Sonu Nigam Biography

Sonu Nigam was born in a successful musical family on July 30,1973 in the city of Faridabad, Haryana. Sonu Nigam’s father Mr Agam Kumar Nigam and mother Mrs Shobha Nigam was from Agra and Garhwal respectively.

Sonu Nigam started singing at the age of 4 and he was previously singing with his father Mr Agam Nigam on the stage with a Mohammad Rafi song named ‘’Kya Hua Tera Wada’’ Sonu Nigam used to sing at various functions.

He moved to Mumbai with his father to begin his Bollywood singing career at the age of 26. He was trained by Hindustani classical singer Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan.

He married Madhurima Mishra on 15 February 2002. They have a son named Nevaan.

Career

Sonu Nigam made his Bollywood debut with the song O Aasman Wale. He released his first album named ‘’Rafi Ki Yaadein’’ in 1992.

After this, he sung in some movies including Muqabla (1993) Veerta (1993) Meherban (1993) Shabnam (1993) Kasam Teri Kasam (1993) Aag (1994) Khuddar (1994) Hulchul.

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 music director R. D. Burman for this song, but the song was eventually recorded by Kumar Sanu.

Sonu 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. His 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.

Sonu 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.

However, from the past few years, he has become 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. 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 likes Sonu Nigam the most. Shah Rukh Khan has been always seen heaping praises on Sonu Nigam whom he considers as a true artist. 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.

In the year 2008, at the inauguration of Harvard University’s 28th president, Drew Gilpin Faust, Sonu 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.

Sonu Nigam has also collaborated with international artists such has Britney Spears for the remixes of her ‘I Wanna Go’, DJ Avicii on his song ‘Indian Levels’.

Music in other Languages

Sonu Nigam has recorded Romantic, Rock, Sad, Devotional, Ghazal and Patriotic songs. He has sung in Hindi, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Kannada, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Tamil and Telugu 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.

Kannada Music

In 1996 Sonu Nigham, gave his debut in Kannada for the film Jeevanadhi for the song ‘Yello Yaro Hego’ from the film Majnu, composed by Gurukiran “Titanic Heroine Nee Nanna Cheluve” from the film Snehaloka the title track from the film Monalisa composed by Valisha Sandeep “Hamsave Hamsave” from the film Gatti Mela composed by Hamsalekha, “Kannale Kannale” from the film Aham Premasmi, composed by V.Ravichandran and “Baaninda Baa Chandira, from the movie Kanti, composed by Gurukiran.

The 2006 film Mungaru Male created a sensation and spawned several records, mainly in Karnataka. The songs “Mungaru Maleye” And “Anisuthide” were composed by Mano Murthy and written by Yogaraj Bhat and Jayant Kaikini respectively. Nigam has said that he finds Kannada songs more fulfilling than the Hindi numbers.

In an interview with Deccan Herald he said “Kannada songs make me feel positive”. He went on to say: “I highly respect the musicians of Karnataka and many of my favorite songs are in Kannada. I consider Bangalore as my second birthplace. Even if someone requests me to sing a Kannada song while I’m performing in the West Indies, I will sing it for them”.

Television

Sonu Nigam like other singers had also been on the television for some point of his career.
After gaining his experience and having his name with one of the best singers in Bollywood industry he had been judging the reality shows.

He has hosted the show named Sa Re Ga Ma music show from 1995 till 1999 and became very famous because of hosting the show and those were the time that there were not much music shows which were aired. He was also a celebrity judge on Sa Re Ga Ma Grand finale.

Nigam was a judge/mentor on Chhote Ustaad – Do Deshon Ki Ek Awaaz (July – October 2010) with Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and was a judge/mentor on the first season of X Factor (India) (29 May – 2 September 2011) along with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shreya Ghoshal. On 23 August 2015, he appeared on ‘’The Anupam Kher Show’’ sharing his life experiences.

He has been also one of the three judges of Indian Idol 2016–17. Nigam’s acting career started as a child in films including Betaab (1983). As an adult, he acted in films such as Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani, Kash Aap Hamare Hote and Love in Nepal.

Collaborations

• Rahul Dev Burman – O Aasman Wale, Aaja Meri Jaan (Aaja Meri Jaan)
• Dilip Sen – Chal Chaliye Wahan Pe Diljani, Chhodo Mujhe Jaane Do, Naino Ko Karne Do.
• Nadeem – Shravan – Aaj Kal Ki Nahin, Ek Haseen Ladki Ki, Ishq Me Ek Pal.
• Anu Malik – Border, China Gate, Badal, Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karga, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke.
• A.R Rahman – Saathiya, The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Meenaxi: A Tale Of Three Cities.
• Pritam – Ankahee, Naksha, Dhoom 2, Just Married, Kya Love Story Hain, Naqaab, Speed.

Awards

• Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award by Govt. of Maharashtra (Presented by HE Shree Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Governor) 2020

• Naushad Sanman 2020

• Magnificent Performing Arts Award at the 21st Century Icon Awards 2019

• Singer Kumar Sanu Award

• Lokmat Most Stylish Singer – Male 2018

• 7th TIIFA Award 2018

• Iconic Achiever’s Award 2018

• Doctorate from Theerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of music and inspiring youth to follow a path to success. 2018
• Haryana Gaurav Samman by Haryana Government, Government of India 2017
• Mirchi Music Awards for Indie Pop Song of the Year for “Aye Jahaan Aasmaan” 2017
• Lions Gold Award for Favorite Evergreen Singer jal best 2016
• Oscar 2015 nomination list “Jal” Sonu Nigam and Bickram Ghosh for their rustic compositions for the drama film – 2015
• Socialathon Person of the Year 2015
• Mirchi Music Awards South – Best Male Vocalist Kannada2014
• MTV Video and Music Award 2013 for Best Male Vocalist for Abhi Mujhme Kahin 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 2013
• Royal Stag Mirchi Music Award for Male Vocalist of The Year for the song “Abhi Mujhme Kahin” from the film Agneepath Filmfare Awards South – Nominated – Best Playback Singer Male for the song “Chendutiya Pakkadali” from the movie Drama.2012-2013
• Lions Gold Award for Favorite Evergreen Singer 2012
• GIMA for Best Global Indian Collaboration – This Is It ft Jermaine Jackson 2012
• GIMA(Global Indian Music Award)for MTV Youth Icon. 2011
• Gitanjali WoW Award for Live Personality(Music). 2011
• 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. 2010
• Indian Television Academy Award, Best Male Singer for Dil Mill Gaye title track. 2009
• Filmfare Awards South, Kannada, Best Male Playback Singer for Yenagali from Mussanje Maathu 2009
• GPBA (German Public Bollywood Award), Best Singer (Male) for Main Agar Kahoon, Om Shanti Om. 2009
• Filmfare Awards South, Kannada, Best Male Playback Singer for Ninnindale from 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’. 2008
• Annual Central European Bollywood Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for Mein Agar Kahoon, Om Shanti Om. 2007
• Bollywood Music and Fashion Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Title Track. 2007
• Indian Television Award Best Singer for Miliee Title Track. 2006
• 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. 2005
• 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
• Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer, for the song “Kal Ho Naa Ho”, from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho. 2004
• National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer: Kal Ho Na Ho for “Kal Ho Naa Ho”2004
• 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”. 2003
• 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”. 2002
• 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