Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam to perform live in San Jose

The concert is slated in the California city on June.1.

Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam. / Courtesy Photo

Kumar Sanu, an Indian playback singer who primarily sings Hindi film songs, is set to perform in San Jose Civic Center, California on June.1.

Sanu holds the record for winning five consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer from 1991 to 1995. He holds the Guinness Book of World Records since 1993 for recording the maximum number of songs in a single day.

“Legendary singer Kishore Kumar passed away in 1987. Sanu, who sang in Kishore da’s style, stepped in to fill that vacuum,” said Jyoti Pande, an avid listener of Hindi music, who is a director in a software company, and a resident of Cupertino.

“Sanu modelled his singing on Kishore Kumar’s voice in a chain of T-Series’ compilations. In 1989, Jagjit Singh introduced Sanu to Kalyanji in Vimal Bunglow, Mumbai,” said Pande.

“Dheere dheere se meri zindagi mein, Nazar ke saamne and Bas ek sanam chahiye... unleashed lyrical hysteria in the audience,” remembers Pande.

“Sanu’s soulful and memorable songs in Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Sadak, Saajan, Deewana, Dil Ka Kya Kasoor, Damini, Raja Hindustani, Pardes and Andaaz (1991 -2003), to name a few, played in baraats, parties, dhabas, autos and by truck drivers who set off on long journeys!” Pande continued.

Sanu’s popularity reached the US, and in 2001, the mayor of Dayton, Ohio declared March 31 as Kumar Sanu day, the first ever such honor for an Indian singer.

Sanu was awarded the Padma Shree by the Government of India in 2009.

In concert with Kumar Sanu, is Sadhana Sargam, a mentee, in film playback singing, of Kalyanji Anandji. She has worked with almost all well-known music directors, such as Naushadji, Ravindra Jain, Laxmikant Pyarelal, RD Burman, Kalyanji Anandji to name a few. She has received the Filmfare Award, Zee Cine Award and numerous Best Female Playback Singer awards.

Tickets for the show can be bought on events.sulekha.com.