Kumar Sanu's Bold Birthday Statement: Unfazed After 19K Songs

As soon as one reads the name of Kumar Sanu, every music lover starts thinking of 'Ab Tere Bin Jee Lenge Hum' or 'Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin'. Kumar Sanu aka Sanu Da, who has given many super duper hit songs in the film industry, has received five Filmfare Awards, a doctorate degree in honor from America, and has been honored with Padma Shri, lives in the hearts of his listeners. 

The songs sung by Kumar Sanu will remain relevant even today and tomorrow. But it was not easy for Kumar Sanu to play his first innings in Bollywood. But yes, thanks to his father Pashupati Bhattacharya, his voice was very strong. Actually, his father was a well-known composer and singer of Bikrampur district (which is now in Bangladesh). It was because of him that Kumar Sanu's voice was also melodious. 

The journey from Kedarnath to Kumar Sanu

But unlike his father, Sanu Da was a bigger fan of film songs, especially Kishore Da. He used to play tabla from the age of eight. This was also due to the blessings of his parents, his siblings were also immersed in music. His parents were classical singers. But Kumar Sanu's wish was to go to Bombay and sing for films. 

Shahrukh Khan did not say in the movie 'Om Shanti Om' for nothing that if you love someone with all your heart, then the whole universe comes together to make you meet him/her. 

Something similar happened with Shanu Da. He came to Mumbai with some boys but it was not easy to get work here. This was in the early eighties. Perhaps you know that Kumar Sanu's real name is Kedarnath Bhattacharya but everyone at home lovingly called him Sanu, so he kept his name as Sanu Bhattacharya even in singing. You can understand better that a lot of money is needed to struggle in an expensive city like Mumbai and no matter how much talent one has, unless a jeweler notices you, money does not come on the basis of talent. But this did not happen with Shanu Da. Within a week, he got a job to sing in a hotel. In the evening, he used to sing Kishore Kumar's songs. 

Consider it this way Kishore Kumar lived in his heart. Because Shanu Da is Bengali, he had a unique attachment to Kishore Da. Now when he started singing in hotels, the news spread in every hotel that there is a new boy who sang Kishore Kumar's songs very well. This boy's voice is more similar to Amit Kumar's. 

When this news spread like wildfire, Shanu Da's work started increasing, and when the work increased, money also started pouring in. He used to get 'nawazish' (a gift) more than his job salary. Many people started coming to the hotel just to hear his songs. 

But how long could this go on? So, with that money, Shaanu Da started recording his songs and getting cassettes made. During this time, India's best ghazal singer Jagjit Singh heard his voice at Western Outdoors and immediately called Shaanu Da to him. Shaanu Da was surprised to see Jagjit Ji. After all, he used to sing his ghazals in hotels and bars. 

Jagjit Singh took him along with him and after talking to him, gave him a song from the film 'Andhiyan' which Sanu Da sang with all his efforts. But that film could not be made. But Jagjit ji did not leave him, he took him to the famous music duo 'Kalyanji-Anandji'. When Kalyanji heard his voice, he also liked it. Kalyanji Anandji used to do a lot of concerts from the beginning. They gave the responsibility of opening their concerts to Sanu. Also, regarding work in films, he said, "Shaanu, this name of yours is Bhattacharya, something has to be done about it. When you speak, you speak in a Bengali tone but you sing very clearly, in clear Urdu and Hindi, but because of your Bengali surname, before giving you a song, everyone will think that if you start singing in a Bengali accent, the song will be ruined. So, let's change your name. You can change it to Shaanu Kumar." But then perhaps he found the name very common, because most of the Bengali singers, Hemant Kumar, Kishore Kumar, his son Amit Kumar, etc. used to write their names like that, so he put Kumar first and Shaanu later and the name became 'Kumar Shaanu'. 

One day he called Shaanu Da to his place. Shaanu Da saw that all the big people were present at that meeting. Apart from Kalyanji Anandji, Prakash Mehra, lyricist Anjaan, etc. were present. He was handed a piece of paper and asked "Can you read Hindi?" 

Shanu Da replied hesitantly, "Yes, he does read a little bit."  So Kalyanji said "Read it and sing" and at the same time, Anandji and Kalyanji started giving the tune on the harmonium. They thought that Sanu would take half an hour to understand the tune and set the lyrics accordingly but Sanu Da has got this God gift that he catches any tune or any lyrics instantly. That is why Sanu Da started singing after only ten minutes and when he caught the tune, the song he sang in that meeting was recorded. 

After some time, he was called to the studio and was told, "Record the same song that you sang that day, now properly sing it. Sing it openly, full-throated, don't lower your voice. Do you know who you are giving the playback to?"

Shanu Da again asked hesitantly, "To whom?"

