BP Writer at 16:27, 24 March 2026

2026-03-24T16:27:16Z

New page

{{short description|Indian playback singer (born 1957)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kumar Sanu
| image = Kumar Sanu at colors indian telly awards.jpg
| caption = Kumar Sanu at Indian Telly Awards
| birth_name = Kedarnath Bhattacharya
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|10|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]] (present-day Kolkata)
| occupation = [[Playback singer]]
| years_active = 1983–present
| known_for = Playback singing in 1990s Bollywood films
| notable_works = ''[[Aashiqui]]'' (1990), ''[[Saajan]]'' (1991), ''[[Deewana (1992 film)|Deewana]]'' (1992)
| awards = [[List of awards and nominations received by Kumar Sanu|Full list]]
|honors = [[Padma Shri]](2009)
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Rita Bhattacharya|1986|1994|reason=divorce}}
* {{marriage|Saloni Bhattacharya|2001}}}}
| module2 = {{Infobox youtuber
| child = yes
| youtube_handle = @thekumarsanuofficial
| youtube_display_name =
| youtube_years_active = 2014–present
| youtube_genre = Music
| youtube_subscribers = 1.25 million
| youtube_views = 2.2 billion
| stats_update = 1 December 2025
}}
| alias = Melody King of Bollywood<ref name=":0"/>
| website =
}}
'''Kumar Sanu''' (born Kedarnath Bhattacharya on 20 October 1957 {{audio|LL-Q9610 (ben)-Titodutta-কুমার শানু.wav|pronunciation}}) is an Indian [[playback singer]] who gained recognition in [[Hindi cinema]] during the 1990s.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Tripathi |first1=Shailaja |date=29 August 2017 |title=Notes to note from the melody king of Bollywood, Kumar Sanu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/kumar-sanu-on-melody-his-schools-for-the-underprivileged-and-the-changing-music-industry/article19580801.ece |work=The Hindu |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref> He is known for his melodious voice and prolific output, recording songs in multiple languages including [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada language|Kannada]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] and [[Odia language|Odia]].<ref name="VeethiBio" />

Sanu gained widespread recognition with the soundtrack of ''[[Aashiqui]]'' (1990), which featured him in nearly all of the male solo songs and established him as a leading playback singer of that period.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Rao |first=Justin |date=16 March 2023 |title=Kumar Sanu on his 35-year career, Bollywood music over the years |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/kumar-sanu-on-his-35-year-career-bollywood-music-8494924/ |work=The Indian Express |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>

He won the [[Filmfare Awards]] for Best Male Playback Singer for five consecutive years from 1990 to 1995, for films including ''[[Aashiqui]]'' (1990), ''[[Saajan]]'' (1991), ''[[Deewana]]'' (1992), ''[[Baazigar]]'' (1993) and ''[[1942: A Love Story]]'' (1994).<ref>{{cite web |title=Filmfare Awards Winners |url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners |website=Filmfare |access-date=11 November 2025}}</ref>

In 1993, Sanu entered the [[Guinness World Records]] for recording 28 songs in a single day.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Kumar Sanu records 28 songs in 24 hours |date=20 October 2025 |url=https://navbharatlive.com/entertainment/kumar-sanu-recorded-28-songs-in-24-hours-entering-guinness-world-records-1397233.html |publisher=Navbharat Live |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>

Several of his songs were included in the [[BBC]] "Top 40 [[Hindi film music|Bollywood soundtracks]] of all time".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/features/top40_soundtracks_10_01.shtml |title=BBC – Asian Network – Top 40 Soundtracks of All Time |work=BBC |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530050854/http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/features/top40_soundtracks_10_01.shtml |archive-date=30 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> He has also appeared as a mentor and judge on television music reality shows.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sharma |first=Rohit |title=Kumar Sanu judges music reality show |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/kumar-sanu-judges-reality-show/articleshow/90023456.cms |work=Times of India |date=5 March 2022 |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>

