribution to music, Kishore Kumar also enjoyed a successful acting career. He starred in several memorable films, including ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’, ‘Half Ticket’, ‘Padosan’, ‘Jhumroo’ and ‘Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein’.
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