Kumar Sanu is regarded as one of the eminent playback singers of Bollywood. His original name is Kedarnath Bhattacharya. As a singer, Kumar Sanu has contributed a lot to the Hindi film industry. He is the recipient of Padma Shri which is India`s 4th highest civilian honour. He has also won the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for five consecutive years.
Early Life of Kumar Sanu
He was born on 23rd September 1957 in Kolkata to an illustrious classical vocalist and composer Pashupati Bhattacharjee. Kumar Sanu received his early training in singing and in playing the tabla from his father. He completed his graduation in commerce from Calcutta University.
Career of Kumar Sanu
Since the year 1979, Sanu started performing publicly, in and around Kolkata. He tried to mould his syntax after the legendary Bollywood singer Kishore Kumar. He moved to Mumbai to try his luck in Bollywood. But for a long time he did not accomplish the success he aspired. In the early 1980s, he grabbed an opportunity to record his voice for a series of Kishore Kumar, covering for a pop label. It was music director and singer Jagjit Singh who had offered Sanu the opportunity to sing in the Hindi film, Aandhiyan. After this episode, famous music director duo Kalyanji-Anandji proposed him a chance to sing in the film Jaadugar. It was their suggestion, that Kedar Bhattacharya should change his name and adopt a stage name like Kumar Sanu.
The 90s saw Kumar Sanu render a breakthrough performance with the film Asshiqui. Success arrived at his doorstep overnight. "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" are the hit songs from the film. The deadly duo of Nadeem-Shravan and Kumar Sanu became a cherished combination within a short span of time.
Thereafter, Kumar Sanu provided many hit songs while working for movies like - Sadak (Tumhe apna bana ne ki kasam khayi hai), Deewana (title song), Baazigar (title song, Kali kali ankhen), Saajan (Jeeye to jeeye kaise, Mera dil bhi kitna pagal hai), Pardes (Meri Mehbooba, Do dil mil rahe hain), Humraaz, Yeh Dil Aapka Huwa (Pakistan), Karz, Dil Ka Rishta, Indian Babu, Ishq Vishk, Andaaz, Qayamat, Hungama and Footpath to name a few.
After pursuing a brilliant singing career, he tried his luck in acting. He has acted in a Bengali film and has also performed in both Bengali and Hindi television serials. He had also developed in an interest in producing films. In 2006, he produced his first Bollywood film, Utthaan.
Awards of Kumar Sanu
He fetched five consecutive Filmfare awards as a recognition to his talent and he was bestowed the award as `Best Male Playback Singer`. The Filmfare awards he has received down the line, for his films like: in 1995 for the song "Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh" for the epoch-making film `Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge`; in the year 1990 for the song "Aab Tere Bin Jeelenge" -from the film "Aashiqui", in 1991 for the song "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai" from the film "Saajan"; in 1992 for the song "Sochenge Tumhe Pyaar" from the film "Deewana"; in 1993 for the song "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen" from the movie "Baazigar"; in the year 1994 for the song "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha" from the film 1942: "A Love Story".
For his song "Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan" from the film "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", in the year 2000 he was conferred the IIFA Best Male Playback Award. In 2009, he was awarded Padma Shri (India`s 4th highest civilian honour) by the Government of India.