In recognition of his contributions to Indian music, Sanu was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the Government of India in 2009.<ref name="pa">{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in |website=Government of India |access-date=11 November 2025}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Kumar Sanu's father, Pashupati Bhattacharya, was a vocalist and composer.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Joshi |first=Sumit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEuBCgAAQBAJ&dq=kumar+sanu+father&pg=PT382 |title=Bollywood through Ages + Affairs of Bollywood Stars Revealed ( Special Edition ) |publisher=Best Book Reads |isbn=978-1-310-09978-6 |language=en}}</ref> He and his elder sister lived in Panchanantala at Gopal Bose Lane in the [[Sinthee]] area of [[North Kolkata]].<ref>{{cite web |title=A Singer Acts |url=http://www.expressindia.com/screen/anmil.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970419144738/http://www.expressindia.com/screen/anmil.htm |archive-date=19 April 1997 |access-date=13 November 2018 |work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kumar Sanu's first marriage was to Rita Bhattacharya in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/music/kumar-sanu-s-daughter-shannon-reveals-she-was-depressed-self-harmed-after-being-trolled-online-101682422858129.html|title=Kumar Sanu's daughter Shannon K reveals she was depressed as a teen due to online trolls: 'I self-harmed' |work=Hindustan Times |date=25 April 2023 }}</ref> The couple had three children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/kumar-sanu-says-son-jaan-kumar-sanu-should-change-his-name-he-should-write-jaan-rita-bhattacharya/story-nz1FtM2krZYCJY9p7hSg7J.html|title=Kumar Sanu says son Jaan Kumar Sanu should change his name: 'He should write Jaan Rita Bhattacharya' |work=Hindustan Times |date=25 November 2020 }}</ref> They divorced in 1994. During their marriage, Kumar Sanu had entered a six-year relationship with actress [[Kunickaa Sadanand]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/jaan-kumar-sanu-it-was-very-daunting-to-know-kumar-sanu-is-my-father-exclusive/articleshow/99194813.cms|title=Jaan Kumar Sanu: It was very daunting to know Kumar Sanu is my father - Exclusive |work=The Times of India |date=3 April 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-bigg-boss-14s-jaans-mom-rita-bhattacharya-on-kumar-sanu-commenting-on-his-upbringing-he-should-have-realised-that-he-is-talking-about-his-own-son/photostory/79339433.cms?picid=79339500|title=Exclusive - Bigg Boss 14's Jaan's mom Rita Bhattacharya on Kumar Sanu commenting on his upbringing: He should have realised that he is talking about his own son |work=The Times of India |date=21 November 2020 }}</ref>

After separating from [[Kunickaa Sadanand]], Kumar Sanu married Saloni Bhattacharya. They have two daughters, including [[Shannon K]], a singer.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=thomasowen408 |title=Meet Shannon K, The Summer's Best Up And Coming Artist ! |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/thomasowen408/meet-shannon-k-the-summeras-best-up-and-coming-2uxps |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=BuzzFeed Community |date=17 May 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/kumar-sanus-daughter-turns-singer-at-12/articleshow/39756820.cms|title=Kumar Sanu's daughter turns singer at 12 |work=The Times of India |date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/kumar-sanus-daughter-shannon-on-making-her-own-identity-not-here-because-of-my-dads-name-3981197|title=Kumar Sanu's Daughter Shannon On Making Her "Own Identity": "Not Here Because Of My Dad's Name"}}</ref>

==Career==
{{Main|Kumar Sanu discography and filmography}}

Kumar Sanu, born Kedarnath Bhattacharya, began his playback career in 1984 with the film ''[[Yeh Desh]]'', followed by the Bangladeshi film ''Tin Konya'' (1985). He gained recognition in Hindi cinema with "''Jashn Hai Mohabbat Ka''" from ''[[Hero Hiralal]]'' (1988).<ref name=":1" />

