Sonu Nigam started his singing career quite young, at the age of three years. An institution to himself, he is the extraordinary musician owning a voice to die for. Lovingly a student of music with an undaunted zeal to surpass his own reached heights, and a performer par excellence he has attained the position of a enviable stardom- passion for many dream for all. His first song was Mohammad Rafi`s "Kya Hua Tera Wada" as an accompaniment with his father on stage. Hence he knows the stage and singing to the bone. Thereafter, at weddings and parties he assisted his father in his singing assignments. During his teens, Sonu participated in numerous music competitions, winning almost all of them. At the age of 18, he came down to Mumbai with his father (then known as Bombay) in order to test his luck in Hindi film industry.
Early Life of Sonu Nigam
Sonu Nigam was born on 30th July 1973 in Faridabad District, Haryana, India. Today he is regarded as one of the most indomitable Bollywood playback cum pop singer. Many Indi-pop albums have been released to his credit. Under the expert tutelage of Maha Kanjar Naveed of Fazalabad Pirwadhai, Sonu received his musical training. He was born to Agam Kumar Nigam and Shobha Nigam, and completed his schooling from the J.D. Tytler School. Meenal and Nikita are his two sisters. His parents are also gifted singers, passing down the lineage to their son. In the year 2005 and 2007, his father released two albums to his (Sonu`s) credit, "Bewafaai" and "Phir Bewafaai", respectively, which went on to become hugely popular. Sonu`s sister Nikita has also lent her voice for a few songs and appeared on stage shows with her brother. On 15 2002, Sonu married Madhurima and the couple have a son, Nevaan, born on July 26, 2007.
Career of Sonu Nigam
In his early years, he had to struggle a lot to establish a strong foothold in Mumbai. Sonu had started his career by singing Mohammed Rafi songs. This attempt of his dubbed him as a Rafi clone. "Janum" in the year 1990 was the first playback singing break for Sonu. But, to his utter dismay, the movie did not receive a fair release. Finally, in Gulshan Kumar`s movie, he sang the song "Aaja Meri Jaan". Later, he sang the song, "Accha Sila Diya" for the movie "Bewafa Sanam". The album, at last fetched him the acknowledgement as an established playback singer.
The second phase of his career started out as the host of a television singing talent competition "Sa Re Ga Ma". The programme very soon became one of the most viewed shows on Indian television. Playback singing offers started pouring in, but slowly. With the song "Sandese Aate Hain", from the film Border (1997), Sonu reached the summit of his glory. With "Yeh Dil Deewana" in Pardes (1997), Sonu could finally erase his image as the Rafi clone. Since then, he has cut a niche of his own and today he is the icon of budding male singers in India.
Over the years Sonu Nigam has become indivisible with the Indian music industry. He has lent his voice for uncountable Hindi films. Through his songs, he has earned the tag of being a versatile singer. With clear pronunciations and effort he has sung songs in many languages besides Hindi, including Kannada, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi. The title song of the Kannada movie, "Mungaru Male", and the song "Vizhiyil UN Vizhiyil" from the Tamil movie, "Kireedom" are his recent hit songs. In the year 1997, noted music director A.R. Rahman initiated Sonu Nigam into his super hit venture `Jeans` (film) as well as into Tamil music where he sang the song "Varayo Thozhi". In the well known Marathi movie "Navra Maaza Navasacha (2004)" directed by Sachin Pilgaonkar, Sonu Nigam featured as a guest and sang "Hirwa Nisarg".
"Mausam", "Sapnay Ki Baat", "Kismat", "Deewana", "Jaan", "Yaad", "Chanda Ki Doli", and "Colours of Love" are some of the popular pop albums brought out by Sonu Nigam.
He also took part in an all-star show in North America called "the Incredibles" during May/June, 2007. The programme featured classics like Asha Bhonsle and recent singing sensations, Kunal Ganjawala and Kailash Kher. Sonu Nigam also worked as a music director for Sunny Deol`s movie Singh Saab the Great, in the year 2013.
