SONU NIIGAAM-THE MUSICAL MAESTRO-5

The idol of many singers is about to expand his musical horizons

Subhash K Jha

You've become a youth icon among singing aspirants.

I had not noticed this development until two to three years ago when Shaan told me that many of the songs that the contestants sang on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa were mine. Now, when I'm a judge on Indian Idol I do realise that the contestants tend sing my difficult songs like 'Tera jadoo chal gaya', 'Zindagi maut na ban jaye' and 'Satrangi re'. I've now begun to realise that good work always reaches people's hearts. So I just do my work. As a singer I'm far from perfect and maybe I'll never get there, but there is no harm in trying. I am 32 and hope to do a lot as a human and a singer in the years to come.

Are you being challenged enough as a singer?

I don't think the film industry is able to provide sufficient opportunities for me, so I have to create my own challenges. This year I have some great songs in Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna, Shirish Kunder's Jaan-e-Man, Kunal Kohli's Fanaah, Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq, Rakesh Roshan's Krisshh, J.P. Dutta's Umrao Jaan and Farhan Akhtar's Don. But the challenge I experience when I sing a classical song where I've to work on a particular harkat or an alaap is missing. Films don't provide me songs like that. All tracks today are deejay-designed and private albums are dead. The furthest I could go with a non-film pop album was Chanda Ki Doli where I showed some of my classical creativity . I've therefore decided to come out with a semi-classical album. I might as well do something I believe in and something I'd be proud of forty years from now.

Have you sung 'Khai ke paan Baneraswala' in the Don remake?

I wish I had. As a child I used to dance to that song on stage. By the time I asked Shankar-Ehsan-Loy whether I could do it, they had already asked Udit Narayan to sing it. With his North Indian background he's the right person to do it.

What do you feel about Himesh Reshammiya's sudden success as a singer?

It's easy to criticise someone's singing for being nasal. Who sets the rules for how a song should be sung? Times are changing and different voice types are entering the industry and being accepted. With Himesh, at least a distinctive voice from within the country has found acceptance. Otherwise we've lately had strange voices from outside India, no matter how besura (out of tune), becoming successful.

What did you think of all the singers who have come from Pakistan?

A few are good. But most of them are strictly okay. In a country that has been blessed with a Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd Rafi who wants these voices?

Are you happy with the state of film music in this country?

Although I had raga-based songs in Parineeta and Paheli, the songs didn't get any recognition. I don't have a problem with Himesh getting all the awards, but it's an insult to nominate Paheli and Aashiq Banaya Aapne in the same genre for popular awards. Our songs were from two different genres in Aashiq. and Paheli. The genres have to be separated or our singers will stop doing riyaaz. They'll wonder why they need to work on their voices when they can get awards for relatively simple songs.

Mahesh Bhatt started the trend of introducing Pakistani music to Bollywood.

Everyone has the right to do their own thing. But if this trend continues, we as artistes need to tighten our seat belts. The music from Pakistan has a different flavour and colour to it.

What are your future plans for playback singing?

I'm doing too many things at the same time. I love the feeling of being in demand. I'm not passionate about anything except music. I'm blessed to have so much work. But I miss the glory attached to playback singing. I wish we had one good music company that could respect a good artiste.

How're your relations with your old company T Series?

We continue to maintain a cordial relation. But it isn't the same as before when Gulshan Kumarji was around. If I had contributed the same to any other music company there would have been lot more appreciation. I'm looking at a credible company for my classical album. I'm doing this for my own happiness.

Are you happy?

I've learnt to look for happiness within myself. People around me have changed. I've converted them into positive people. I don't allow anyone negative in my space. I'm surrounded by people who have love in their eyes.

Would you call yourself happily married?

Well, I am married and one can be happily married. Marriage is a very small part of life. And I'm saying this in the presence of my wife. There's a lot more to life.






"I want my name to be a trademark. If it is a Sonu Nigam song then it should be good lyrically, musically and vocally" – Sonu Niigaam

The leading singer of India has just come to your homes. IndiaFM caught up with none other than Sonu Nigam in an exclusive interview where he spoke about his latest song, his life and his future plans.


