Kishore "Baba" Kumar (born Kishore Kumar Ganguly) was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century. Although he had no formal training as a singer, Kumar became one of India's best-loved vocalists, actors, and comedians.

Kumar was a walking contradiction. Although he didn't smoke, drink, or socialize, he married four of Indian film's most beautiful leading ladies: Ruma Devi, Madhubala, Yogita Bali, and Leena Chandavarkar. Although he appeared in numerous comic films, his dreams of becoming a romantic hero like his brother, Ashok Kumar, never came to fruition. His only opportunities for serious roles came in films he produced on his own, including Door Gagan Ke Chaon Mein (Koi Lauta De Mere Beete Huen Din) in 1964 and Door Ka Rahi in 1971.

Kumar inherited his love of music from his mother, Dhananjay Banerjee, a classical singer. Kumar's earliest influence came from K.I. Saigal, a well-known Indian vocalist and actor. Hoping to meet...