Kumar Sanu (alias Kedarnath Bhattacharya (Bengali: েকদারনাথ ভট্টাচার্য), born in Kolkata, is an Indian playback singer of Bollywood. He won the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for five consecutive years. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2009
Early life
Kumar Sanu's father Pashupati Bhattacharya was a vocalist and composer. He trained Sanu as a singer and tabla player. After getting a degree in commerce from Calcutta University, Sanu began performing publicly in 1979, singing at shows and restaurants around Calcutta. He modeled his singing style after Bollywood singer Kishore Kumar. Later he developed his own singing style
Career
In 1987, music director and singer Jagjit Singh offered Sanu the chance to sing in the Hindi film Aandhiyan. Sanu then relocated to Mumbai, where Kalyanji-Anandji gave him chance to sing in the film Jaadugar. Kalyanji-Anandji suggested that he change his name from Kedar Nath Bhattacharya to Kumar Sanu.[citation needed]
Sanu started off singing Jagjit Singh's film songs, and went on to work with composers including Naushad, Ravindra Jain, Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Pt.R K Razdan, Kalyanji Anandji, and Usha Khanna.
For the 1990 film Aashiqui, music directors Nadeem-Shravan got Sanu to sing all but one of the songs which included 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. He won the first of his record five consecutive Filmfare awards as Best Male Playback Singer. His next Filmfare Awards came for songs in the movies Saajan (1991), Deewana (1992), Baazigar (1993), and 1942: A Love Story (1994).
Sanu often collaborated with Nadeem-Shravan. Some of their collaborations include songs in movies like Aashiqi(1990), Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991),Sadak (1991), Saajan (1991), Deewana (1992), Dil Ka Kya Kasoor(1992),Kal Ki Awaz (1992), Shreeman Aashique (1993), Salami (1993), Damini: Lightning (1993), Dil Wale (1994), Agni Sakshi (1996) Raja Hindustani (1996), Jeet (1996) Pardes (1997), among others.
In a career spanning two decades he has sung with composers including R.D. Burman, Anand-Milind, Anu Malik, Jatin-Lalit, Nadeem-Shravan, Ismail Darbar, Kalyanji Anandji. Sanu has also worked with A. R. Rahman in Milgayee Milgayee from Kabhi Na Kabhi.
He has also turned his trade at making music for Indian films and also produced the Bollywood film, Utthaan.
Sanu was in the panel of judges on Sony TV for Waar Parriwar, a reality show based on the bringing together of a singing gharana (family of singers) and on Zee Bangla TV in a music reality show called Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Vishwa Sera.
Politics
He joined Bharatiya Janata party in 2004 in a ceremony headed by (party) president Venkiah Naidu. But he was ousted soon
Awards 2009: Padma Shri: India's 4th highest civilian honour given by Government of India.
Filmfare Filmfare Best Male Playback Award 1990; Ab tere bin jeelenge hum - Aashiqui 1991: Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai - Saajan 1992: Sochenge Tumhe Pyaar - Deewana 1993: Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen - Baazigar 1994: Ek Ladki Ko Dekha - 1942: A Love Story
Star Screen Award Star Screen Award for Best Male Playback 1994: Ek Ladki Ko Dekha - 1942: A Love Story - Star Screen Award
