While playback singing brings more popularity, solo albums allow plenty of creative satisfaction,'' says Sonu Nigam toT. KRITHIKA REDDY. HE IS painfully press-shy. Yet, readily agrees to meet TheHinduduring a brief stopover in Chennai for a charity show. ``I like the daily's name...because Hindustani feeling is what is lacking in the current milieu. Nine strikes have hit the nation. A film director has been attacked with impunity. Life is becoming perilous by the day. But talk to any youth and the first thing he will ask you is, `Australia score...Kitna hai?'
This apathy is killing,'' muses 26 year-old singer Sonu Nigam.
Politics, socio-cultural maladies apart, it is time for a tete- a-tete with the pop and playback singer with awesome talent. He hopscotched from New Delhi to the dream city - Mumbai, seeking the two vital ingredients called fame and fortune. ``I had to make it. Firstly, because my dad, a good singer had failed and secondly , because I had to support my family.
Those were days of sheer ordeal...cycling the length and breadth of Mumbai for a break. Days turned into months and dejection into determination. It was a do-or-die situation. I worked my way up with the warm reassurance of my family,'' he says gleefully. And what does he count as his strengths? ``Killer instinct. There is plenty of talent. One has to be alert and adapt oneself to various singing styles and offer variety.''
As for training in Classical music, Sonu Nigam, who is currently learning Hindustani music says, ``I am a singer by instinct. Not a hard- core cultivated classicist. It is important to have good rhythm and chord sense and pick-up power.'' A combination of music instinct and classical training ``makes a legend'', he feels.
Between playback singing and cutting his own discs, what gives him greater satisfaction? ``Each has its own charm. While playback singing brings more popularity, solo albums allow plenty of creative satisfaction - from experimenting in singing styles to conception of videos. As a person, I am a thoroughly satisfied being. My wants are limited. But as a singer, my
aspirations are insatiable.'' Pop buffs would agree that while Sonu Nigam's ``Deewana'' was happening on the charts for several months, his other albums, ``Mausam'' and ``Bijuria'' faded without a trace. ``In these days of stiff competition, a
lot has to do with publicity and marketing. `Bijuria' was creatively very satisfying and it offered variety unlike `Deewana' which was replete with romantic strains. But it failed because of poor publicity,'' says the singer, whose next album, ``Jaan'' is scheduled for release shortly. ``I have worked really hard with my vocals for `Jaan'. The album is filled
with slow, mellifluous numbers.''
When related the popular joke that anyone with good looks, an outlandish dress sense and money sans talent can hit boomtime in the pop world, Sonu Nigam retorts, ``Good looks are only to build up an image for the singer...for him or her to gain popularity among the teen crowd. But ultimately talent and variety is all that will give an artiste the much- desired staying power. Further, we will be cheating the public if we deny
them that.'' Being a person who gets so emotional when it comes to national issues, has he ever thought of doing something in the direction? ``Oh yes. I do have substantial ideas. But which music company will back me? It is strange but true.
Only cliched romantic themes and dance tracks or the Westernised
Valentine's Day, Mother's Day specials work. Mother's Day matters in the U.S. where over half the population live away from their families. But not in a closely knit system like ours. It's absurd. I will not be part of such musical productions.'' Having smelt success in singing, would he venture into music direction.
No. At least, not for films. It is boring...irritating. In most cases, music directors are forced to explain music to people with absolutely no music sense. I have seen it all... those pretensions... at some sessions. And what about his experience with music directors? ``I get on well with the directors, thanks to my pick-up power. A. R. Rahman has revolutionised the rhythm industry. His sound sense and recordings are great. It would put even the famed American bands to shame. Yet, one thing about the wizard is irksome - the way he makes us wait.'' Having tasted success at a young age, has he ever felt the pressure to
leave? ``I long to. My virtues are different.
I would love to live life on my own terms. I love reading - science, astronomy, literature and also enjoy writing. In the last seven years, I have hardly had time for these passions. Music is not my destiny. Yet, I am not in a position to quit for
the next ten years.'' Has celebrity status denied him those joys of youth? ``Of course, I cannot go unnoticed on the streets of Mumbai with a pretty woman on my bike. I cannot shop in a mall without frequent fan interruptions. But life has its own way of compensating. Look at the brighter aspects...all this adulation. People pay to listen to me.'' And the usual comparison to Mohammed Rafi, ``It's awful. He is a master of technique. None can match his expertise,'' blushes the singer who has belted out hits such as ``Ishq Bina'' (Taal), ``Yeh Dil'' (Pardes) and ``Shabba Shabba'' (Daud).
Amidst the blizzard of offers, has he ever thought about marriage? Pat comes the reply, ``After two years. When I have at least some time for the family. And I will go in for a love marriage,'' he concludes flashing a 32-intact smile. Later in the evening, on January 22, Sonu Nigam regaled the audience at
the Kamarajar Arangam with scores of popular songs. The proceeds of the show went to the projects undertaken by Shrishti, an all- woman social welfare organisation.
