Kumar Sanu

Kumar Sanu is a Hindi playback singer from Kolkata, India, working in filmi music. He is born Kedarnath Bhattacharya in 1957 in Calcutta, India, and later takes the name Kumar Sanu. He is also associated with Kumar Sanu & Temptations 010.

Early life and training

His father, Pashupati Bhattacharya, is a vocalist and composer, and trains him in singing and tabla. After earning a commerce degree from Calcutta University, he starts performing publicly in 1979 and becomes musically active from 1984, singing at shows and restaurants around Calcutta. He models his early style on Kishore Kumar before developing his own approach.

Work in Hindi film music

Sanu’s first chance in Hindi cinema comes in 1987, when Jagjit Singh offers him a song in Andhiyan. He then moves to Mumbai, where Kalyanji-Anandji give him an opportunity to sing in Jadoogar. Kalyanji-Anandji also suggests the name change from Kedar Bhattacharya to Kumar Sanu, aiming for wider appeal beyond a Bengali audience and to avoid caste- and region-based bias in Bollywood.

His major breakthrough comes in 1990 with Aashiqui, for which Nadeem-Shravan have him sing most of the soundtrack. The film includes songs such as “Sanson ki zaroorat hai jaise,” “Tu meri zindagi hain,” “Nazar ke saamne,” “Jaane jigar jaaneman,” “Ab Tere Bin Jee Lenge Hum,” and “Dheere, dheere se meri zindagi mein aana.” The album brings him immediate success and the first of five consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer.

1990s success

He follows this with Filmfare Awards for songs in Saajan (1991), Deewana (1992), Baazigar (1993), and 1942: A Love Story (1994). During this period he becomes closely associated with Nadeem-Shravan and sings major hits for films including Sadak (“Tumhe apna bana ne ki kasam khayi hai”), Deewana (title song), Baazigar (“Yeh Kaali Kaali Aakhen,” “Kali kali ankhen”), Saajan (“Jeeye to jeeye kaise,” “Mera dil bhi kitna pagal hai”), and Pardes (“Meri Mehbooba,” “Do dil mil rahe hain”).

He also records hit songs for Humraaz, Yeh Dil Aapka Huwa in Pakistan, Karz, Dil Ka Rishta, Indian Babu, Ishq Vishk, Andaaz, Qayamat, Hungama, and Footpath. He receives an IIFA Award in 2000 for “Aankhon ki Gustakhiyan” from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

Later career and other work

In the late 1990s, his singing career declines, and he expands into acting, appearing in a Bengali film and working on television serials in both Bengali and Hindi. He also performs concerts and works on music for Indian films. He later serves as a producer for the Bollywood film Utthaan.

Awards and records

Sanu wins a record five consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer. He also holds a Guinness World Record for recording 28 songs in a single day. Despite his success, he has not won a National Award.