===1980s: Early career===
In 1989, singer [[Jagjit Singh]] introduced him to composers [[Kalyanji Virji Shah|Kalyanji]] and [[Kalyanji–Anandji|Anandji]], who encouraged him to adopt the stage name "Kumar Sanu". He contributed to the soundtrack of ''[[Jaadugar (1989 film)|Jaadugar]]'' (1989).<ref name="FilmfareJourney">{{cite web |title='90s rockstar Kumar Sanu opens up about his musical journey over the years' |work=Filmfare |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/90s-rockstar-kumar-sanu-opens-up-about-his-musical-journey-over-the-years-54473.html |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>

===1990s: Prime===
Sanu rose to prominence with ''[[Aashiqui]]'' (1990), recording nearly all male solo numbers, and won his first [[Filmfare Award]]. He subsequently won Best Male Playback Singer for five consecutive years for ''[[Aashiqui]]'' (1990), ''[[Saajan]]'' (1991), ''[[Deewana (1992 film)|Deewana]]'' (1992), ''[[Baazigar]]'' (1993), and ''[[1942: A Love Story]]'' (1994).<ref name="AAEMusic">{{cite web |title=Kumar Sanu Artist Profile |website=AAE Music |url=https://www.aaemusic.com/artist/kumar-sanu |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref><ref name="VeethiBio">{{cite web |title=Kumar Sanu – Biography & Profile |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/kumar_sanu-profile-1045-1.htm |website=Veethi |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>

He recorded songs in multiple languages, including Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Odia, and Urdu.<ref name="VeethiBio" /> In 1993, he entered the [[Guinness World Records]] for recording 28 songs in a single day.<ref name=":3" /> Some of his notable songs from the decade include tracks from ''[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]'' (1995), ''[[Raja Hindustani]]'' (1996), ''[[Pardes (1997 film)|Pardes]]'' (1997), [[Kuch Kuch Hota Hai]] (1998) and ''[[Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam]]'' (1999).<ref name="AAEMusic" />

During the 1990s, Sanu and [[Udit Narayan]] were two of the leading male playback singers. Their professional rivalry was widely noted in media coverage, though both maintained a cordial relationship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kumar Sanu opens up about his infamous rivalry with Udit Narayan |website=Times of India |date=3 November 2023 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/kumar-sanu-opens-up-about-his-infamous-rivalry-with-udit-narayan-kuch-gaane-aise-lagte-the-ki-udit-gata-ya-main-gata-toh-acha-hota-tha/articleshow/104926054.cms |access-date=25 November 2025}}</ref>

===Collaborations with female singers===
During the 1990s, Kumar Sanu frequently collaborated with prominent female playback singers, particularly [[Alka Yagnik]]. Several sources noted that their duets were among the most popular of the decade.<ref name="AlkaCollab">{{cite news |title=Kumar Sanu: A look at the 90s playback singer's career |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/kumar-sanu-a-look-at-the-90s-playback-singers-career/articleshow/74221091.cms |work=Times of India |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref> He also sang with [[Anuradha Paudwal]], [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]], and [[Sadhana Sargam]].<ref name="AlkaCollab" />

===2000s–present===
Sanu's presence in mainstream Bollywood declined during the 2000s, though he continued recording songs and performing live shows domestically and internationally.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kumar Sanu – Music, Videos & Playlists |url=https://www.frogtoon.com/music/-kumar-sanu/ |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref><ref name="LiveShows">{{cite web |title=Kumar Sanu belts romantic hits at evening of nostalgia |date=9 June 2015 |url=https://indiapost.com/kumar-sanu-belts-romantic-hits-at-evening-of-nostalgia/ |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>

In 2009, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the Government of India.<ref name="Padma">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2009 |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/ |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>

From the 2010s onward, Sanu focused on nostalgia concerts and stage events celebrating 1990s and early 2000s Bollywood music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kumar Sanu celebrates legacy of 90s music, calls it a 'golden era' of soulful compositions |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/kumar-sanu-celebrates-legacy-of-90s-music-calls-it-a-golden-era-of-soulful-compositions/articleshow/123169558.cms |work=Times of India |date=7 August 2025 |access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>

