Legendary singer Kumar Sanu gave some mega hits in earlier times and made his mark among the top singers in India. In an interview Kumar Sanu discusses his career, his lowly beginnings as a foundation for his success, his most difficult time, and why he is unimpressed by modern Hindi music.
Kumar Sanu opens up on the toughest phase of his life; says, “I always kept my personal and professional lives separate”
Talking to Indian Express, Kumar Sanu revealed the number of songs he has recorded till now. He said, “Almost. More than 21,000 songs! I sang in 26 languages, so my songs are there in so many provinces, being played even as we speak. It is difficult to keep a track of all of them, collect them. Some 1000-2000 songs are still missing. The way I am going, the number will cross 22,000 by the end of this year.”
Kumar Sanu’s hailed from Bengali family and his original name was Sanu Bhattacharya. He reveals how Sanu Bhattacharya became Kumar Sanu. He said, “Kalyan ji Anand ji gave me the name, so that people don’t recognise that I am a Bengali. Bengalis can’t speak Urdu shayari, at least most of the singers back then couldn’t. They were popular, but their diction was not proper Urdu, but my Urdu is very strong– only when I am singing, not while speaking. So, Kalyan ji said my Urdu is strong, let people not think I am a Bengali and go with this last name.”
Kumar Sanu gave biggest hits of the year in Aashiqui. Talking about the phase before Aashiqui, he said, “I started singing in hotels within six days of coming to Mumbai. Whatever I’d earn from that, I’d invest that money in making myself a tape. I’d then take the cassette to music directors. I never faced financial crisis. I sang in hotels for about six-seven years. Then when Aashiqui happened, it wasn’t like I thought I had become a star. I didn’t change at all, that’s because of my upbringing. My childhood friends are still with me. They get fish at home, we eat, laugh. I have never let go of my past, my roots.”
Sanu also revealed which kind of music he listens to. “I listen to old Lata ji songs, Kishore Kumar, Rafi songs. I avoid listening to my songs, as I told you. I listen to some English songs as well, but today’s Hindi music, no. They are not even worth listening, so I neither listen, nor do I know much about it,” he added.
When asked if there was a phase in his career which, now when he looks back, he feels was the toughest, to which he replied, “Yes, between 1993–95, which was a totally personal matter that I don’t wish to talk about, it was a really tough phase. I overcame it, thankfully, but it had no impact on my professional career. In fact, those years were very good for me, singing wise. I always kept my personal and professional lives separate. No matter the turmoil in my personal life, the moment I step into a studio, there is a switch which goes off. I hear nothing, I see nothing. It is just music. Inside a studio, the music director, the staff, the song– that’s my only world.”
Also Read: Exclusive: “Main Lata Mangeshkar ko Saraswati manta hoon”, says Kumar Sanu
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