Though he has delivered a number of hits in the last year,
the first thing that strikes you about him is that he is really
down-to-earth. The pretentious I-am-great artiste attitude is missing.
Sitting in his own room in the company of a 1,000 CDs, a Sitar, and a Harmonium, the young turk gives you a pillow to rest, while he chats away.
EVERYBODY HAS A STORY TO TELL.Sonu Nigam was born in Faridabad and brought up in Delhi, where he studied till the 12th. He then moved to Bombay where he studied in college, via correspondence, because his struggle for work had already begun by then. Though he would go to Delhi regularly, for his career he had to come to Bombay all the time, leading to his studies taking a back seat. When he was 18, he had his first hit song with 'Aacha Seela Diya Tunay Mere Pyar'. That's when things really took off for him.
Do you have any music in your family?
Yes, my mum and dad both are singers, very good singers. My dad in fact is the best singer I have come across. In many of my shows where we both have performed, people have come to me and said, "You were good but your dad was better."
If he was so good, why didn't he really hit it big?
My dad is a different kind of person. Sometimes only talent does not help. He is quite a lazy person. To make it here in Bombay you need to have the drive and fire in you. He did not have the fire in you. He did not have the fire within him. He would never bow down in front of anybody to get work. He was quite happy
doing shows in his own small way. But he was always a full-time singer. Agam Kumar Nigam, my dad, has to his credit many shows. He must have done a 1,000 shows till date.
When did you really start ?
I have been performing on stage since March 1977. It's been 22 years now since I have been singing. I was three years old when I started singing.
Three years, Isn't that kind of unbelievable?
I know it is, but then a fact is a fact. In my dad's group there was a small guy who used to sing. His name was Danny. When I used to see him sing I felt like singing myself. I was a crazy kid. Once I just rushed on to the stage when the show was on and
began singing. The place was Jai Hind college and the song was 'Kya Hua Tera Vaada'.
If your dad was not driven by the fire to make It, tell us how did the son have It in him to push hard against all odds?
Because I always saw my father deprived of the credit he deserved. It's not his fault. He has a lot of self-pride,
but I was always the edgy kind who wanted more. In his own Way dad helped me go up the ladder, because in me he saw his unaccomplished dream come true. " I would have emerged a Pop singer with the right muscles, the right lip sync, and the right
western accent."
What was the struggling period like?
In Bombay I started by acting in movies. I acted in 'Kaamchor', 'Ustad Hi Ustad Se', 'Hum Se Hai Zamana Taqdeer', 'Betaab' and a few more. In'84 when I came here, I had no clue what I was going to do. Dad had come to become a playback singer and I tried my hand at acting. But dad 1 realised that things would not work for him. So we returned to Delhi, only to comeback to Bombay in 1991. We met a few music
directors and I must admit that almost all were very nice to us. Usha Khanna and Sachin really went out of their way to help. Anu Malik recognised my talent but he himself did not have work then. Years later, things suddenly changed for him. I had changed his name from Annu to Anu. The moment I worked out the
numerology for him, he hammered away the extra 'n' from his name.
Who showed you the way in Bombay?
It was dad. To survive, we used to sing for birthdays and marriages. We used to go to Delhi to do shows and then come to Bombay and struggle. My dad had specified that I should never do shows in Bombay. It was the right strategy. It's strange he could not use it for himself, but he did have a vision for me. Mine is indeed a rags to riches story. I used to sit and cry in my one-room-flat and pray to God. But slowly after a year and a half things changed.
How did the first song come to you?
Usha Khanna introduced me to Amar Utpal, who made me sing for'Aaja Med Jaan'. When I recorded the song I was told "We will keep the song if we find it good enough". But the song got dubbed by Bala Subramanium and I was left cursing my luck. I cried when I realised that two of my very well sung songs in
'Aaja Merl Jaan', were resung by another singer, without even hearing my songs. I had sung five songs for the film. The first four were rejected but the fifth song was the one that Gulshan Kumar heard and summoned me. The rest is history.
So you owe your base to T-series?
Of course I do. The moment Gulshan started supporting me things completely changed.
Were you ever bound by a contract with them?
No, I was not. You know Ramesh Taurani of TIPs really appericiated my work when 'Aacha Sila Diya Tunay Mere Pyar Ka' was released. He asked me to sing for his company, but I refused because I had given a verbal commitment to Gulshan Kumar that I would not sing any versions for an outside company. My verbal promise meant more to me than any written contract ever could.
When did it snap with T-series?
It gradually faded as they did not want more of me. T-series thought that I had reached saturation point. Actually they underestimated me. It started with the album'Sapnon Ki Baat', which I wanted to name'Agar Mera Bus Chale'... lekin mera bus nahin chalaa. That's when I realised that after working for four years for a company, I still didn't have the right to give the name I liked for my own album. That's when I felt that I had to
spread my wings and move ahead and let them know my importance. You know, they were doing everybody else's videos on 35 mm, but I was given a video camera to do the same. I'd warned them that others were ready to give me the world, and they should not
underestimate me, but it had no effect on them. I had never asked for more than what I deserved. They had not gifted me a Tata Sierra or a Maruti. And they had no business to take me for granted.
