Sonu Nigam or Sonu Niigaam (सोनु निगम; born July 30, 1973 in Faridabad, Haryana, India) is an Indian playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Bollywood and Kannada movies. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums and acted in a few Hindi feature films. He recently changed the spelling of his last name from 'Nigam' to 'Niigaam' in accordance with numerology.

Career

Early years and playback singing

Sonu Nigam began his singing career at the age of three, when he joined his father on stage to sing Mohammad Rafi's "Kya Hua Tera Wada". Then on, he accompanied his father on his singing assignments at weddings and parties. In his teenage years, he participated in several music competitions successfully. He moved to Mumbai with his father to begin his Bollywood singing career at the age of 18.

Sonu took singing lessons under Naveed of Fazalabad Pirwadhai. His initial years in Mumbai proved to be a struggle, and he started by singing covers of Mohammad Rafi songs, mainly for the "Rafi Ki Yaadein" album series. These albums contributed to his label for some time as a "Rafi clone." His first movie song as a playback singer was in the movie, "Janum" (1990), which was never officially released. He got a break as a playback singer in Gulshan Kumar's movie, "Aaja Meri Jaan". He then sang the song, "Accha Sila Diya", for the album, "Bewafa Sanam" (1995), which gave him the recognition as an established playback singer.

Sonu started hosting "Sa Re Ga Ma," a television singing talent competition, which soon became one of the most popular shows on Indian television. The first episode of "Sa Re Ga Ma" was aired on May 1, 1995. Singing offers poured in thereafter, though slowly at first. He rose to fame with the song, "Sandese Aate Hain", in Border (1997). Anu Malik was the music director of this movie. Sonu's image as a Rafi clone changed after his rendition of the song, "Yeh Dil Deewana" in Pardes (1997). Since then, he has created a unique style of his own, and has become a role model for budding male singers in India.

Over the years, Sonu has become a major force in the Indian music industry. He has provided playback singing for a large number of Hindi movies and won many awards. His rendition of Kal Ho Na Ho has been highly popular. He is recognised for his versatile voice as well as excellent emotion range. Sonu has sung with clear pronunciations, in many languages besides Hindi, including Bengali, Oriya, Kannada, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi.

Pop albums and concerts

Sonu has released a number of pop albums, both in Hindi and in Punjabi, to his name. The very recent addition to this list is "Classically Mild", best among all. He has also several released of albums of Mohammad Rafi's songs, as well as devotional albums. Of recent releases, In September 2007, he released a 6-disc collection of Mohammad Rafi's 100 best songs in the latter's memory. The collection is titled "Kal, Aaj, Aur Kal". Soon after releasing "Classically Mild", he released a single Punjabi track called "Punjabi Please".

Over the years. Sonu has given concert performances in many countries, including United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Russia, Afghanistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bangkok, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, West Indies, Mauritius, Nigeria and South Africa. In May/June 2007, he participated in a star-studded show in North America called "The Incredibles" in which famed Asha Bhonsle and recent singing sensations, Kunal Ganjawala and Kailash Kher, participated. In September and October, respectively, of the same year, he gave a solo concert titled, "Simply Sonu", in Canada and Germany, (becoming the first Indian singer to perform in the latter country). In April 2008, he did a marathon of concerts in various cities in India, promoting his Punjabi single "Punjabi Please".

In November 2007, at the inauguration of Harvard University's 28th president, Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust, Sonu sang with the Harvard College Sangeet the late Mahatma Gandhi's favorite bhajan, " Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye".

In July 2008, he participated in a three-city tour of the United Kingdom, singing numerous famous Mohammad Rafi songs with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. This followed the release of these songs by the CBSO and the Indian music company Sa Re Ga Ma in a historic album entitled "Rafi Resurrected".

Television, radio and acting

Besides "Sa Re Ga Ma," Sonu Nigam has also hosted the TV show Kisme Kitna Hai Dum and has been a judge on the show Indian Idol(aired on Sony Entertainment Television) seasons 1 and 2. Recently, Sonu returned to Indian Idol in its third season as a celebrity judge. He was also a celebrity judge on Amul Star Voice of India in August 2007. In October 2007, Sonu came back to the sets of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in a historical moment of sorts, this time as a judge (along with Suresh Wadkar) on the show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs International.

In 2006, Sonu also hosted his own radio show called 'Life Ki Dhun With Sonu Niigaam' on Radiocity 91 FM, where he had the opportunity of interviewing several music industry greats, including the legendary Lata Mangeshkar.

