Andrew Kishore Kumar Baroi was a Bangladeshi playback singer. His notable songs include Jiboner Golpo Achhe Baki Olpo, Dak Diyachhen Doyal Amare, Haire Manush Rongin Fanush, Amar Shara Deho Kheyo Go Mati, Amar Buker Moddhe Khane, Amar Babar Mukhe Prothom Jedin Shunechilam Gan, Bhengeche Pinjor Meleche Dana, and Shobai To Bhalobasha Chae. 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, Surrender, Khotipuron, Padma Meghna Jamuna, Kabul, Aaj Gaye Holud, Saajghor and Ki Jadu Korila. Kishore bagged the prestigious Bachsas Awards five times under the category of ‘Best Male Playback Singer’ for films Princes Tina Khan, Shami Stri, Premer Taj Mahal, Mone Prane Acho Tumi, and Golapi Ekhon Bilate. Moreover, his golden career was embellished by Meril Prothom Alo Award for three consecutive years under the ‘Best Singer Male’ category. Furthermore, in 2012, he won Ifad Film Club Award in the category of Best Playback Singer. Andrew Kishore is considered as the ‘Playback King’ of Bangladesh music industry who sang more than 15 thousands of heart touching songs. His versatile and melodious voice gave life to Bengali movie songs for several decades.
Early life and career
In 1962, Andrew Kishore 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. At the age of six he 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. After the 1971 Liberation War, he was enlisted in the radio in Nazrul, Tagore, modern, folk and patriotic songs categories. Later in memory of his late teacher, in 2011, Andrew established the cultural organisation “Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu Sriti Shongshod” in Rajshahi. 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. In 1977, Kishore came to Dhaka to participate 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. Kishore debuted in playback singing in the film Mail Train 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. Kishore worked in Probaho Media, a production house, which produces television plays, commercials and other productions. 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 sang to the tune of R.D. Burman in an Indo-Bangladeshi venture film Shatru. He has also sung in Urdu film Ranjish to the tune of Robin Ghosh.
TV & Stage appearance
Andrew Kishore sang on Bangladesh Television in the pre-1975 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. In addition, he has been seen singing or giving interviews at various times on various channels whose videos exist on YouTube. In the Wind of Change aired on Gaan Bangla music channel, Kishore sang his famous "Haire Manush Rongin Fanush" and "Beder Meye Josna Amay Kotha Diyeche" in a re-composition by music director Kaushik Hossain Taposh, which was once again widely acclaimed by the new generation of listeners. He has also did numerous concerts at different times in the country and abroad. Andrew Kishore's last musical TV show was "Koto Rongo Jano Re Manush" aired on Channel i.
Personal life
Andrew Kishore was born on November 04, 1955, in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. He was born in a Bengali Christians family to parents Khitish Chandra Baroi and Minu Baroi. Andrew's father was from Kotalipara Upazila and worked in Rajshahi. He was involved in the medical profession in Rajshahi and Andrew was born and raised in there. Andrew's mother Minu Baroi was a teacher at Bolanpur Mission Girl's High School, Rajshahi and was a music devoted person. Her favorite singer was Kishore Kumar. That is why Andrew named 'Andrew Kishore Kumar Baroi'. She wanted her son to name one day like Kishore Kumar. He started his first lesson in music with Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu of Rajshahi at the behest of his mother. Since a young age, Kishore had a passion for media which lead him to stardom eventually. Kishore was married to Lipika Andrew. They have a daughter, Minim Andrew, and a son, Jay Andrew. Kishore has two siblings Dr. Shikha Biswas and Peter Swapon Kumar Baroi. He was the youngest among them.
Interview
Death
Kishore was diagnosed with Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma on 9 September 2019. He also suffered with kidney and hormone related diseases. His chemotherapy treatment started under Prof Dr. Lim Soon Thye at the Singapore General Hospital. He returned to Bangladesh on 11 June 2020. He had been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit of a clinic adjacent to his sister's house & run by his sister after his physical condition had significantly deteriorated. He died on 6 July, Andrew’s brother-in-law Dr Patrick Bipul Biswas confirmed the news to the press. His coffin was later brought from City Church to the Christian Cemetery of the Church of Bangladesh in Srirampur area of Rajshahi city on 15 July 2020 at 11am. He was buried at 11:30 pm. He was buried in front of the cemetery. This cemetery contains the graves of his parents.
