Kumar Sanu.....

Kumar Sanu (alias Kedarnath Bhattacharya (Bengali:কেদারনাথ ভট্টাচার্য) born on September 23, 1957 Kolkata) is a leading playback singer of Bollywood.

Early life:

Kumar Sanu's father Pashupati Bhattacharjee was an accomplished classical 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 famous Bollywood singer Kishore Kumar. Sanu tried to make a career in Bollywood, but did not achieve success for a long time. He made his living in the early 1980s partly by recording a series of Kishore Kumar covers for a pop label. His son, Jaan Sanu has also made inroads into singing by going into a semi final of a singing contest held in India.

Early career:

In 1987, music director and singer Jagjit Singh offered Sanu the chance to sing in the Hindi film Andhiyan. Sanu then relocated to Mumbai, where Kalyanji-Anandji gave him chance to sing in the filmJadoogar. Kalyanji-Anandji suggested that he change his name from Kedar Bhattacharya to Kumar Sanubecause of the prevalent caste/region-based favoritism in Bollywood and to give him wider appeal outside of a strictly Bengali audience

1990s:

Sanu's breakthrough came in 1990, in form of the film Aashiqui. The music directors Nadeem-Shravan got Sanu to sing all but one of the songs. Sanu gained overnight success. The hit songs from Aashiquiincluded 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 recordfive 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 became a favorite with Nadeem-Shravan. He rendered many hit songs in 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), and others.

In late 1990s, Sanu singing career went into decline. He then branched out into acting, appearing ina Bengali film and starting television serials in both Bengali and Hindi. He also did some concerts.

His most recent hit songs include Humraaz, Yeh Dil Aapka Huwa (Pakistan), Karz, Dil Ka Rishta, Indian Babu, Ishq Vishk, Andaaz, Qayamat, Hungama and Footpath. He has also turned his trade at making music for Indian films and also recently as a producer for a new Bollywood film, Utthaan.

Awards:

Filmfare Awards

1990- Aab Tere Bin Jeelenge- 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