Shocking untold story: How singer-composer Hemant Kumar fell out with  composer Salil Chowdhury

It was all about the late poet-lyricist Yogesh’s most famous song Kahin dur jab  din dhal jaye.

The original Bengali version of these immortal words were sung by Hemant Kumar Mukherjee. The song was called Amay Proshno Kore Neel Dhrubo Tara.

Says a  source close to Hemant Kumar, “Since Hemantda had sung the  original  Amay Proshno Kore Neel Dhrubo Tara for composer Salilda (composer Salil Chowdhary) and since Salilda  was  Hemantda’s discovery, Hemantda presumed  the Hindi  version  of the song would also go to him by right.”

To his disbelief and shock Hemant Kumar discovered that Kahin dur jab din dhal jaye the Hindi version  of Amay Proshno Kore Neel Dhrubo Tara was given to Mukesh to sing.

Says the source in the know, “Hemantada was shocked  beyond belief. Salilda was Hemantda’s discovery. It happened one day when Salilda walked into Hemantda’s  home and  played some  tunes. Hemantda didn’t like any of Salilda’s tunes.  Salilda left. But came  back to play one last song. This time Hemantda was bowled over and he  immediately agreed to sing it for Salilda. The song was Runner written by Bengal’s  well-known poet Sukanto. That’s how Salilda’s innings in Bengal started. And then to have Hemantda replaced by Mukesh  was unacceptable to Hemantda. Things were  never the same between them.”