Kumar Sanu might have been crowned the ‘King of Melody’ way back in 1990 when Aashiqui struck gold, but twenty-five years, 18,000 songs (in 22 languages) and several awards later, Kumar Sanu takes pride in nothing more than a recent finding that his voice has the power to heal serious illnesses, and quite literally, as he has confirmed in more than one interview. Kumar Sanu, aka ‘Sanu Da’ celebrated his 58th Birthday this Tuesday.
Kumar Sanu, who rose to popularity as the out-and-out favorite Hindi-film playback singer of the 90’s in India, delivered at least one hit song in every soundtrack he is credited with. He won five Filmfare awards in the category of ‘best playback singer’ category for five straight years from 1990 to 1994. It is his voice which redefined the definition of love in Hindi cinema, because of which he has delivered hits with every music director, lyricists And till date, his songs are played on every radio station around the world that plays Indian songs and in the stereo systems of every cab and auto-rickshaw driver in India. And he’s still enthralling audiences worldwide with live performances every other week.
source:bigfm
But according to Kumar Sanu, his biggest achievement is the fact that now his voice is being used to treat patients. One of his most loved songs, ‘Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaaye’ from the 1990 movie, is being played on the loop to cure cancer patients in Hong Kong. According to doctors, his voice frequency in the song has a ‘healing effect’, and helps heal the patients at least in moments of severe stress, if not more.
Another one of Kumar Sanu’s milestone songs, ‘Kuch na kaho’ from 1942: A Love Story (1994) is counted among the most romantic soft songs ever crooned. But this love song from the great R.D. Burman’s swansong composition triggered the senses of Abhishek Mitra, a then 22-year old patient suffering from Cerebral Palsy. Abhishek was as good as paralyzed most of the time, when his father, who would play some songs, played ‘Kuch na kaho’. The moment Kumar Sanu’s solo voice appeared during the song, Abhishek, who stays with his father in Zurich, Switzerland, reacted. His father wasted no time and called up the doctors. The doctors contacted Kumar Sanu and requested him to get back to them as soon as possible.
Kumar Sanu performing at the Safer Society Day in Kolkata earlier this summer.
Abhishek smiles, cries, laughs, and often yells while listening to only this song, while all other songs don’t effect him at all. Kumar Sanu was also made brand ambassador of Bishwa Bandhan-an organisation founded by Abhishek’s father, Mr. Goutam Mitra-which aims at reducing the worldwide wrath of cerebral palsy. Kumar Sanu has been singing for and contributing to various charities over the years, and is quite compassionate towards people with mental and physical disabilities, especially since his late mother was also mentally disoriented during her final years. Sanu now keeps himself busy with blood donation drives, runs a school for underprivileged children and regularly performs in charitable functions.
Kumar Sanu, whose sonorous voice features in most of India’s biggest hits of the 90’s including Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Pardes, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Hum Hain Raahi Pyaar Ke and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, recently featured in Yash Raj Film’s Dum Laga Ke Haisha dedicated to his popularity back in the day. But the legendary singer has made it clear that he is very selective and considers it his social responsibility to sing only song whose lyrics are ethical, and sound sense. Kumar Sanu recently also cleared a misconception that he suffered throat cancer around a decade ago. We wish a voice as gifted and valuable as Kumar Sanu’s, never lose its sonority, and spreads more peace and harmony around the world.
