22nd August 2023, Mumbai: The FilmyCharcha recently had the privilege of sitting down for an exclusive interview with the legendary singer Kumar Sanu, whose voice continues to mesmerize audiences with its timeless melody. As the conversation flowed, the question arose: why has Kumar Sanu taken up fewer projects in recent years? In response, he shed light on the shifting dynamics of the film industry, reminiscing about the golden era of music when films were aplenty and songs flowed like a river.
A Nostalgic Glimpse of the Past
In the course of the interview, Kumar Sanu fondly recalled the days when the Indian film industry churned out a staggering number of movies every year. He pointed out that the industry landscape has undergone a significant transformation over the years. In the past, a staggering 300 films would grace the silver screen annually, and this prolific output naturally meant a high demand for songs. This, in turn, created a wealth of opportunities for playback singers like Kumar Sanu to showcase their vocal prowess.
Shifting Tides: The Changing Film Industry
However, as the years rolled by, the dynamics of the film industry underwent a profound change. The number of films produced annually dwindled, and this shift had a cascading effect on the music industry. Kumar Sanu emphasized that the reduced quantity of films directly impacted the number of songs being created. With fewer films in production, the avenues for playback singing inevitably narrowed, affecting the number of projects artists like him could take up.
The Box Office Conundrum
In the realm of cinema, the box office reigns supreme. Kumar Sanu candidly explained that the landscape of film success is a precarious one. While in the past, numerous films could experience success at the box office, the scenario today is far more competitive and uncertain. With the influx of big-budget productions and the ever-increasing standards of entertainment, only a select few movies manage to strike gold at the box office. This, Kumar Sanu emphasized, is another factor that has contributed to the decline in the quantity of songs being produced.
The Burgeoning Talent Pool
One interesting facet Kumar Sanu touched upon is the proliferation of new singers on the scene. He revealed that in the current era, there is an abundance of talented voices vying for limited opportunities. Singers from various corners of the country, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Bengal, often set their sights on Mumbai as the ultimate destination for their musical dreams. However, the harsh reality is that while the number of aspiring singers has multiplied, the number of viable work opportunities has not kept pace.
A New Equation: Fewer Opportunities, More Aspirants
As Kumar Sanu elaborated, the music industry today faces a peculiar equation. While there are a plethora of singers eagerly waiting for their breakthrough, the available work opportunities have dwindled considerably. This has created a competitive environment where even established artists like Kumar Sanu find it challenging to secure projects that resonate with their artistic sensibilities.
The interview with Kumar Sanu provided a poignant insight into the changing dynamics of the film and music industry. The days of prolific output, when films and songs flowed like a river, have given way to a landscape marked by uncertainty, intense competition, and limited opportunities. The shift from hundreds of films a year to a more selective approach has undeniably impacted the quantity of songs being produced, affecting the careers of both veteran and budding singers.
Kumar Sanu’s perspective sheds light on the broader challenges faced by the music industry in the face of evolving film trends. As the industry continues to navigate these changes, it’s a reminder that the echoes of the past can still be heard in the melodies that Kumar Sanu and his contemporaries have gifted to generations of music lovers.
Watch Full Exclusive Interview here:
–by Kashvi Gala