Kumar Sanu alias Kedarnath Bhattacharya (born September 23, 1957 Kolkata) is a leading playback singer of Bollywood. One of the most prolific singers ever to work in the Indian film industry, Kumar Sanu's recorded output numbers in the thousands of songs, reaching by his estimation over 8,000 by the turn of the millennium. Sanu broke the Guinness world record for the largest number of songs recorded in a single day, with 28 -- a testament not only to his polished technique, but to his unparalleled ability to quickly and effortlessly master unfamiliar material in the studio. Sanu also holds the record (along with Lata Mangeshkar on the female side) for the longest string of consecutive Filmfare awards for Best Playback Singer (the equivalent of an Oscar and perhaps the most coveted musical award in India) with five, a streak that made him arguably the most popular male vocalist in India during the '90s. Kumar Sanu was born Kedernath Bhattacharjee and grew up in Calcutta; his father Pashupati Bhattacharjee was an accomplished classical vocalist and composer, and saw to his son's early musical training as a singer and tabla player. Getting a degree in commerce from Calcutta University, Sanu began performing publicly in 1979, singing at shows and restaurants around Calcutta in a style heavily influenced -- copied, some charged -- from film legend Kishore Kumar. Competition for singers in the Indian film industry was (and still is) extremely fierce, since it is the primary route to success in India, and it took Sanu several years to land his big break. He made his living in the early '80s partly by recording a series of Kishore Kumar covers for a pop label, but remained unable to make inroads into film. Finally, in 1987, music director Jagjit Singh -- noted for his mastery of the romantic ghazal song form -- offered Sanu the chance to sing in the Hindi film Andhiyan. Sanu relocated to Bombay, the capital of the Indian film industry, and soon landed another film, Jadoogar, helmed by the Kalyanji/Anandji team; they gave Sanu his stage name, partly to give him wider appeal outside of a strictly Bengali audience, and partly because of the heavy influence of his idol. Film fans began to take notice, poising Sanu for a major breakthrough. That breakthrough came in 1990 with the film Aashiqui, whose soundtrack was composed and directed by the Nadeem/Shravan team. Sanu sang all but one of the songs featured on the soundtrack album, which made him a star; he won the first of his record five consecutive Filmfare awards as Best Male Playback Singer, and began recording new material at a furious pace. He won Filmfares for his performances in Saajan, Deewana, Baazigar, and 1942: A Love Story (in order, up through 1994), but his work extended much farther, so much so that by the end of the decade he had recorded -- in many different languages -- for literally hundreds of films. As the '90s waned, Sanu slowed his amazing recording schedule a bit, feeling that he'd proven enough to become more selective in choosing his material (he preferred classic-style songs to newer, more Western-influenced pop). Seeking new challenges, he branched out into acting, appearing in a Bengali film and starting television serials in both Bengali and Hindi. He also became more comfortable with concert performances and embarked on frequent international tours. By the turn of the millennium, Sanu had promised to follow in fellow record-holder Lata Mangeshkar's footsteps by not accepting any further Filmfare awards (in order to make room for new talent), but the hits kept on coming through 1999 and 2000, and he continued to rival Udit Narayan as the most popular male singer in India.

Early days

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.

Initial days in Bollywood

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 film Jadoogar. Kalyanji-Anandji suggested that he change his name from Kedar Bhattacharya to Kumar Sanu because of the prevalant 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 Aashiqui included Tu meri zindagi hain, Nazar ke saamne, Jaane jigar jaaneman 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). He went on to sing for many films, in many Indian languages but in (1998). Doctors diagnosed him with throat cancer, in its early stages. This gave other singers to boost their career.

Sanu became a favorite with Nadeem-Shravan. He rendered many hit songs in movies like Sadak (Tujhe 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), 1942 A Love Story (Rim jhim, Ek ladki ko dekha, Kuch na kahon), Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge (Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanam), Pardes (Meri Mehbooba, Do dil mil rahe hain), Kareeb Chori chori and others.

In late 1990s, Sanu cut down on singing and became selective. He branched out into acting, appearing in a Bengali film and starting television serials in both Bengali and Hindi. He also did some concerts.

His recent hits 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.

He is the most prominent singer in Bollywood to never have won a national award, even in his heyday he was not even nominated.

Awards

• FilmFare Award 1990 Ab Tere Bin Jeelenge - Aashiqui

• FilmFare Award 1991 'Mera dil bhi kitna pagal hai' - Saajan

• FilmFare Award 1992 Sochenge Tumhe Pyaar Karein Ke Nahin - Deewana

• FilmFare Award 1993 Yeh Kaali Kaali Aakhen - Baazigar

• FilmFare Award 1994 Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga - 1942 A Love story

• IIFA Award 2000 for Aankhon ki Gustakhiyan - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
  

source:- 4to40.com