Born on 30th July 1973 in Faridabad, pupil of Ghulam Mustafa Khan, started as Rafi clone, son of singer Agam Kumar Nigam is the most talented singer in the current industry
1>Saathiya-Title track
If I were to make a list of the most complex songs sung by Hindi singers this would even top that list.
Sonu Nigam must have smelt the success of this title track. With ar Rahman and Gulzar backing him he gave his best and was rewarded with a much deserved Filmfare award.
2>Tanhai-Dil Chaahta Hai
If anyone can cry to make you cry after Rafi Sahab its him. With such a touchy lyrics he pulled the word Tanhai-i-i-i-i in such a way that if you come accross this common word(specially on ghazal lyrics) you would remember his voice.
Since then till Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna(as of the time im writing this) Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy uses his shoulder to shoot.
3>Kal ho na ho-Title track
It was difficult to recreate Anand in a modern way but the team did it. Shahrukh khan was to be shown helpless but happy and a song was required to explain the whole movie, Sonu jumped in again with Shankar-Ehsan-Loy to bag one more Filmfare record.
A very popular number for stage performers as to sing this song more of depth is required and less of pitch variations.
4>Sandese aate hai-Border
This is the song which made all the music directors believe in Sonu Nigam. From this song to the Indian Idol shows and surely in the future Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam were always together. This song had huge variations due to which a highly skillful singer Roopkumar Rathod gave him hard competition and Sonu had to share his first Filmfare award.
5>Achha sila diya
Under the T-Series banner Nikhil-Vinay recreated the local version of Attaullah Khan number in such a way that people forgot the original voice and preffered Sonu’s voice instead. The picturisation was made unique by making the disheartened lover kill his love.
6>Ishq Bina-Taal
From the movie Taal. I still it was AAL or anyname with letter ’A’ coz when I read the poster I was shocked to read the names as Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Aishwarya Rai, Anand Bakshi, ar Rahman. This song is indeed a melodious one.
I like the way Sonu pulled ’yeh prem nagar anjan dagar .choti si umar yeh lamba safar.’
7>Satrangi re-Dilse
Terrific, no other word can define this song that closely. And with Shahrukh crawling on the sands with Manisha encircling her and the camera moving on the circumference in the other direction. Gulzar sahab had picked few of the Ghalib lines jo lagayein na lage jo bujhae na bujhe. Sonu excels when he sings Mujhe maut ki godi mein soney dey.This line is re-used in the climax.
8>Fiza-Title track
So by now you must have noticed sonu nigam is an ideal selection for title track. Shaan who is also a sonu nigam fan had once tried this song .just the start.Fiza-a-a-a-a-a in public and he failed so badly that he just gave the microphone and walked away. No one else can sing it that perfectly except Sonu and Sukhwinder.
9>Yeh dil diwana-Pardes
Shahrukh has to be given a new voice. Sonu Nigam did justice to this Nadeem Shravan song and this was the time when Sonu had removed the mask of Mohd Rafi and came up with his unique style. