Sonu Nigam (born 30 July 1973) is an Indian playback singer, composer, live performer, host, and actor. He sings predominantly in Hindi and Kannada language films. He has also sung in English, Bengali, Manipuri, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Tulu, Assamese, Odia, Nepali, Maithili, Malayalam and various Indian languages. Nigam has also released Indian pop albums and acted in a number of films. He has been one of the highest paid Indian singers. He is often regarded as a "Modern Rafi" and is now considered as one of the most versatile singers of the Hindi film industry. He is also regarded as the "Lord of Chords".
Early life and background
Sonu Nigam was born on 30 July 1973 to Agam Kumar Nigam and Shobha Nigam, in the city of Faridabad, Haryana. His father was from Agra and his mother was from Garhwal. His sister Teesha Nigam is also a professional singer.
Nigam began his singing career at the age of four, when he joined his father Agam Kumar Nigam on stage to sing Mohammed Rafi's song "Kya Hua Tera Wada". Nigam began accompanying his father on his singing appearances at weddings and parties. He moved to Mumbai with his father to begin his Bollywood singing career at the age of 18. He was trained by Hindustani classical singer Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan.
Nigam married Madhurima Mishra on 15 February 2002. He has a son named Nevaan.
Singing and composing work
He has recorded Romantic, Rock, Sad, Devotional, Ghazal and Patriotic songs. He has sung in: Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Chhattisgarhi, English, Kannada, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Tulu and Urdu till date. Nigam has released pop albums in Hindi, Kannada, Odia, Chhattisgarhi and Punjabi, as well as Hindu and Islamic devotional albums. He has released several Buddhist albums. Nigam has performed in countries in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia. In May–June 2007, he participated in The Incredibles tour with Asha Bhosle, Kunal Ganjawala, and Kailash Kher. In September–October of the same year, he gave solo concerts titled Simply Sonu in Canada and Germany, the first Indian singer to do so. In April 2008, he toured India promoting his Punjabi single "Punjabi Please".
Nigam's first film song as a playback singer was for Janam (1990), which was never officially released. He then began making radio commercials and also acted in some of them.
His first released song was "O Aasman Wale" from the movie Aaja Meri Jaan (1993). Sonu had also sung the title track of Aaja Meri Jaan, but it was dubbed by SP Balasubramaniam. He released his first album "Rafi Ki Yaadein" in 1992. After this, he sung in some movies, including Muqabla (1993), Meherban (1993), Shabnam (1993), Aag (1994), Khuddar (1994), Hulchul (1994), Stuntman (1994), Ramjaane (1995), Gaddaar (1995), etc. Sonu Nigam was supposed to playback the song "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh" from 1942: A Love Story and Sonu was the first choice of R.D. Burman for this song, but the song was eventually recorded by Kumar Sanu. He began hosting the TV show, Sa Re Ga Ma in 1995 and sang "Accha Sila Diya" for the film Bewafa Sanam and achieved great success because of it. In the same year, he sang the Anu Malik-composed song "Sandese Aate Hai" in Border and performed the Nadeem-Shravan-composed song "Yeh Dil Deewana" in Pardes in 1997, which took him out from his stereotyped image of singing. Nigam's album Deewana, with music directed by Sajid-Wajid, was released by T-Series in 1999 and is one of the most selling and celebrated albums till date.
Nigam provided playback singing for Hindi movies, including the title song for the film Kal Ho Naa Ho in 2003 to "Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin" for Agneepath in 2012 and many more.[citation needed]. However, from the past few years, he has gone selective about his songs so that he can focus more on creative works. His upcoming project with Bickram Ghosh named "Bollywood Retro" is one such project.
He composed the title track of the film Singh Saab The Great in 2013 and has also composed music for other films including: Sooper Se Ooper and Jal, in collaboration with percussionist Bickram Ghosh in the same year.
Nigam has released albums of Mohammed Rafi's songs including Rafi Ki Yaadein, a collection early in his career, which was re-released in Rafi's memory in September 2007 as a six-disc collection of 100 songs, titled Kal Aaj Aur Kal. In 2008, soon after releasing Classically Mild, he released a single Punjabi track entitled "Punjabi Please" and Rafi Resurrected, a two-disc collection of Rafi songs with music by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He contributed to the lyrics of several songs and directed the music for his album Chanda Ki Doli.
Sonu has always been loved and respected by the Bollywood industry. Among the new generation of singers, Lata Mangeshkar loves Sonu the most. Shah Rukh Khan has been always seen heaping praises on Sonu whom he considers as an true artiste. Shankar Mahadevan considers Sonu Nigam as his favorite singer in recent times. Music director Himesh Reshammiya also believes that Sonu is the best singer in the industry. Filmmaker Shirish Kunder is full of praises for Sonu. Shekhar of Vishal-Shekhar duo considered him as the finest live performer. Even Shaan who is one of his contemporaries admiring him from a long time. Singing sensation Armaan Malik idolizes Sonu Nigam as his God and Guru draws a lot of inspiration from him.
After the death of Michael Jackson, Nigam released a song as a tribute to Jackson which was included on the tribute album The Beat of Our Hearts.
In November 2007, at the inauguration of Harvard University's 28th president, Drew Gilpin Faust, Nigam sang Mahatma Gandhi's favorite bhajan, "Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye", with the Harvard College Sangeet.
In July 2008, he participated in a three-city tour of the United Kingdom, singing Rafi songs with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) . This followed the release of these songs by the CBSO and the Indian music company Sa Re Ga Ma on Rafi Resurrected.
He participated in a US tour with Sunidhi Chauhan in 2009 called The Explosion 2009 tour and in a UK tour titled All Izz Well in November 2010. In 2011, Nigam collaborated with Kakas Entertainment and Laxmikant-Pyarelal for a Maestros Concert performing Mohammed Rafi songs.
In 2011, Nigam collaborated with Britney Spears on a remix of her "I Wanna Go" track, and with DJ Avicii on his song "Indian Levels", produced by Avicii in 2012.
He was ranked the Number 1 artist on the US Billboard Uncharted charts twice in September and October 2013.
In September 2015, Nigam recorded a song with the music director Khayyam for the upcoming project titled Gulam Bandhu.
Awards and honors
2017 Haryana Gaurav Samman by Haryana Government, Government of India
2016 Mirchi Music Awards for Indie Pop Song of the Year for "Aye Jahaan Aasmaan"
2016 Lions Gold Award for Favorite Evergreen Singer jal best
2015 Oscar 2015 nomination list "Jal" Sonu Nigam and Bickram Ghosh for their rustic compositions for the drama f ilm
2015 Socialathon Person of the Year
2014 MMASouth Best Male Vocalist Kannada
2013 MTV Video and Music Award 2013 for Best Male Vocalist for Abhi Mujhme Kahin
2014 MMASouth Best Male Vocalist Kannada
2013 Zee Cinema Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Abhi Mujhme Kahin from the film Agneepath
2013 Big Star Entertainment Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Abhi Mujhme Kahin from the film Agneepath
2012 Royal Stag Mirchi Music Award for Male Vocalist of The Year for the song "Abhi Mujhme Kahin" from the film Agneepath
2012–2013 Filmfare Awards South – Best Playback Singer Male for the song "Chendutiya Pakkadali" from the movie Drama.
2012 Lions Gold Award for Favorite Evergreen Singer
2012 GIMA for Best Global Indian Collaboration – This Is It ft Jermaine Jackson *2011 GIMA(Global Indian Music Award)for MTV Youth Icon.
