Kumar Sanu

Kedarnath Bhattacharya (born 20 October 1957), professionally known as Kumar Sanu, is an Indian playback singer who primarily sings in Hindi film songs.

Apart from Hindi, he has also sung in other languages including Bengali, Marathi, Nepali, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Manipuri, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi, Odia, Chhattisgarhi, Urdu, Pali, English and his native language Bengali, both in West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Kumar Sanu started his playback career as Sanu Bhattacharya from 1983.

In 1986, he was in the Bangladeshi film Teen Kanya, directed by Shibli Sadiq.

He had his first major Bollywood song in Hero Hiralal (1988).

In 1989, Jagjit Singh introduced Sanu to Kalyanji in Vimal Bunglow, Mumbai.

On their suggestion, Sanu changed his early name from "Sanu Bhattacharya" to "Kumar Sanu" after his idol Kishore Kumar.

Sanu then relocated to Mumbai, where Kalyanji-Anandji gave him a chance to sing in the film Jaadugar.

For the 1990 film Aashiqui, Sanu sang all but one of the songs.

He won the first of his record five consecutive Filmfare Awards as Best Male Playback Singer.

He won 5 back to back Filmfare awards for singing, between 1990 and 1994.

Kumar Sanu got his major break when Gulshan Kumar with music directors Nadeem and Shravan gave him chance to sing most of the songs of movie Aashiqui (1990), songs were recorded earlier for an album and later movie was made around the songs.

The movie as well as the songs were a grand success.

Beginning with "Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye" in the movie Jurm (1990), Kumar Sanu's collaboration with Rajesh Roshan produced one hit after another.

Bappi Lahiri gave music to some of the most popular albums in which Kumar Sanu rendered his voice such as Ghayal (1990), Hafta Bandh (1991), Zindagi Ek Juaa (1992), Aankhen (1993), Dalaal (1993), Hum Sub Chor Hain (1995) and Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002).

Sanu has released albums of Kishore Kumar's songs including Kishore Ki Yaadein, a collection early in his career.

He holds the record for winning five consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer from 1991 to 1995.

His next Filmfare Awards came for songs in the movies Saajan (1991), Deewana (1992), Baazigar (1993) and 1942: A Love Story (1994).

Thereafter, they worked together in many films including Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991), Saajan (1991), Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Sadak (1991), Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Jaan Tere Naam (1992), Deewana (1992), Sapne Sajan Ke (1992), Damini (1993), Rang (1993), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Dilwale (1994), Anokha Andaaz (1994), Salaami (1994), Aatish (1994), Andolan (1995), Barsaat (1995), Agni Sakshi (1996), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Jeet (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Sirf Tum (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kasoor (2001), Ek Rishtaa (2001), Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa (2002), Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), Dil Ka Rishta (2003), Andaaz (2003), Qayamat (2003), Bewafaa (2005) and Barsaat (2005) He sang most of his songs for them (293 songs).

Kumar Sanu has sung songs of various genres with Anu Malik.

He worked with the duo and successfully delivered hits such as Trinetra (1991), Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj (1992), Jigar (1992), Bol Radha Bol (1992), Anari (1993), Platform (1993), Lootere (1993), Teesra Kaun (1994), Krantiveer (1994), Raja Babu (1994), Suhaag (1994), Gopi Kishan (1994), Eena Meena Deeka (1994), Coolie No 1 (1995), Bandish (1996), Rakshak (1996), Ajay (1996), Mr. Bechara (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Lahu Ke Do Rang (1997), Chal Mere Bhai (2000) and Chhupa Rustam (2001).

Some other achievements of the combo are Chamatkar (1992), Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993), Sir (1993), Phool Aur Angaar (1993), Imtihan (1994), Khuddar (1994), Vijaypath (1994), Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Naaraaz (1994), Naajayaz (1995), Gambler (1995), Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995), Diljale (1996), Krishna (1996), Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996), Daraar (1996), Chaahat (1996), Virasat (1997), Judwaa (1997), Ishq (1997), Auzaar (1997), Duplicate (1998), Kareeb (1998), Soldier (1998), Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999), Aarzoo (1999), Jaanam Samjha Karo (1999), Biwi No.1 (1999), Ajnabee (2001) and Ishq Vishq (2003).

Kumar Sanu started his work with Jatin–Lalit on the 1992 film Khiladi.

From then on he provided his voice for hit movies including Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Khamoshi (1996), Yes Boss (1997), Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998), Ghulam (1998), Sarfarosh (1999) and Khoobsurat (1999) He has sung a total of 137 songs for them.

Kumar Sanu worked for Himesh Reshammiya, for all title tracks of TV serials which Reshammiya produced.

Vishwatma (1992), Mohra (1994), Ravan Raaj (1995), Tere Mere Sapne (1996), Gupt (1997), Aar Ya Paar (1997), Bulandi (2000), Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001) and Kasam (2001) are some of their notable albums.

Kumar Sanu has recorded over 150 songs with Anand–Milind.

Breaking away from his romantic image, he has sung peppy numbers for the duo, his most famous ones being for actor Govinda.

He holds the Guinness Book of world records since 1993 for recording the maximum number of songs in a single day.

It was Anu Malik who made Kumar Sanu sing his first western-style song "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen", from the film Baazigar (1993).

Significant movies include Insaniyat (1994), Karan Arjun (1995), Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995), Papa Kehte Hai (1996), Dastak (1996), Koyla (1997), Daag (1999), Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000), Kya Kehna (2000) and Karobaar (2000).

Kumar Sanu has rendered his voice for some of Viju Shah's greatest compositions.

All the title tracks were sung by Kumar Sanu, and then in his debut film as a music director, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998) and further for many other films such as Bandhan (1998), Hello Brother (1999), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), Kurukshetra (2000), Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000), Jodi No.1 (2001), Humraaz (2000), Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002), Run (2004) and Taarzan (2004).

For his contribution to Indian cinema and music, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 by the Government of India.

Many of his tracks feature in BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time".

Kumar Sanu's father, Pashupati Bhattacharya, was a vocalist and composer, his ancestral home and birth place was Vikrampur near Dhaka (now in Bangladesh).

In search of a livelihood, he moved to Calcutta, where Kumar Sanu was born.

The two and Sanu's elder sister lived in the Sinthee area of Calcutta (now Kolkata) near Biswanath Park.

Kumar Sanu lived at Panchanantala at Gopal Bose Lane in Sinthi area at North Kolkata.

In 2015, they were again back with songs in Dum Laga Ke Haisha