Legendary playback singer Kumar Sanu recently made a startling revelation about his career in the 1990s. The iconic voice behind countless romantic hits said he faced intense pressure from what he called the ‘movie mafia’ to sing vulgar songs. Despite the strong-arm tactics and threats of professional damage, Sanu stuck to his principles and refused to compromise on the quality and decency of his music.
The singer admitted that his stand came at a significant financial cost. He said he suffered heavy losses because of his refusal to sing obscene lyrics. However, the 58-year-old singer made it clear that he has no regrets about his decision and continues to follow the same rule even today.
The Principle That Defined His Career
During a recent interview with Zoom, Kumar Sanu spoke about the kind of songs he chose to sing during the 1990s. He acknowledged that the decade had a mix of everything, from good to bad music. But he always had one firm rule for himself.
“One of my principles was that I would not bring vulgarity into my songs,” Sanu said. He explained that he consciously tried to stay away from songs that were not decent. The singer said he wanted his music to be clean and respectful, something that families could enjoy together.
However, Sanu admitted that he could not always stick to his rules. He said there were one or two instances where he failed to maintain his principle. The pressure from the industry was so strong that he felt he had no choice but to sing those songs.
The ‘Movie Mafia’ Pressure
Kumar Sanu spoke openly about the ‘movie mafia’ that controlled the music industry during the 1990s. He said the pressure to sing vulgar songs was immense. The singer revealed that he was often told that things would not work out for him if he refused.
“Many times, the pressure to sing such songs was so high that I felt I had to do it. Otherwise, things would not be right,” he explained. The singer hinted at the strong influence of the movie mafia during that time. He said refusing to sing certain songs could lead to professional setbacks and lost opportunities.
Despite the coercion, Kumar Sanu maintained his overall stance against vulgar music. He proudly noted that out of his thousands of tracks, only one or two songs had suggestive lyrics. He strictly avoided such projects for the rest of his career and remains true to his core principles even today.
The Songs He Regrets
Kumar Sanu pointed to one specific song that he sang under pressure. He named “Raj gaya tabla tabele mein” as an example of a track that fell into the questionable category. The singer admitted that this song had lyrics that were not in line with his principles.
“I have one or two such songs. One or two songs of mine, like ‘Raj gaya tabla tabele mein…’, fall into this category,” Sanu said. He clarified that apart from these few exceptions, he has always avoided outright vulgar songs.
The singer said he still follows the same rule today. “Apart from that, I have always avoided outright vulgar songs, as they are called, and I still do. I have stuck to this principle till today,” he stated.
The Cost Of Staying True
Kumar Sanu acknowledged that his refusal to sing vulgar songs came at a price. He said he suffered significant financial losses because of his stand. The singer revealed that he lost many lucrative opportunities by sticking to his principles.
“Toh usmein ek cheez hoti hai ki pata nahi mera nuksaan toh bahut hua lekin I don’t mind,” Sanu said. This translates to: “I may have suffered a lot of losses because of it, but I don’t mind.”
The singer made it clear that he has absolutely no regrets about his decision. Taking a stand for clean music remained more important to him than bowing to industry pressure. He said his values and principles were worth more than any amount of money or success.
‘Jo Darr Gaya, Woh Marr Gaya’
During the interview, Kumar Sanu used a powerful phrase to describe his attitude towards the pressure he faced. “Jo darr gaya, woh marr gaya,” he remarked. The phrase means “the one who gets scared, dies.” The singer said he never bowed down to the pressure from the music mafia.
Sanu said he made a promise to himself that he would never sing vulgar songs. He said this rule against vulgarity is something he still abides by today. The singer’s commitment to clean music has remained unchanged throughout his decades-long career.
A Dig At Udit Narayan
In a lighter moment during the interview, Kumar Sanu also made a cheeky remark about his clean image. He compared himself to other singers who have faced controversies. “Na toh me chumma dia, na liya,” Sanu said. This translates to “I neither gave nor received a kiss.”
The comment came a year after playback singer Udit Narayan faced widespread backlash over a viral concert video. The video showed him kissing female fans, including one instance where he appeared to kiss a fan on the lips. Kumar Sanu used the opportunity to highlight his clean and controversy-free image.
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Recent Work And Legacy
Despite the challenges he faced in the 1990s, Kumar Sanu remains one of the most celebrated voices in Hindi cinema. He is known for his contribution to the romantic music of the 1990s. He rose to prominence with the 1990 film Aashiqui, whose songs became a defining part of Bollywood’s romantic music.
The singer went on to deliver several memorable tracks for films such as Saajan, Sadak, Deewana, Baazigar, 1942: A Love Story and Raja Hindustani. His 1990s hits include Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha, Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain, Tum Mile Dil Khile, Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam, Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, Chura Ke Dil Mera, Baazigar O Baazigar, Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen and Dheere Dheere Se Meri Zindagi Mein Aana.
Recently, the celebrated singer released a brand new patriotic track titled Aye Mere Watan on Independence Day. The song is penned by Ahmed Siddiqui and composed by Raja Ali.
Kumar Sanu has recorded over 22,000 songs in his career and won the prestigious Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for five consecutive years. His journey from Kolkata to becoming the voice of the 90s is an inspiration to many aspiring singers.
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