Veteran Bollywood playback singer Kumar Sanu has cemented his legacy in the Indian music industry through a magical voice that has delivered numerous chartbusters. One of the most remarkable traits of his illustrious career is his ability to sing hit songs across various regional languages with an authenticity that makes listeners believe he belongs to that very region. Opening up about this unique talent in a recent interaction, the legendary vocalist shed light on how he manages to get the exact diction and pronunciation right despite not knowing these languages, revealing a specialized method he devised entirely on his own.
While speaking in connection with the promotion of his new track titled 'Suniyo Zara', Kumar Sanu attributed this distinctive skill entirely to divine grace. When asked about how naturally he adapts to the local flavor of whichever language he sings in, he described it as a gift from God. He candidly admitted that apart from Bengali, Hindi, and a little bit of English, he does not actually know any other language fluently. According to him, languages like Nepali, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, or Marathi are not languages he is well-versed in, yet he has delivered memorable tracks in them.
Using a Personal Shorthand Technique for Perfection
Elaborating on his approach to regional diction, Kumar Sanu noted that having a superficial familiarity with a language is different from mastering it. He shared that having lived in Maharashtra for many years, he appreciates the Marathi language deeply and acknowledges the presence of many talented artists and great singers there. However, he never undertook formal or intensive training to learn multiple languages. Explaining his method for achieving accurate pronunciation, he revealed that he pays close attention to how the music director or lyricist speaks. The exact way they pronounce a particular word is something he jots down in a customized shorthand format.
Relying on Written Notes Inside the Recording Studio
Detailing how this creative system works in practice, Kumar Sanu explained that the lyric sheets he carries into the recording booth are filled with his own shorthand notes. This unique method is something he invented himself to bridge the linguistic gap. During a recording session, he refers to these written shorthand markings alongside the actual lyrics. This practice ensures that he reproduces the exact pronunciation that was demonstrated to him by the experts. He constantly strives to get as close to the authentic accent of that specific language as humanly possible. It is precisely this dedication that leads listeners to assume he is a native speaker of languages like Nepali or Tamil, appreciating the effort he puts into his craft.
