苏努·尼甘

Sonu Nigam (born 30 July 1973) is an Indian playback singer, music director, dubbing artist and actor. He is considered one of the most versatile singers in India, with a wide vocal range. His performances include a wide range of genres, like classical music, devotional music, ghazals, qawwali, rock and pop music, among others. Nigam sings predominantly in Hindi- and Kannada-language films. He has recorded over 6,000 songs in more than 32 languages throughout his career. He has released a number of non-film albums and acted in some Hindi films. Nigam has been awarded one National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards and two Filmfare Awards South and four IIFA Awards for Best Playback Singer. He was ranked top artist on the Billboard Uncharted charts twice in September and October 2013.

Nigam was honoured with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award in 2022.

Nigam has been nicknamed the "Modern Rafi" after his musical idol Mohammad Rafi. Apart from Hindi and Kannada, he has sung in Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Odia, English, Assamese, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, Nepali, Tulu, Maithili, and Manipuri. 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, Africa, Asia, Australia and in the Middle East and Western countries.

Early and personal life

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. He has two sisters – Meenal Nigam, a yoga therapist, and Teesha Nigam, a professional singer.

Nigam began singing 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".……

Career

1990s: Beginnings

Sonu Nigam began his career in early 1990s, initially overshadowed by Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu. His first song for a film was "O Aasmanwale" from Aaja Meri Jaan (1983). He gained recognition with TV serial song "Hum To Chhaila Ban Gaye" from Talash (1992) and later for songs "Accha Sila Diya" (Bewafa Sanam), "Sandese Aate Hai" (Border), and "Yeh Dil Deewana" (Pardes). His album Deewana (1999) became popular.……

2000s: Career peak

Notable hits from Nigam include "Suraj Hua Maddham", "You Are My Soniya" (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham), "Panchi Nadiya Pawan Ke" (Refugee), "Tanhayee" (Dil Chahta Hai), and "Kal Ho Naa Ho" (Kal Ho Naa Ho), which earned him a National Film Award and Filmfare Award.……

Other works

As a host and judge

Nigam was the host of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa music show from 1995 until 2000 and became household name. He returned on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs International as a judge with Suresh Wadkar in October 2007. Nigam was a celebrity judge on the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Mega Challenge grand finale on 12 December 2009.

Nigam hosted the TV show Kisme Kitna Hai Dum on Star Plus in 2002.

Singing style and influence

Sonu Nigam is considered as one of the most versatile singers in the history of Indian music industry. Forbes India has described Nigam as a versatile singer. Additionally, Radio Mirchi, Saregama, and Outlook India have described Nigam as a versatile singer.

The Times of India has described Nigam as a notable live performer. He has often been compared to Mohammed Rafi for a similar vocal texture.……

Awards and honours

Nigam has received several major awards including the Padma Shri (2022), National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer (2004), multiple Filmfare Awards and Filmfare Awards South, and four IIFA Awards. The background score of Jal (2014), composed by Sonu Nigam and Bickram Ghosh, was included on the Academy's preliminary consideration list for the Academy Award for Best Original Score.

Controversies

In 2015, Sonu Nigam claimed that ZEE Music Company had banned him after he publicly supported Kumar Vishwas on Twitter.

On 16 April 2017, he tweeted a series of complaints about the amplified azan, the Muslim call to prayer, describing it as "an enforced display of religion". He tweeted:

" God bless everyone. I'm not a Muslim and I have to be woken up by the Azaan in the morning.……