When Kishore Kumar recorded for his ‘Manik Mama’ Satyajit Ray!

Satyajit Ray was once criticised by a group of

Rabindra Sangeet

experts for giving Kishore Kumar the chance to lend his voice to a Rabindra Sangeet in ‘

Charulata

’ (1964). While speaking about Ray family’s close relation with Kishore Kumar, Satyajit Ray’s son, director Sandip Ray once revealed his father stood by his decision despite the criticisms and went ahead as he planned.

‘Charulata’ is touted to be Ray’s one of the finest works and Kishore Kumar had lent his voice for ‘

Ami Chini Go Chini Tomare

’ in Soumitra Chatterjee’s lips.

“Kishore Kumar was so excited when my father reached out to him and asked him to playback. But he was in a dilemma as the track was a Rabindra Sangeet. He even said there are a lot of brilliant Rabindra Sangeet singers. Then why me? Kishore Kumar thought he was far less competent than any of these renowned singers. But my father was already convinced he will use only Kishore Kumar’s voice,” revealed Sandip Ray.

The song ‘Ami Chini Go Chini Tomare’ was later recorded in Mumbai and the interesting part is Kishore Kumar sang for free, something he reportedly never did for any other music director.