Sonu Niigaam

Background information
Born July 30, 1973 (age 33)
Origin Faridabad, Haryana, India Sonu Nigam (Hindi: सोनु निगम), born July 30, 1973 in Faridabad, Haryana, India.
Sonu Niigaam is a playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Bollywood movies. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums. He changed the spelling of his last name from Nigam to Niigaam to reflect an auspicious number in astrology Early life Born in Faridabad, Sonu moved to Delhi with his family. He attended J.D.Tytler School. His father Agam Kumar is also a singer, Sonu also has two younger sisters, of which One, Neekita Nigam is a singer. At the age of four and half Sonu started singing Rafi's numbers at concerts where Sonu's father performed. Discovered and promoted by Gulshan Kumar of T-Series, who gave him his first break. Soon due to his recordings Sonu moved from Delhi to Mumbai to pursue his career, at the age of 19. Career Sonu started his career singing covers of Mohammad Rafi songs. His first movie as a playback singer was (Janum) which was a major flop in (1990). This film was not officially released due to some reason but some considered it as a flop. Again he got his big break as a playback singer in Gulshan Kumar's film (Aaja Meri Jaan) and then "Accha Sila Diya Tune" (also sung in Gujarati) from Bewafa Sanam (1996). At this time, he also started hosting Sa Re Ga Ma, a television singing talent competition that became one of the most popular shows on Indian television. Thereafter, the offers poured in, albeit slowly at first. He shot to fame with the song "Sandese Aate Hai" from Border (1997). In the initial stages, he was type-cast as a Rafi-sound-alike. The image was transformed after his brilliant rendition of "Yeh Dil, Deewana" in the film Pardes (1997). Since then, he has created a unique trademark style of his own. Over the years, Sonu Nigam has become a major force in the music industry. He 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 'Pyar'. Besides SaReGaMa, he has also hosted Kisme Kitna Hai Dum and been a judge on Indian Idol. Sonu has also acted in a few films as well, namely Jaani Dushmaan alongside Sunny Deol, Manisha Koirala and Akshay Kumar as well as other actors, Kash Aap Hamare Hote where he plays the lead opposite Juhi Babbar daughter of Raj Babbar who too is in this movie and lastly Love in Nepal with Flora Saini and Sweta Keswani, where he plays the lead again but opposite Flora. However it is to be said that all three films have not done terribly well at the box-office. Recently though, he started hosting his own radio programme called Life Ki Dhun With Sonu Nigam on Radiocity 91 FM, where he has had the opportunity of interviewing industry greats, including the legendary Lata Mangeshkar. This radio show is available on the net. His future projects include a semi-classical album, an English album and an album covering 18 of the greatest Mohammad Rafi songs (recently announced). Sonu has sung playback for countless Hindi movies. As well, he is a popular playback singer for many regional movies, singing effortlessly in many languages from Kannada, Punjabi to Bengali to Telugu, and many more.He is very famous in South Indian movies especially in Kannada. Sonu will be touring North America in aMay/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. And is the love of my life...Kavita Ram..... Beat that!!! Personal life Sonu lives with his wife, his parents and younger sister in Mumbai. Another sister of his is married and resides in Mumbai. Besides singing, he pursues a wide variety of interests: he is an avid reader, enjoys watching movies, is dedicated to his fitness routine, practices yoga regularly, and loves to travel. He is a very spiritual and devout person; his optimistic attitude towards life, and his unshakeable faith, have been the strongholds in his life.

Awards

• 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"
• 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
• 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 sing "Saathiya" from the film "Saathiya".
• 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"
• 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"