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Sonu Nigam
Born	July 30, 1973 (1973-07-30) (age 34) Faridabad
Genre(s)	Pop, Playback singing
Occupation(s)	Singer, Actor
Years active	1990–present

Sonu Nigam (Hindi: सोनु निगम), born July 30, 1973 in Faridabad, Haryana, India,^[1] is a playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Bollywood movies. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums. He recently changed the spelling of his last name from 'Nigam' to 'Niigaam' in accordance with numerology.^[2]

Sonu was born in Faridabad to parents Agam Kumar Nigam and Shobha Nigam. He has 2 sisters called Meenal and Neekita. He attended the J.D. Tyler School.

Contents 1 Career 1.1 The early years and playback singing 1.2 Pop albums and concerts 1.3 Television, radio and acting 1.4 Future projects 2 Personal life 3 Awards 4 Memorable hits 5 Albums 6 Filmography 7 References 8 External links

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". From then on, he accompanied his father on his singing assignments at weddings and parties. He also participated in several music competitions in his teenage years and won them all - until, finally, he was not allowed to participate any more! He moved to Mumbai with his father in order to begin his Bollywood singing career at the young age of 18.

His Ustad is Maha Kanjar Naveed of Fazalabad Pirwadhai.His initial years in Mumbai proved to be a struggle, and Sonu started by singing covers of Mohammad Rafi songs, mainly for the "Rafi Ki Yaadein" album series. These albums contributed, however, to his later label as a "Rafi clone." His first movie song as a playback singer was in the film "Janum" (1990) which was not officially released but was nevertheless considered a flop. Later, he again got a break as a playback singer in Gulshan Kumar's film Aaja Meri Jaan and then got the chance to sing "Accha Sila Diya" for the album "Bewafa Sanam" (1995). The latter was what gave him the first recognition he needed to become a playback singer. Around this time, he also started hosting "Sa Re Ga Ma," a television singing talent competition that soon became one of the most popular shows on Indian television. The first episode was aired on May 1, 1995. Thereafter, the singing offers poured in, albeit slowly at first. He shot to fame with the song "Sandese Aate Hain" from Border (1997), the music of which was directed by Anu Malik. Sonu's image as a Rafi clone was transformed after his brilliant rendition of the song "Yeh Dil Deewana" in the film Pardes (1997). Since then, he has created a unique trademark style of his own and has become a role model for lots of budding singers in India.

Over the years, Sonu Nigam has become a major force in the music industry. Sonu has sung playback for countless Hindi movies and has also won many awards for them. His rendition of Kal Ho Na Ho is considered a modern legend of sorts. Sonu is generally acclaimed for his versatile voice as well as his excellent emoting in his songs. He is also a popular playback singer for many regional movies, singing effortlessly in many languages from Kannada, Punjabi, Bengali to Tamil and Telugu. He is very famous in the South of India for his clear pronunciation of non-native languages such Tamil and Kannada. His recent hits include the title song of the Kannada movie Mungaru Male and the song Vizhiyil Un Vizhiyil from the Tamil movie Kireedom. A.R. Rahman introduced Sonu Nigam to Tamil music in his superhit venture Jeans (film)(1997) directed by ace director S. Shankar. The song he sang was called Varayo Thozhi.

Sonu Niigaam has released a number of pop albums, including "Mausam", "Sapnay Ki Baat", "Kismat", "Deewana", "Jaan"," Yaad", "Chanda Ki Doli" and "Colours of Love", as well as a Punjabi album called 'Pyar.' In September 2007, he released a 6-disc collection of Mohammad Rafi's 100 best songs in his memory. The collection was called Kal, Aaj, Aur Kal.

Sonu has done concerts in many countries over the years, including, of course, India, but also Pakistan, UAE, Afghanistan, United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, France, Mauritius, South Africa and Australia. Sonu has been recently toured North America in May/June 2007 in a star-studded show called "The Incredibles" with singing legend Asha Bhonsle, as well as current singing sensations Kunal Ganjawala and Kailash Kher. On September 9, 2007, he performed in Toronto, Canada for the third time in one year as part of another North America/Canada tour - this time a solo one called "Simply Sonu". He also became the first Indian singer to perform in Germany when he continued his Simply Sonu tour there in October 2007.

Sonu recently performed Gandhi's bhajan Vaishnav Jan To with the Harvard College Sangeet in a ceremony to inaugurate the 28th president of Harvard University, Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust.

