Sonu Nigam, a prominent Indian vocalist, catapulted to fame for his remarkable playback singing in Bollywood and various regional cinema productions. Endowed with an exceptionally melodious voice and an astonishingly versatile musical talent, Sonu Nigam rightfully claims his place as one of the most outstanding singers of recent times. His journey commenced at a tender age, and Sonu not only achieved excellence as a playback singer but also fearlessly delved into various music genres. His discography boasts of over 2000 songs spanning approximately 10 different languages. At the pinnacle of his career, reigning as Bollywood’s highest-paid male playback singer, Sonu Nigam made a pivotal decision in 2006. He opted to scale down his playback singing commitments to shift his focus towards personal projects and enthralling stage performances.
His Career as a Playack Singer
Sonu Nigam embarked on his playback singing journey in the film “Janam” in 1990, although the movie unfortunately never saw the light of day. He initially placed great trust in a contract with T-Series but was disheartened when his songs were overlooked in favor of S. P. Balasubramaniam’s. However, his exceptional talent did not go unnoticed. The owner of T-Series, Gulshan Kumar, recognizing his potential, extended a singing contract for the upcoming project ‘Bewafa Sanam.’ It was in this movie that the song ‘Achha Sila Diya Tune’ became a massive hit, drawing attention to the remarkable skills of this budding singer.
During his early days in Mumbai, Sonu faced considerable struggles as he grappled with a lack of playback singing opportunities. To sustain himself, he took on radio commercial projects, while his primary source of income was imitating the legendary Mohammed Rafi’s voice at stage shows. Although he ventured into playback singing for films like ‘Aaja Meri Jaan’ (1992), ‘Shabnam’ (1993), ‘Aag’ (1994), ‘Khuddar’ (1994), ‘Hulchul’ (1994), ‘Stuntman’ (1994), and ‘Ram Jaane’ (1995), these early assignments didn’t leave a lasting mark.
Sonu Nigam’s career soared to new heights with a string of consecutive hits, including ‘Sandese Aate Hain’ in the 1997 film ‘Border,’ for which he clinched the Zee Cine Award. He masterfully traversed various musical genres and styles, showcasing his versatility with songs like ‘YehDil’ in ‘Pardes’ (1999) on one end of the spectrum and the title track of the 2004 film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ on the other. Over time, he evolved into one of the most experimental singers in the Bollywood playback industry, collaborating on unique projects with top composers, including A.R. Rahman in ‘Sathiyaa.’ His partnerships with contemporary composers, such as the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio for the song ‘Tanhayee’ in the immensely successful ‘Dil Chahta Hai,’ showcased his remarkable range and adaptability. His mellow, romantic renditions of songs like ‘Suraj Hua Madhyam’ from ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’ and the soulful ‘Dheere Jalna’ from ‘Paheli’ not only captured the audience’s hearts but also earned him Zee Cine Awards for Best Playback Singer Male.
During the peak of his career around 2010-2011, it seemed like every other Bollywood movie featured a song sung by Sonu Nigam. He has had the privilege of working with stalwarts of Indian music like Lata Mangeshkar and Khayyam. Moreover, he holds immense respect for contemporary singers such as Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal, and Kailash Kher.
The Music Albums To Remember
In 1992, he unveiled the album ‘Rafi Ki Yaadein,’ a compilation of renditions of iconic Mohammed Rafi songs. Then, in 2007, he graced music enthusiasts with another extensive collection of Rafi’s songs titled ‘Kal Aaj aur Kal,’ which comprised over 100 songs spanning six discs. His dedication to preserving the legacy of Mohammed Rafi continued with the release of the album ‘Rafi Resurrected’ in 2008, featuring a rich assortment of Rafi’s timeless songs.
Throughout his career, Sonu Nigam also treated his fans to original compositions through various albums. His album ‘Deewana,’ introduced in 1999 under the prestigious T-series label, witnessed tremendous success. Following this, he serenaded his audience with additional original albums, including ‘Jaan’ in 2000 and ‘Chanda Ki Doli’ in 2005.
Beyond these albums, Sonu Nigam’s musical journey included noteworthy releases like ‘Classically Mild’ in 2008 and ‘The Music Room’ in 2014, a collaborative masterpiece with the eminent percussionist Bickram Ghosh.
