Sonu Nigam, born July 30, 1973 in Faridabad, Haryana, India, is a playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Bollywood movies. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums.
Sonu Nigam began his singing career at the age of three, when he joined his father, Agam Kumar Nigam (also a well-known singer) on stage to sing Mohammad Rafi's "Kya Hua Tera Wada".
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 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.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.
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.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'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','Kash Aap Hamaare Hote' and lastly 'Love In Nepal' and unfortunately all three didn't do well at box-office.
Awards:
* 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"