Besides "Sa Re Ga Ma," Sonu Niigaam 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. Since October 2007, Sonu has been a judge (along with Suresh Wadkar) on the show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs International.

Last year, 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. This radio show is available for listeners on the Internet.

Sonu's acting career started as a child artist in a number of films. As an adult, Sonu has acted in a few more films, namely 'Jaani Dushmaan' alongside Sunny Deol, Manisha Koirala and Akshay Kumar as well as other actors; 'Kash Aap Hamaare 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 terribly well at the box-office. He has not taken up acting since his last venture in 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.

His future projects include a semi-classical album, an English album called Spirit Unfolding; as well as his new film as an actor. He is also doing a concert tour in Germany in the last 2 weeks of October and is returning to the sets of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as a judge on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs International this October.

Sonu Nigam is very close to his parents. His mother and father are both very good singers and his father - Agam Kumar Nigam - had a major hit with his album Bewafaai in 2005. He has come back with another hit this year in Phir Bewafaai. He has two sisters, one of whom - Nikita - is also a singer. She has sang a few playback songs and a few stage shows with Sonu. Sonu married his wife Madhurima on 15 February 2002. Although he has had some problems in his marriage and the two apparently had a short period of separation some time back, they are now back together and their relationship is going strong. In fact, Sonu Nigam became a father on 25 July 2007 to his son Nevaan (which means Holy).

• 2006, Bollywood Music and Fashion Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Title Track.
• 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, Star Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song "Dheere Jalna", from the film "Paheli"
• 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, Style Icon, 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 fpr Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Saathiya" from the film "Saathiya"
• 2003, Style Icon, 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"
• 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"

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
Mere Humsafar	Refugee	2000
Panchhi Nadiyan	Refugee	2000
Tanhayee	Dil Chahta Hai	2001
Suraj Hua Maddham	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, Movie	Kal Ho Na Ho	2003
Ghum Shuda	Chalte Chalte	2003
Main Hoon Na	Main Hoon Naa	2004
Sun Zara	Lucky: No Time for Love	2005
Chori Chori	Lucky: No Time for Love	2005
Piyu Bole	Parineeta	2005
Soona Man Ka Aangan	Parineeta	2005
Halka Halka Sa Yeh Sama	Chocolate	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 Wich Lagya Re	Chup Chup Ke	2006
Dekho Na	Fanaa	2006
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna	Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna	2006
Tumhi Dekho Na	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
Bande Mein Tha Dum	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
Anisuthide Yaako indu	Mungaaru Male	2006
Mungaru Maleye	Mungaaru Male	2006
Salaam-E-Ishq	Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love	2007
Tenu Leke	Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love	2007
Apne	Apne	2007
Bhae Bhor	Dharm	2007
Vizhiyil Un Vizhiyil	Kireedam	2007
Kanaso Idu Nanaso Idu	Cheluvina Chittara	2007
Saviyo Saviyo	Savi Savi Nenapu	2007
Ninnindale Ninnindale	Milana	2007
Male Nintu Hoda Mele	Milana	2007
Neenu Banda Mele	Krishna	2007
Kacchi Kaliyan	Laaga Chunari Mein Daag	2007
Main Agar Kahoon	Om Shanti Om	2007
Chaha Tha Jinko Wo Aa	Sajna Ve Sajna (Punjabi Film)	2007
Kitni narmi se	Dil jo bhi kahe	2005

Album title	Language	Year
Sapnay Ki Baat	Hindi	1997
Kismat	Hindi	1998
Mausam	Hindi	1999
Pariyon Se	Hindi	1999
Deewana	Hindi	1999
Jaan	Hindi	2000
Yaad	Hindi	2001
Chanda Ki Doli	Hindi	2005
Colours of Love	Hindi	2007
Pyar	Punjabi	2007

Film Title	Character	Year
Kaamchor	Child Artist	1982
Ustaadi Ustaad Ke	Child artist	1982
Betaab	Young Sunny	1983
Hum se hai zamana	Child artist	1983
Taqdeer	Child artist	1983
Jaani Dushman	Vivek Saxena	2002
Kaash..Aap Hamare Hote	Jai Kumar	2003
Love In Nepal	Abby	2004
Navra Maajha Navsacha (Marathi)	Himself	2005

• Sonu Nigam Profile - IMDb.com
• www.sonunigam.in (His upcoming official site)
• Sonu Nigam's upcoming Salaam Doha tour
• Upcoming Simply Sonu concert in Germany
• Life Ki Dhun with Sonu Nigam on Radiocity 91 FM

Persondata
NAME	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