Kumar Sanu: Bollywood continues to dominate

Ahead of his first stint as judge of the singing reality show Indian Idol, Kumar Sanu on the secrets to a long-lasting music career, and why aspiring singers cannot dismiss the importance of the film industry

The upcoming edition of Indian Idol marks the first judging stint for Kumar Sanu on the show. Forty years after he made his industry debut, the veteran—a frequent guest on singing reality shows—calls the offer one that he “had been waiting for”. “I joke a lot [on the set], and don’t discourage anyone. If I have to [criticise a performer], I will do it by encouraging them,” he says of his new role, quick to add that opportunities in Bollywood continue to come the way of those who are “truly talented”.

On his part, Sanu could condense the secrets to a long-lasting music career into four sentences. “If you are a singer, you must have knowledge of your craft. A person belonging to a rich family cannot simply become a singer without putting in the required amount of effort. Talafuz, sur, and taal are important elements. Also, you need to be a good human being. People don’t think about this enough. If you consider people like Ravi [Shankar] and Mukesh, [you’ll realise] that their personalities had an impact on [their] music. Having said that, you also need to be straight-forward. Finally, don’t pay attention to what others are doing. Follow your principles, and be self-reliant,” says Sanu. He also encourages artistes to use their popularity to further social causes.

Despite the unprecedented growth of the independent music scene in the last few years, Sanu isn’t one to disregard the role of the Bollywood music industry in enabling a musician to achieve stardom. “Even today, the biggest platform is Bollywood. While it may not be one’s ultimate [goal], practically, it is still the crux [of the music industry].” Not one to suggest that singers should aim to specialise in a limited number of styles, Sanu says versatility is an artiste’s currency.

“Sing all kinds of songs, and listen to all types of singers. Then, try to sing in each style. It is always beneficial to be versatile. The more [stereotypical] you are, the less you will be favoured.” 

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