Andrew Kishore

Andrew Kishore was a Bangladeshi playback singer whose voice defined the golden era of Dhaliwood cinema. Born Andrew Kishore Kumar Baroi on November 4, 1955, in Rajshahi, he recorded over 15,000 songs and served as the lead singer for more than 100 films. His emotional delivery and versatility earned him the title "Playback King," and his songs remain beloved across generations.

Kishore's legacy is marked by an unprecedented eight Bangladesh National Film Awards for Best Male Playback Singer, along with five Bachsas Awards and three Meril-Prothom Alo Awards. He also judged the reality show Bangladeshi Idol, sharing his expertise with a new generation. He passed away on July 6, 2020, after a battle with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but his music continues to resonate, with tributes and re-releases keeping his art alive. [edit]

Andrew Kishore's musical journey began in Rajshahi, where he was born into a Christian family. At the age of six, he started taking singing lessons from Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu at Surbani, a local music institution. This early classical training shaped his vocal technique and laid the foundation for his future career.

Growing up in Rajshahi, he was exposed to a rich cultural environment that nurtured his passion. His formal training in classical music gave him a versatility that would later distinguish him in the playback industry. Before his film debut, he honed his skills through years of practice and performance, preparing for the breakthrough that was to come. [edit]

Andrew Kishore's career took off with the 1977 film Mail Train, where he sang "Ochinpurer Rajkumari Nei Je Tar Keu." But it was "Ek Chor Jay Chole" from Protigga (1979) that made him a household name. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he became the dominant playback voice in Dhaliwood, recording thousands of songs for films across genres.

His iconic numbers include "Dak Diyachhen Doyal Amare," "Jiboner Golpo Achhe Baki Olpo," and "Ami Pathore Phool Fotabo" from Shesh Thikana (1997). Beyond playback, he worked as a music director and composer, and later served as a judge on Bangladeshi Idol. His contributions earned him a record eight National Film Awards, cementing his status as a legend. [edit]

Andrew Kishore was revered as the "Playback King" for his unmatched contribution to Bangladeshi film music. His warm, expressive voice made him a favorite among audiences and filmmakers alike. He was known for his humility and professionalism, often praised by peers for his dedication. After his death, tributes from fans and artists alike have kept his memory alive, with his songs still evoking deep nostalgia. [edit]

Andrew Kishore's audience never formed a single, branded tribe with a catchy acronym or organized campaign structure. Instead, his following was a diffuse, national collective that treated his voice as the soundtrack to their daily lives for over three decades. Fans gathered organically around commemorative rituals rather than active chart manipulation or fan-funded billboards. The most visible manifestation of this devotion occurred in November 2019, when a community mobilized an online fundraiser to support his cancer treatment, driven by deep concern rather than pre-existing club activism. Following his death on July 6, 2020, these gatherings evolved into annual tributes marking his birth and death anniversaries, where media outlets publish retrospectives celebrating the man who defined Bangladeshi cinema. His legacy is built on the sheer volume of his output, over 15,000 songs recorded across more than 100 films, which created a personal connection with listeners through shared cinematic experiences. While no specific viral incidents of crowd disruption are documented, the narrative of his passing as the end of a golden era remains the primary cultural mythos. iFANN has evaluated Andrew Kishore's global standing, but he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings. Consequently, no specific numeric rank or score exists for him in the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list.[edit]

The Dhaliwood industry coined the nickname "Playback King" to honor Andrew Kishore's unmatched contribution to Bangladeshi film music. He possessed a rare versatility, effortlessly shifting from romantic ballads to devotional tracks within a single session. One of his personal favorites was reportedly the song "Amar Buker Moddhe Khane," a track that resonated deeply with his own emotional landscape. Beyond the studio, Kishore maintained a keen interest in cricket, often watching matches during breaks in recording sessions to unwind. A story fans retell involves his burial being delayed until July 15, 2020, to allow time for his children to return from Australia, underscoring the profound importance placed on his final rites. Another enduring narrative centers on the posthumous struggle of his family to secure unpaid royalties for his massive catalog, a fight that began gaining traction in late 2024 and highlights the challenges even prolific artists face in the digital age. These stories, combined with the sheer magnitude of his discography, cemented his status as a cultural icon whose voice accompanied every generation of Bengalis.[edit]

Andrew Kishore was married to Lipika Andrew, who has been a steadfast guardian of his legacy. The couple had two children, a daughter and a son, who were living in Australia at the time of his death. His funeral was delayed until they could return to Bangladesh to attend. Lipika has since been vocal about securing royalties for his work, telling Kaler Kantho in November 2024 about the ongoing struggle. [edit]

Andrew Kishore was mentored by Ustad Abdul Aziz Bachchu. He was married to Lipika Andrew. Contemporary artists Imran and Nancy paid tribute to him with a song in 2025. Television personality Hanif Sanket called him 'more than an ideal artiste.' [edit]

Andrew Kishore was married to Lipika Andrew. The couple shared a long and private relationship, raising two children together. They lived in Bangladesh, though their children later moved to Australia. Lipika remained his steadfast partner until his death in 2020, and she has since taken on the role of preserving his legacy and fighting for his royalties. [edit]

Andrew Kishore spent his final days in Dhaka, receiving medical care for a prolonged battle with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma before passing away on July 6, 2020. The cause was officially confirmed by hospital authorities and his family as complications from the disease. Tributes flooded in immediately from peers, government officials, and media outlets like Prothom Alo, hailing him as the legend who defined the sound of Bangladeshi cinema. His funeral was delayed slightly to allow his children, who were living in Australia at the time, to return home for the service. On July 15, 2020, he was laid to rest next to his mother's grave at the Rajshahi City Church cemetery in Rajshahi, where a stage had been set up the previous night for dignitaries and fans to pay their respects. Years later, artists like Imran-Nancy released reimagined versions of his 1997 hit "Ami Pathore Phool Fotabo" to honor his legacy.[edit]

Andrew Kishore's estate continues to generate revenue from his extensive catalog of over 15,000 songs, which remain popular on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. In 2020, his family faced significant financial strain when his cancer treatment required over Tk2 crore (about $240,000), prompting an online fundraiser to cover costs. After his death, his wife Lipika has been actively advocating for proper royalties from his work to ensure fair compensation. Per iFANN's editorial analysis, the estate's estimated value is around $1 Million as of 2026, generated from streaming royalties, licensing deals, and tribute releases. The family continues to manage his musical legacy, ensuring his songs reach new audiences while navigating the complexities of intellectual property rights.[edit]

Andrew Kishore won a record eight Bangladesh National Film Awards for Best Male Playback Singer, along with five Bachsas Awards and three Meril-Prothom Alo Awards, making him one of the most decorated singers in Bangladeshi cinema. [edit]