2011 Gitanjali WoW Award for Live Personality(Music).
2010 – Global Indian Music Award for Best Live Performer (Male)
2010 GIMA(Global Indian Music Award) for Best Live Performer Male.
2010 GIMA(Global Indian Music Award) for Most Popular Song – All Izz Well.
2010 Amar Rishtey Award for Zee Icoon– TVS Sa Re Ga Ma.
2010 Big Star Entertainment Award for Singer of the Decade.
2009 Indian Television Academy Award, Best Male Singer for Dil Mill Gaye title track.
2009 Filmfare Award, Kannada, Best Male Playback Singer for Yenagali, Mussanje Maathu
2008 GPBA (German Public Bollywood Award), Best Singer (Male) for Main Agar Kahoon, Om Shanti Om.
2008 Filmfare Award, Kannada, Best Male Playback Singer for Ninnindale, Milana.
2008 Indian Television Academy Award, Best Male Singer for Amber Dhara title track
2008 Lions Gold Award for the song 'In lamhon ke Daaman me' from the film 'Jodha Akbar'.
2007 Annual Central European Bollywood Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for Mein Agar Kahoon, Om Shanti Om.
2006 Bollywood Music and Fashion Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Title Track.
2005 Indian Television Award Best Singer for Miliee Title Track.
2005 MTV Immies – Best Pop Album, for his self-composed album titled "Chanda Ki Doli".
2005 Swaralaya Yesudas Award, for his outstanding performance in Music.
2005 Anadolok Award for "Chanda Ki Doli" album.
2005 Lion Gold's Award for the song Main Hoon Na from the film "Main Hoon Na".
2005 Star Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song "Dheere Jalna", from the film "Paheli".
2005 Teachers' Achievement Award
2005 Style Icon, MTV Style Awards.
2004 MTV Style Awards– Best Male Playback Singer – Bandhan
2004 MTV Immies – Best Male Singer, for the song "Main Hoon Na", from the film "Main Hoon Na".
2004 National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer, for the song "Kal Ho Naa Ho", from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho.
2003 National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer: Kal Ho Na Ho for "Kal Ho Naa Ho"
2003 Apsara Film Producers' Guild Award for Best Male Playback Singer for "Kal Ho Na Ho" from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho.
2003 Bollywood Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer for "Kal Ho Na Ho" from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho.
2003 IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Kal Ho Naa Ho", from the film Kal Ho Na Ho
2003 Style Icon, MTV Style Awards.
2003 Filmfare Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Kal Ho Naa Ho", from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho".
2002 Filmfare Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Saathiya", from the f ilm Saathiya.
2002 Bollywood Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Saathiya" from the film "Saathiya".
2002 MTV Immies – Best Male Singer, for the song "Saathiya" from the film "Saathiya".
2002 Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Saathiya", from the film "Saathiya".
2002 IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Saathiya", from the film "Saathiya".
2001 Star Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song "Tanhayee", from the film "Dil Chahta Hai". *2001 Bollywood Music Award for Best Pop Singer for the album "Yaad".
2001 IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Suraj Hua Maddham", from the f ilm "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham".
2001 Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Suraj Hua Maddham", from the film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham".
1998 Star Screen Award for Best Male Pop Artist.
1997 Sansui Viewers' Choice Award for Best Male Singer for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border".
1997 Aashirwad Award for Best Male Singer for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border".
1997 Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border".
Filmography as composer
Year Film
2013 Sooper Se Ooper
2016 Crazy Dil
2015 The Music Room
2014 Jal
2013 Singh Saab The Great
Filmography
Film Character Year
Kaamchor Sonu 1982
Ustadi Ustad Se Young Raju 1982
Betaab Young Sunny 1983
Hum Se Hai Zamana Young Shiva 1983
Taqdeer Young Shiva 1983
Krishna Krishna Sudhama 1986
Pyaara Dushman Manish Khadnya 1985
Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani Vivek Saxena 2002
Kash Aap Hamare Hote Jai Kumar 2003
Love in Nepal Abby 2004
Navra Maza Navsacha Guest appearance as himself in a song sequence 2005
Guest appearance as himself in "Takeedein" song sequence 2013
Source:Wikipedia
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