You have just recorded the song 'Yeh Rashtra Prem Ki Bhavna' tell us something about that.
This is the first song ever to release in India without the help of a company. It is basically our conviction towards this song that we wanted to convey it to our listeners. This song is meant for today's generation because I have lots of faith in them. I believe we underestimate them when we say that this is the kind of music we like and this is the thought process they carry. I believe if we don't provide them with the right kind of music and other stuff then they don't know how to behave correctly. This song was supposed to have released around Independence Day but suddenly the bomb blasts in Mumbai happened. So one side of our mind said that we should release it earlier to get lots of attention but then we thought that we shouldn't cash in on someone else's suffering. I believed that this song should only release on radio and be available for downloads. So when the radio guys heard it we got a standing ovation. The composer is Deepak Pandit and I wrote the lyrics for it. Then we made the video because television channels were keen on airing it. There was a lot of positive response from everywhere.

This song was supposed to have released around Independence Day but suddenly the bomb blasts in Mumbai happened. So one side of our mind said that we should release it earlier to get lots of attention but then we thought that we shouldn't cash in on someone else's suffering.



How come you didn't opt for a company for this song?
Companies are essential. We have to have good companies in our country. But sometimes there is some niche work that you want to give to the public that you don't want others to mess up. This is the kind of work that I want to give to the people. My idea is not to depend on how much money I will recover because at this stage of my career I can afford to lose money. I will lose money obviously because I don't expect to be paid for something that does not release on CDs or cassettes. A company even if they like the song, they would want a remix after that. This is a pure song and I wanted the video to be clear and the message in the face. So that is why we decided not to depend on any company. I have that much goodwill that people know when I am talking I will talk sense.

So basically your message is an awakening for the youth?
The lines go as 'yeh rashtra prem ki bhavna bas matr ek hai kaamna. Hirday ki seep mein aans ki moti. Tam, Gan, Man, Jan mein ho jyoti. Arz hai yehi- Bharat ki rakth mein prabavihith ho'. We have almost reached 60 years of independence and there is a saying which goes like 'Right or wrong my country is the best'. I don't believe in that. I believe that if our country is wrong then we need to do something about it and definitely we are wrong. We need to tell the people that patriotism is not just about hailing your country but about correcting your country. It's about changing this mind-set. That is the message of this song.



So how did the standing ovation feel like?
This really gives me a high. This is not your regular film song. It's like my baby and when your baby gets appreciated even by people who don't appreciate easily will definitely feel great. I want my name to be a trademark. If it is a Sonu Nigam song then it should be good lyrically, musically and vocally.

I want my name to be a trademark. If it is a Sonu Nigam song then it should be good lyrically, musically and vocally.
Do you think a good voice is a god gifted talent or comes out of hard work?
Both! There are people who are blessed with natural voices. I cultivated mine because I sounded like too many people. I modulate my voice and that is my effort. If I had just one voice then I would be confined to just one genre of singing. I don't see myself doing that. I want to pursue different genres of music. I know of singers who are blessed with great voices but are confined.

If I had just one voice then I would be confined to just one genre of singing.
Do you believe in daily riyaz?
I practice daily riyaz. As I grow older I get madder.

You recently said in an interview that you want to take it easy now. But you also collapsed while shooting for this song. Is this true?
One is partially true while the other one is exaggeration. There was news that I am retiring from music. It is true that I want to cut down on my music but retiring from music is an overstatement. Music is always going to be a part of my life. It is my prayer. It is an ecstasy altogether. When I hear other people singing classical music I realize there is so much more to incorporate in my music. So I'm not quitting music but I'm quitting wholesale singing. I have got logical reasons for that.