Sonu's acting career started as a child artist in a number of films including 1983s Betaab. As an adult, Sonu has acted in a few more films namely Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani alongside Sunny Deol, Manisha Koirala and Akshay Kumar as well as other actors; Kash Aap Hamare Hote where he plays the lead opposite Juhi Babbar, daughter of Raj Babbar; and lastly Love in Nepal with 'Flora Saini' and 'Sweta Keswani', where he plays the lead again. However it is to be said that all three films have not done well at the box-office. although his acting was much better appreciated in his last venture. He has not taken up acting since his last venture Love in Nepal, but has recently been said to be involved in another film as a lead actor. The film, called 'Ankhon Ankhon Mein' is supposedly about a blind singer.

Future projects

His future projects include an English album called "Spirit Unfolding". He may be acting in a new film called Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein, about a blind singer, although he has not officially signed it yet. He is also doing playback singing for a number of upcoming films, including Chandan Arora's Striker, Yaariyan, Run Mein Fun and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi directed by Aditya Chopra among others.

In a recent interview, he confirmed that he is working on a new Kannada album. He also revealed that he is releasing a new Ganesh album in August, and is thinking about a project on Manna Dey. He also revealed that there are plans for the Rafi Resurrected concerts to happen in the rest of Europe, the United States and India soon.

Personal life And Voluntary Work

Sonu was born to Mr Agam Kumar Nigam and Mrs Shobha Nigam on July 30, 1973 in Faridabad, Haryana, India. He attended the J.D. Tytler School. He has two sisters, Meenal and Neekita. Sonu is very close to his parents. Both his father and mother are good singers, and in 2005 and 2007 his father released two highly popular albums, "Bewafaai" and "Phir Bewafaai", respectively. Neekita is also a singer. She has sung a few playback songs and appeared on a few stage shows with Sonu. Sonu married Madhurima on 15 February 2002. They have a son, Nevaan, born on July 25, 2007.

He is very much into fitness and yoga exercises. He claims to be spiritual rather than religious.

Sonu has done various charity work all over India as well as abroad for Dignity Foundation, Cancer organizations, Leprosy organizations, Blindness organizations, Womens welfare organizations, Kargil war affected families, Earthquake affected families. He also sponsors a child from the organization “Crayon”.

Awards

• 2008, Filmfare Awards South, Best Singer (Male) for Ninindale, from the Kannada movie Milana
• 2008, GPBA (German Public Bollywood Award), Best Singer (Male) for Mein Agar Kahoon, Om Shanti Om
• 2007, Annual Central European Bollywood Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for Mein Agar Kahoon, Om Shanti Om
• 2007, Bollywood Music Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Title Track.
• 2006, Star Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song "Dheere Jalna", from the film "Paheli"
• 2005, Swaralaya Yesudas Award, for his outstanding performance in Music.
• 2005, MTV Immies - Best Pop Album, for his self-composed album titled "Chanda Ki Doli".
• 2005, Indian Television Award Best Singer for Miliee Title Track.
• 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, Teachers' Achievement Award
• 2005, Most Stylish People In Music, MTV Style Awards.
• 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
• 2004, IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Kal Ho Naa Ho", from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho
• 2004, Bollywood Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer for "Kal Ho Na Ho" from the film 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, Filmfare Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Kal Ho Naa Ho", from the film ''Kal Ho Naa Ho".
• 2003, Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Saathiya", from the film "Saathiya"
• 2003, IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Saathiya", from the film "Saathiya"
• 2003, MTV Immies - Best Male Singer, for the song "Saathiya" from the film "Saathiya".
• 2003, Bollywood Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Saathiya" from the film "Saathiya"
• 2003, Most Stylish People In Music, MTV Style Awards
• 2002, Filmfare Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Saathiya", from the film Saathiya.
• 2002, Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Suraj Hua Maddham", from the film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham"
• 2002, IIFA Best Male Playback Award, for the song "Suraj Hua Maddham", from the film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham"
• 2002, Bollywood Music Award for Best Pop Singer for the album "Yaad"
• 2002, Bollywood Music Award for Best Male Singer for the song "Tanhayee" from the film "Dil Chahta Hai"
• 2001, Star Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song "Tanhayee", from the film "Dil Chahta Hai"
• 1998, Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male, for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border"
• 1998, Star Screen Award for Best Male Pop Artist.
• 1997, Aashirwad Award for Best Male Singer for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border"
• 1997, Sansui Viewers' Choice Award for Best Male Singer for the song "Sandese Aate Hai", from the film "Border"