How has the music scenario changed since the time you took It up?
You see when my first song was a hit, I did not become as big as the song. I mean like a singer today would become. The music scene has completely changed now. It's all about hype. I would never have got into playback singing if the Pop scene had been as
strong then as it is today. I would have emerged a Pop singer with the right muscles, the right lip sync, and the right Western accent. At that time there were no options, so I just had to follow Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi.
You mean If given a chance, you would today begin as a Pop singer and not a playback singer?
Of course. Because Pop singers have an advantage over playback singers today. To begin with, Pop singers don't need to sing. They don't need to do any riyaz or rehearse because there are machines to pitch their voice correctly. Secondly, even if one of their songs becomes a hit they can ask for two lakhs per
show. Whereas when I got five thousand rupees after 'Acha Sela Diya', I was grateful. Today if you offer one of these singers Rs. 50,000 for a song, they would hit the ceiling. Till today I have not been able to ask for such astronomical amounts, because my beginning as a playback singer was a very humble one.
One wonders whether you are a playback singer, a Pop singer, or a
television host?
Thank God, 'Sa Re Ga Ma' is No. 1 today. So as far as that role goes, I'm very secure. And in the last year, 20 to 25 film songs have become super duper hits. 'Dil Se', 'Pardes', 'Aur Pyar Ho Gaya', 'Border', 'Major Saab', 'Jeans' all have hit the jackpot. 'Sapno Ki Baat' was my first Pop album. It was an album that got no promotion from the company, obviously the album
didn't do well. It was a massive flop.Then I did 'Kismet' and 'Sanskar', which was a classical Bhajan album. 'Sanskar'was more an experimental attempt. I am very thrilled about this album. Now Shashi Gopal wants me to do something really big for him. But the problem is I am very busy because I have taken on a
new job.
Now what?
I introduced a singer Babul Supriyo (the singer who sang 'Aati Hai To Chal Tu Mere Saath Mein') sometime back. He asked me to do his album. I agreed. Now I am quite busy composing for him. I
have already finished six songs, we have two more songs to go. It's very, very exciting. Babul and I both are thrilled at the way things are shaping up.
Are you going to get into composing music for everyone?
No, no way. I am too busy. It was just for the heck of it.
Aren't you putting your fingers in every pie that comes your way?
Yes, you are right. I should not take on so much work. But the problem with me is that I am very restless by nature. If I get a tune in my mind I have to implement it right away. I can't just sit there. I need a release for my creativity. But I have decided to mend my ways and I will soon concentrate on Pop as well.
What will your next Pop album be like?
My next album would be something that nobody else would be able to sing. I will try my best to make it different. Your 'Deewana' album video Is mediocre. Don't tell me anything about the last one. I have got nothing to do with this album. Magnasound has
got nothing to do with this album. It's a TSeries album. I did this album one and a half years ago. The album has some amazing
songs, but the problem is that T Series have released it now
when I signed up with another company. That's a wrong thing to
do.
You may have a fabulous voice and you may have the songs, but you
don't seem to gather the awards...
You said it man. I am very unpopular with awards people. I don't win awards because of my lack of PR. Secondly I feel many people just underestimate me. Lots of people today are getting the best discovery award, but I didn't get an award for'Aacha Sila Diya
Tune Mera Pyar Ka', even though I was only 19 years old then. I detest all award committees, who give these awards without even knowing the Sa of their profession. If somebody gives me the award for the best playback singer, I would first like to know what the man knows about music. If today I start arguing with you about writing, I am sure you will get up and tell me to shut my trap. Why should a choreographer, a film producer, a Godrej
buisnessman, be given the right to judge whether I should be given the best playback singer award? All the award functions held here in India are unreasonable and corny.
"I detest all award committees, who give these awards without even knowing the Sa of their profession."
But somebody has to play judge right?
I know, but listen to this. Udit Narayan got the Filmfare
award in 1997 for `Pardesi Pardesi'. Udit himself says that he sang 'Aaya Ho Zindagi Mein Turn Bahar Ban Ke' much better. Secondly, if you call this award a popular one, then all the three singers should be given the award. How can only Udit Narayan get the award? What is the fault of Sapna Awasthi and Alka Yagnik?
Then why did you take the shining statue for 'Border' when you got the Zee Cine Award?
I got the Zee Cine awards for'Sandesay Aate Hain', but I didn't go for the function because Roop Kumar Rathod was not nominated for it. The latest gem from this sham called award functions was the nomination of Kamaal Khan ('Oh Oh Jaane Jaana'), and the leaving out of 'Tu Hi Tu Hi Satrangi Re' from 'Dil Se'. Thank
God 'Chaiya Chaiya' was given the award. If Aamir Khan had got the award I would have killed everyone in the jury.
