Though its rather mean to say so, Sonu Nigam is the son of a small-time performer Agam Kumar Nigam.He has some musical training but he is not what you might call a virtuoso.I say this to try to try and understand Sonu, the artiste, Sonu the phenomenon.Nigam started small singing devotional songs for T-series.His first song as playback singer was "Ishq Mein Hum Tumhein Kya Batayen/Kis Kadar Chot Khaye Huye Hain..." from the film ’Aaja Meri Jaan’(1994).The song was picturised on Kishan Kumar and the composers were Nikhil-Vinay.The, in 1995, Saregama happened to Nigam.Instantly he was the darling of the drooling masses.A big break came in ’Pardes’(1997) when he was chosen to sing "Dil Deewana" picturised on Shah Rukh Khan.Then came ’Dil Se’(1998).But really Sonu’s first real triumph was ’Refugee’(1999).Thereafter there was no looking back for the Nigam boy.He even acted as hero in two forgettable films, ’Jaani Dushman’ and ’Love in Nepal’.
But I guess we know all this.But why this review?Well, Sonu Nigam has just started his career.He is very talented but there are others too.Lately Sonu has been giving the impression that he is an industry unto himself.He is of the opinion that the awards are all his.If they are not given to him then its a crime.He is not working hard enough on his singing.Lately he has even sounded tired and jaded while singing certain tracks.Is it that he thinks that there is nothing left to achieve.He may be Sonu Nigam today, but he is certainly not Kishore Kumar.And he has not attained his idol Mohammad Rafi’s stature till date.Maybe Mr Nigam is too satuarted with himself to realise this.