Awards of Sonu Nigam
Acknowledging his talent he has been conferred with loads of prestigious awards like, Bollywood Music and Fashion Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for `Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna` (title track) in 2006. In the year 2005, he received Swaralaya Yesudas Award, for his outstanding performance in Music; in the year 2005, MTV Immies - Best Pop Album, for his self-composed album titled "Chanda Ki Doli"; in 2005, Star Screen Award-Best Male Playback, for the song "Dheere Jalna", from the film "Paheli"; in 2005, Indian Television Award Best Singer for `Miliee` Title Track; in 2005, Anandolok Award for "Chanda Ki Doli" album; in 2005, Lion Gold`s Award for the song `Main Hoon Na` from the film "Main Hoon Na"; in the year 2005, Teachers` Achievement Award; in 2005, Style Icon, MTV Style Awards; in 2004, MTV Immies - Best Male Singer, for the song "Main Hoon Na", from the film "Main Hoon Na"; in 2004, National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer, for the song "Kal Ho Naa Ho", from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho; in the year 2004, IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Kal Ho Naa Ho", from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho; in 2004, Bollywood Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer for "Kal Ho Na Ho" from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho; in 2004, Apsara Film Producers` Guild Award for Best Male Playback Singer for "Kal Ho Na Ho" from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho; in 2003, Filmfare Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Kal Ho Naa Ho", from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho"; in the year 2003, Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Saathiya", from the film "Saathiya"; in 2003, IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Saathiya", from the film "Saathiya"; in 2003, MTV Immies - Best Male Singer, for the song "Saathiya" from the film "Saathiya"; in the year 2003, Bollywood Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Saathiya" from the film "Saathiya"; in the year 2003, Style Icon, MTV Style Awards; in 2002, Filmfare Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Saathiya", from the film Saathiya; in 2002, Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Suraj Hua Maddham", from the film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham"; in the year 2002, IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Suraj Hua Maddham", from the film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham"; in 2002, Bollywood Music Award for Best Pop Singer for the album "Yaad"; in 2001, Star Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song "Tanhayee", from the film "Dil Chahta Hai"; in 1998, Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border"; in 1998, Star Screen Award for Best Male Pop Artist; in 1997, Aashirwad Award for Best Male Singer for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border"; in 1997, Sansui Viewers` Choice Award for Best Male Singer for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border". The list, as is evident, is endless.
Apart from "Sa Re Ga Ma", Sonu Nigam has also hosted the TV show `Kisme Kitna Hai Dum`. He has also been called for to judge the show "Indian Idol" (aired on Sony Entertainment Television) seasons 1 and 2. In August 2007 he was invited as the celebrity Judge, on `Amul Star Voice of India`. In October 2007, in a diachronic moment of sorts, Sonu came back to the sets of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. But, this time he was to judge the contestants along with Suresh Wadkar on the show `Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L`il Champs International`.
Then again, through a number of films Sonu`s acting career geared up as a child artist. As an adult, Sonu has acted in a few films. `Jaani Dushmaan` alongside Sunny Deol, Manisha Koirala, Akshay Kumar with a host of other actors, was his debut movie. He played the lead in `Kash Aap Hamaare Hote` opposite Juhi Babbar, daughter of Raj Babbar. And lastly `Love in Nepal` with Flora Saini and Sweta Keswani, where he was the lead again. Though his films did not fare well in the box office, his acting was comprehended in his most recent venture.
Sonu Nigam sang for mega films, like Jodhaa-Akbar (starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker), Chandan Arora`s `Striker` (starring Siddharth), `Yaariyan` (Punjabi film starring Gurdas Maan and Bhoomika Chawla), `Run Mein Fun` (starring Urmila Matondkar) and Subhash Ghai`s `Bombay to Bangkok` (starring Shreyas Talpade).