Andrew Kishore Kumar Baroi (widely known as Andrew Kishore, 4 November 1955 – 6 July 2020) was a Bangladeshi playback singer. He is considered as the "Playback King" of Bangladesh music industry who sang more than 15 thousands songs. He sang for more than 100 Bangladeshi films. He was also one of the judges of 2013 Bangladeshi Idol.
Kishore's debut in Dhallywood began with the film Mail Train (1977). "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".
For his contribution to the music, Kishore won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer a record eight times for his performance in the films Boro Bhalo Lok Chhilo (1982), Surrender (1987), Khotipuron (1989), Padma Meghna Jamuna (1991), Kabul (1996), Aaj Gaye Holud (2000), Saajghor (2007), and Ki Jadu Korila (2008), alongside five prestigious Bachsas Awards and three Meril-Prothom Alo Awards, to name a few.
The eminent singer died on July 6, 2020, due to cancer.
Early life and career
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. He was a student of Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu's 'Surbani Music School' in Rajshahi. 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.
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. After the war ended, he was enlisted in the radio in Nazrul, Tagore, modern, folk and patriotic songs categories.
In academic life, Andrew Kishore did a Bachelor of Commerce from Rajshahi Government City College & Master of Commerce in Management from University of Rajshahi in 1977.
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. In the same year, he participated in a talent hunt project initiated by Shahidul Islam, the then director of Transcription Service of Bangladesh Betar. 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.
Kishore debuted in playback singing in the film Mail Train (1977) where he sang "Ochinpurer Rajkumari Nei Je Tar Keu", composed by Alam Khan. 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.
In 1987, Kishore established an advertising agency called Probaho Media, for TV dramas, commercials and other productions. Later in memory of his late teacher, in 2011, he also established a cultural organisation "Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu Sriti Shongshod" in Rajshahi.
Andrew Kishore had dominated the Bangla film industry over the last 40 to 42 years. 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). He has also sung in Urdu film Ranjish (1993) to the tune of Robin Ghosh.
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". Since then, he had been a regular artist at Ityadi aired on Bangladesh Television.
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.