I'm not quitting music but I'm quitting wholesale singing.
If you count I have had about 10 -12 hits songs last year. 2 of Fanaa, 2 of KANK, Dil Vich Lagi Ya Ve, Krrish, Parineeta and Paheli. But I sang over 300 songs last year. Why? It's just a waste of time. I don't want to break records. I'd rather read all the books loaded in my house. I don't want to die without reading them. I want to enjoy nature; I want to enjoy other things in life. I want to pursue yoga, want to work-out, learn Taekwondo. I don't want to grow old and feel that I'm helpless. As for the collapsing, that did happen. I was taken to the hospital. I was vomiting and suffered from food poisoning.

I'd rather read all the books loaded in my house. I don't want to die without reading them.
You are into spirituality in a big way. How has that changed your life?
I'm not that spiritual. People at an early stage in my career claimed that I was spiritual. All of us are spiritual in some sense. I want to be at a stage in life where nothing should affect me. I don't want to be filled with sorrows nor too much happiness. I have trained myself to be that way. But overall I don't think I'm worthy of being called spiritual.

From your current contemporaries, who do you think is doing really great work?
Kunal Ganjawala, KK and Shaan sing very well. Other than Kunal, the rest are older than me. Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Shweta Pandit, Mahalaxmi, Madhushree, etc. They are all very good. Also Kailash Kher as well.

Himesh Reshamimiya is pretty big on the music scene as well.
Himesh is a great composer. I don't rate him as a good singer and I don't think he does so either. If he rates himself as a great singer then he is lying to himself. But as a composer he is great and he deserves the success that he is getting today.

I don't rate Himesh as a good singer and I don't think he does so either. If he rates himself as a great singer then he is lying to himself.
Do you also compose music?
Yes, my album Chanda Ki Doli was my composition.

If you were to choose 3 favorite tracks from your vast repertoire, which would that be?
Satrangi Re, Tumse Milke from Main Hoon Na and Mera Rang de Basanti Chola.

What about your stint in acting?
There are a lot of things involved while doing a movie. The director, the actor, the producer and his marketing strategy. When I choose a movie I can't be governed by my heart. I have learned to use my instincts. I cannot give 100 days of my life in acting, dubbing, promoting and finally get bad reviews because the outcome is not nice.

I know of singers who are blessed with great voices but are confined.
What next?
There is an album coming up. This is really different as nothing like it has been done in India. 60% is ready. I just have to sing it and the lyrics also have to be done. It will most probably be released in October.

Tell us something about your American tour?
I'm going on a tour after 5 years. Unlike other people who go every year or twice a year, I decided to wait and get a proper promoter. Finally these really great guys came my way and it's happening on a large scale. Almost like the Hollywood way


You compose music for your albums. Then why not compose for films?

"It can be quite a headache to compose music for films. Also in the last 8-9 years I have stopped approaching people for work. I'd rather people come to me with proposals. I'd rather compose music for myself just for the job satisfaction rather than make it another measure of success. But yes, I am open to composing for movies, but that's only if and when the project looks good."

Actors go through a discipline regime to keep fit and look good. What do singers have to do to keep their voices 'fit'?

"Singers, these days, too, have to hit the gym and take care of their appearance. Gone are the days when singers could get away with fat bellies and triple chins. Playback singing has no longer remained a behind-the-scenes profession. With stage shows and all that, one has to at least be presentable. Also, working out helps strengthen the lungs. And like they say, singing is chathi ka khel (game of the lungs). A singer has to work on stamina, energy and body language besides of course his or her daily riyaaz ."

What's the craziest fan-incident you have experienced?

"There have been two extreme cases: There is this girl who insists that she is married to me, and is now convinced that I am ditching her and on my way to marry somebody else. It's scary; A few years ago, this educated boy came up to me and wanted to work at my house, even if it meant cleaning the dishes or ironing the clothes. I told him to go study and come back. The problem is that he came back. But I asked him to go again."

"I have been planning to do this for years, and I finally got around to doing it," says Sonu. He was accompanied by two friends from Delhi and Kolkata. "I hardly knew them. So basically, I was isolated; something I wanted. The time there was mine, and I spent it engaging in introspection. I lived in places that did not have basic amenities, like toilet facilities and water. I lived on a lean diet of fruit, pulses and rice, which we carried from Mumbai."