==Other works==
Kumar Sanu has released several tribute albums of [[Kishore Kumar]]'s songs including ''Kishore Ki Yaadein'' and the Yaadein Series, which he performed along with singers [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya|Abhijeet]] and [[Vinod Rathod]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kumar Sanu: The Melody Of His Voice Lingers On |url=https://odishabytes.com/kumar-sanu-the-melody-of-his-voice-lingers-on/ |website=Odisha Bytes |access-date=2 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411164246/https://odishabytes.com/kumar-sanu-the-melody-of-his-voice-lingers-on/amp/ |archive-date=11 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Singer Kumar Sanu on Being the King of Melody |url=https://www.idiva.com/entertainment/bollywood/i-will-always-remain-king/24242 |website=iDiva |date=13 September 2013 |access-date=2 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201145032/https://www.idiva.com/entertainment/bollywood/i-will-always-remain-king/24242 |archive-date=1 December 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, he, along with [[Sadhana Sargam]], sang the title track of the 20th-century-based TV Series "[[Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hain]]", where he also made a cameo appearance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/television/kumar-sanu-makes-cameo-appearance-in-yeh-un-dinon-ki-baat-hai/article_03443294-d37f-11e8-b0d4-73aa57eb3c7f.html|title=Kumar Sanu Makes Cameo Appearance in 'Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai'|first=R. M. VIJAYAKAR, Special to|last=India-West|website=India West|access-date=20 September 2020|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032832/https://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/television/kumar-sanu-makes-cameo-appearance-in-yeh-un-dinon-ki-baat-hai/article_03443294-d37f-11e8-b0d4-73aa57eb3c7f.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2019, he recorded a song for [[Star Plus]]'s "[[Kulfi Kumar Bajewala]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UOx8oKlBmrU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/UOx8oKlBmrU| archive-date=13 December 2021 |url-status=live|title = Kulfi Kumar Bajewala | Kumar Sanu & SiKulfi|website = [[YouTube]] |date=20 February 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In [[Delhi|Delhi's]] [[Karol Bagh]], Sanu also founded a primary school for underprivileged children that provides students uniforms and books free of cost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bollywood.com/celebrities/kumar-sanu/news/singer-kumar-sanu-opens-school-underprivileged |title=Singer Kumar Sanu opens school for the underprivileged.. - Bollywood.com News |date=23 August 2015 |access-date=23 August 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303105745/http://www.bollywood.com/celebrities/kumar-sanu/news/singer-kumar-sanu-opens-school-underprivileged |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2022, Kumar Sanu collaborated with music director Vaibhav Saxena and two other singers for "''Mohabbat Mein Tere Sanam''" which was released and distributed worldwide by new-age Record Label Music Records.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jha |first1=Gunjan |last2=Saxena |first2=Vaibhav |title=Kumar Sanu teams up with youngsters to bring melody back – Gunjan Jha, Vaibhav Saxena create magical tunes; Kshitij, Diksha lend velvet voice |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2022/03/04/mohabbat-mein-tere-sanam--melody-is-back.html |website=The Week |date=4 March 2022 |access-date=2 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824130144/https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2022/03/04/mohabbat-mein-tere-sanam--melody-is-back.html |archive-date=24 August 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Accolades ==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Kumar Sanu}}

== See also ==
*[[List of Indian playback singers]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{DNA India|kumar-sanu}}
* {{BH person|kumar-sanu}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestMaleSinger}}
{{ScreenAwardBestMalePlaybackSinger}}
{{Bengal Film Journalists' Association Best Male Playback Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanu, Kumar}}
[[Category:Kumar Sanu| ]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bengali musicians]]
[[Category:Bengali singers]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Hindi-language playback singers]]
[[Category:Indian film score composers]]
[[Category:Indian male playback singers]]
[[Category:Kannada-language playback singers]]
[[Category:Nepali-language Indian singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Singers from Kolkata]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Indian male film score composers]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:Screen Awards winners]]
[[Category:Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award winners]]

Kumar Sanu - Revision history

BP Writer at 16:27, 24 March 2026