Veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu, celebrated for his melodious contributions to Bollywood, has expressed perplexity over the scarcity of offers to lend his voice to Hindi film songs in recent years. Known for iconic hits like “Dard Karara” from the 2015 film Dum Laga Ke Haisha and the 2018 remake of “Aankh Maarey” for Simmba, Sanu’s voice has long been synonymous with the golden era of Bollywood music.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Sanu shared his thoughts on the industry’s reluctance to feature his voice in contemporary film music despite the respect and admiration he continues to receive. “Mera journey abhi tak bahut achha raha hai, everybody respects me in the industry. Par sabse badi baat hai ki log respect toh dete hain, pyaar dete hain, hamara gaana bhi sunte hain… I don’t know why they are not using my voice for more songs in Hindi films,” he remarked.
The singer further reflected on this paradox, questioning why, despite the affection and demand from audiences, he is not being called upon to sing in films. “Yeh question mann mein hota hai. When they are showing so much love when I am in front of them (why not make me sing too). I don’t know if it is real or not. Whatever it may be, they definitely give respect for sure.”
Sanu, who continues to perform live shows to sold-out crowds, remains optimistic about his career. “Agar hum gaa sakte hain, toh humse kyun nahi gawaate? Inke (makers) ke mann mein kyun nahi aata? I am doing shows, I have a fan following. Everywhere I go I see shows are being sold out. Public demand hai,” he stated, announcing plans for a new series of live performances in October and November.
Despite the evolving landscape of the music industry, with a shift towards adaptations over original compositions, Sanu maintains a positive outlook. He acknowledged that while the focus on original work has diminished, the quality of new creations remains commendable, albeit limited.
