MOVIES

The bitter side of Kumar Sanu

By Arthur J Pais in New York
August 17, 2007 16:46 IST

Kumar Sanu's fame as a playback singer has even spread to America or so, the singer claims.

He has been in New York at least thrice in the last 18 months, and he says that he is thrilled to perform in front of a live audience and doesn't care if only a thousand or two turn up for his concerts.

Kumar Sanu also performed with fellow singer Alka Yagnik, who recently made a transition from doing standard recordings to modern-day ones (where artists sing without an orchestra), in several cities.

But Sanu, who recently turned composer and producer with the ill-fated Utthaan last year, sounded quite bitter.

He said it is difficult to distinguish one's voice from another in today's movies. Sanu, who was seen as a Kishore Kumar clone two decades ago, also said he is often complimented for a song or two in recent films.

"I would tell the person who is praising me that I have not sung at all in that film," he continued. "It took me some time to realise but I got it…someone was trying to imitate me!"     

Music is not respected in today's films, he added.

The singer also complained about the lack of good-looking male stars, which he terms as an injustice to a good voice.

The singer also wondered if any actor could do justice to his voice, adding that it certainly won't suit Emraan Hashmi's face.

A journalist, who was not amused by these comments, was itching to ask the singer if he has ever heard of the diminutive Kailas Kher, whose voice has a bigger volume than the veteran's. But the journalist did not get an opportunity.

Arthur J Pais in New York

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