The reply was "Sanjay Dutt himself made a cassette of the song you sang that day and took it to America to Shahenshah Amitabh Bachchan because Amitabh was shooting there. He heard your voice and immediately called Kalyanji and said give him all the songs of my film, his voice suits me." 

Sanu Da was shocked, but he immediately composed himself and when he sang the song 'Main Jadugar, Mera Naam Goga', the entire studio praised him. The film did not do well but it definitely gave Kedarnath Bhattacharya a place in the industry as Kumar Sanu. 

During that time, Kumar Sanu got the news that Kishore Da is no more. He had a heart attack. This moment was absolutely unbearable for Kumar Sanu. His heartfelt desire was to meet Kishore Da. But he thought that if Kishore Da was not in the mood, he would not meet big producers, why would he meet him? But Sanu Da had a hope that when he would become a star singer, perhaps he would get the chance to meet Kishore Da, but Kishore Da passed away. 

After a few years, he met Abdul, Kishore Da's driver cum assistant cum everything. While talking to Abdul, he told him about his unfulfilled desire, Abdul said "Shanu Da used to ask about you, Abdul, please find out who is this boy who sings my songs so well, I think I will have to meet him" 

Hearing this from Abdul, Kumar Sanu was overjoyed. He silently saluted Kishore Da and believed that without his blessings he would not have been able to achieve success. 

But this was a matter of later times; success was now just one step away from Kumar Sanu. 

At that time, mostly action films and similar music were in vogue, but Gulshan Kumar ji made an album against the trend and named it 'Chahat'. It had music by Nadeem Shravan, lyrics by Sameer and Kumar Sanu gave his voice to those songs. When Mahesh Bhatt heard these songs, he decided to make a film on it. This was a unique opportunity when a film was being made on the basis of songs. Mahesh Bhatt included a completely fresh star cast Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal in the film.  

The film became such a blockbuster hit due to the young generation that everyone, be it the director or the producer, was stunned. But the real reason for the film's success was its music and Kumar Sanu's wonderful voice. There were ten songs in this film and the amazing thing is that all ten of them were super hits. Its cassette was so popular that it was sold in black. 

No album has been able to break the record of this film's cassette till date and now in the online era, it will never be able to break it. More than two crore cassettes of this film were sold.

Despite the bumper sale of Aashiqui, Kumar Sanu had a regret that despite so many good songs, the year was about to end but he did not get any award. He was a guest at Filmfare and was listening to his name in the Best Male Singer category when it was announced that 'The winner is Kumar Sanu' 

Shanu Da was so nervous that after receiving the award on stage, he was not ready to say anything on the mic even when the anchor called him. He was getting nervous, but as always, he recovered himself immediately and just said, "All I want is to meet you all like this every year" 

The anchor even joked on this statement, "It means you get the best singer award every year" 

Thinking this to be a good joke everyone laughed but who knew that it was not a joke but the truth. 

From here, Kumar Sanu became a star overnight. Songs used to come to him earlier also, but now the situation was such that he started recording for twenty hours a day. Now he started getting full-fledged films. With the duo of Nadeem Shravan, he gave such big hit films as 'Saajan, Phool Aur Kaante, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Sadak, Sainik, Junoon, Waqt Hamara Hai, Dil Tera Aashiq, Aadmi Khilona Hai, Damini, Dilwale, etc. and you can consider that he ruled the entire decade of 90s. He was named 'Shahenshah of Melody Music'. 

Apart from Nadeem Shravan, he also did a number of films with Anu Malik, which included superhit films like Chamatkar, Imtihan, Vijaypath, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Hum Hain Bemisal, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Diljale, Sapoot, Chahat, Judwaa etc. 

Shaanu Da sang songs in only a few films with Jatin Lalit, but all those films were one better than the other. Blockbuster films like Khiladi, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Yes Boss, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Ghulam, Sangharsh, Vaastav, Sarfarosh etc. are included in this. 

His tuning with Anand Milind was also good, he gave his voice in entertaining films like Jigar, Raja Babu, Coolie Number One, Hero Number One, Gopi Kishan, Rakshak, Chal Mere Bhai.

Kumar Sanu also worked with Rakesh Roshan's brother Rajesh Roshan and gave super hit albums like Koyla, Kaho Naa Pyar Hai, Kya Kehna. 

He also lent his voice to many songs of '1942 A Love Story' along with music maestro Pancham Da i.e. RD Burman. 

Apart from this, there was no music director with whom he did not work. 

He received his first Filmfare Award in 1991 for the film Aashiqui and was awarded the Filmfare Award every year thereafter, five times in a row, until 1995.

After the song "Ab Tere Bin Jee Lenge Hum" from Aashiqui, he got Filmfare in 1992 for the song "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai" from the film Saajan and then the song "Sochenghe Tumhein Pyar, Karen Ki Nahi" from the film Deewana increased his respect in 1993. All these three songs were composed by Nadeem-Shravan. 