Memorable hits

Song	Film	Year
Accha Sila Diya	Bewafa Sanam	1994
Yeh Dil Deewana	Pardes	1997
Sandese Aate Hain	Border	1997
Satrangi Re	Dil Se	1998
Zindagi Maut Na Ban Jaaye	Sarfarosh	1999
You Are My Sonia	Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham	2001
Is pyar ko main	Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai	2001
Saathiya	Saathiya	2002
Mera rang de Basanti	The Legend of Bhagat Singh	2002
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna	The Legend of Bhagat Singh	2002
Kal Ho Naa Ho	Kal Ho Na Ho	2003
Ghum Shuda	Chalte Chalte	2003
Main Hoon Na	Main Hoon Naa	2004
Tumse Milke Dil Ka	Main Hoon Naa	2004
Do Pal Ki	Veer Zaara	2004
Sun Zara	Lucky: No Time for Love	2005
Piyu Bole	Parineeta	2005
Soona Man Ka Aangan	Parineeta	2005
Just Chill	Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya	2005
Falak Dekhoon	Garam Masala	2005
Ada	Garam Masala	2005
Dheere Jalna	Paheli	2005
No Entry (Ishq Di Gali Vich)	No Entry	2005
Mere Haath Mein	Fanaa	2006
Dil Vich Lagya Re	Chup Chup Ke	2006
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna	Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna	2006
Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani	Krrish	2006
Koi Tumsa Nahin	Krrish	2006
Pal Pal Har Pal	Lage Raho Munna Bhai	2006
Humko Maloom Hai	Jaan-E-Mann	2006
Ajnabi Shehar	Jaan-E-Mann	2006
Sau Dard Hain	Jaan-E-Mann	2006
Behka Diya Humein	Umrao Jaan	2006
Aaj Ki Raat	Don	2006
Anisutide yaako indo	Mungaru Male	2006
Mungaru Maleye	Mungaru Male	2006
Salaam-E-Ishq	Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love	2007
Ninnindale Ninnindale	Milana	2007
Tenu Leke	Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love	2007
Nagaada Nagaada	Jab We Met	2007
Main Agar Kahoon	Om Shanti Om	2007
In lamhon ke daaman	Jodhaa Akbar	2008

Albums

Below are his mainstream releases. He has also released several devotional Hindu albums including "Tere Dar Se Muradein Paeinge" (1999), "Sanskar" (2004), "Maa Ka Dil" (2006) and "Pyari Maa" (2008), and more recently "Maha Ganesha" (August 2008). He released some Muslim devotional albums including "Mohammad ke dar par chala ja sawali" (1993, re-released 2007) and Ramzan ki Azmat (originally sang by Mohammad Rafi and others). He has covered the songs of famous Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas in an album entitled "Best of Pankaj Udas". He has also sang a song each in Sapna Mukherjee's album "Mere Piya" and the remix album "Kajra Nite" in 2006.

Album title	Language	Year
Rafi Ki Yaadein Vol 10-20	Hindi	1993-1995
Shradhanjali to Mohd Rafi	Hindi	1995
Sapnay Ki Baat	Hindi	1997
Kismat	Hindi	1998
Mausam	Hindi	1999
Pariyon Se	Hindi	1999
Deewana	Hindi	1999
Jaan	Hindi	2000
Yaad	Hindi	2001
Kurie Mili Hai Kamal	Punjabi	2003
Chanda Ki Doli	Hindi	2005
Colours of Love	Punjabi/Hindi	2007
Pyar	Punjabi	2007
Classically Mild	Hindi	2008
Kal Aaj Aur Kal	Hindi	2008
Punjabi Please	Hindi	2008
Rafi Resurrected	Hindi	2008

Filmography

Film Title	Character	Year
Pyaara Dushman	Tika Singh (credited as Master Sonu)	1980
Kaamchor	Sonu (Rakesh Roshan's nephew), (credited as Master Sonu)	1982
Ustaadi Ustaad Ke	Raju (Young Mithun Chakraborty), (credited as Master Sonu)	1982
Betaab	Sunny (Young Sunny Deol), (credited as Master Sonu)	1983
Hum se hai zamana	Shiva (Young Mithun Chakraborty), (credited as Master Sonu)	1983
Taqdeer	Shiva (Young Shatrughan Sinha), (credited as Master Sonu)	1983
Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani	Vivek Saxena	2002
Kaash..Aap Hamare Hote	Jai Kumar	2003
Love In Nepal	Abby	2004
Navra Maajha Navsacha (Marathi)	Himself	2005

References

External links

• www.sonuniigaam.in Official site

{{Persondata Nigam, Sonu |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Sonu Nigam |SHORT DESCRIPTION= Singer |DATE OF BIRTH= July-30, 1973 |PLACE OF BIRTH= Faridabad, Haryana, India |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH=] at the Internet Movie Database