In 1994, he received his fourth consecutive Filmfare Award for the song "Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein" from the film Baazigar, this time his music director was Anu Malik. Then he was also awarded the Filmfare Award for the song "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga" from the film 1942 A Love Story, composed in Pancham Da's music. 

era of waning days

During this award, Kumar Sanu showed a big heart and said, "I like that I get so much respect in the Filmfare Awards. This is the fifth consecutive time I have received the award. But I want that more people should be given a chance now." Kumar Sanu said something similar on stage which probably offended the Filmfare jury so much that they then stopped giving awards to Kumar Sanu. 

After that, in the year 2000, four of his songs were nominated but he did not win a single award. On the song 'Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain, Magar Chupke Chupke' from the film Pardes, even his listeners objected as to why he was not getting an award. But no explanation was ever heard from Filmfare. 

The death of Pancham Da i.e. RD Burman in 1994 was a big shock for the entire music industry. But the saddest day for the Indian film music industry was 12 August 1997 when Gulshan Kumar ji, who had completely rejected the threat given by the underworld, was shot dead in broad daylight. Sixteen bullets were fired at him and the name of Nadeem Saifi of Nadeem Shravan was also highlighted in his murder. Nadeem Saifi immediately fled the country. 

Kumar Sanu considers these three incidents to be the biggest setbacks to the music industry and his career. Kumar Sanu was never afraid to say anything to anyone, he always said what he felt was right, what was the truth. Kumar Sanu, who once ruled the industry, started getting less work despite singing in superhit films like 'Kaho Naa Pyar Hai'. 

He was also asked to sing some vulgar songs, to which he reacted harshly and outright rejected them. As a result, his demand also started decreasing. Shanu Da also said that "Now new music is not created at all, music was taken from western music earlier too, but at least people used to give their inputs then, now a song is made by picking up a tune from scratch. So many instruments are used that there is no value left of who the singer is and what he is."

Kumar Sanu tells a very interesting thing for new singers that "We used to sing songs for money, now what has happened is that we sing songs even after paying money, TV and God knows what else are sent to the house of the music director, now the music does not become a hit, rather the music is hammered all day long everywhere, the listeners are forced to listen to it" 

When he was asked that you refuse to sing vulgar songs, you say such things about singers, don't you feel scared? Then Shaanu Da proudly says that "It has been so long for me in the industry, I have sung 19 thousand songs, if I am still scared then shame on such a life. 

He also explained why memorable songs are not made in music these days. In the words of Kumar Sanu, "Earlier there used to be only one song of a vamp, now all the songs are made for vamps only, the heroine herself starts doing item numbers, if any half good song is made then it is filmed on some fakir or supporting cast" Sanu Da considers Aashiqui as his biggest break. In an interview he also revealed that "he had got a call for Aashiqui 2 also, he was ready also but then who knows what arrangement happened inside that he did not think it necessary to tell him" but at the same time on comparing both the Aashiquis he openly says "You see, today's Aashiqui has good songs no doubt

But how much is the hit? There are two songs, two songs which have been a little popular but seven out of ten songs of Aashiqui were super hits which are hits till date." Being away from films does not at all mean that Sanu Da was not working. He says that he has more work now through concerts than he had after Aashiqui. He has shows abroad. In America, he is the first artist for whom Kumar Sanu Day is celebrated on 31st March. Not only this, he has also sung six Hindi and one Spanish song in a London album. Prince Noor of Malaysia was his big fan, although he neither knew Hindi nor watched Hindi films, but he was a big fan of Kumar Sanu and Kishore Da's songs. He somehow contacted Kumar Sanu through email and told him that he wanted to pay tribute to Kishore Kumar ji by recording his songs with him. On hearing Kishore Da's name, Kumar Sanu immediately said yes and the album was named 'Hum Aur Tum'. 

There are many stories of Sanu Da, but I will conclude with the story of this song that after 2005, it was being forcefully imposed that the era of singers of the 90s like Kumar Sanu etc. is over, but there was no dearth of fan following of Kumar Sanu especially in UP and Bihar even then and there is no dearth of fan following even today. In Ayushmann Khurana's film 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' made on the same background under the Yash Raj banner, Ayushmann's character is shown as a big fan of Kumar Sanu and Kumar Sanu has also made a comeback in that film after many years. Look at the fun, only two songs of this film have become the most popular, one is 'Moh Moh Ke Dhaage' in the voice of Monali Thakur and the other is 'Tumse Mile Dil Mein Utha Dard Kara' in the voice of Sanu Da and Sadhna Sargam, this song is a proof of the fact that even if quality is suppressed, it never gets old, never flops. 
We wish a very happy birthday to our evergreen, King Singer of the nineties, Shaanu Da.    

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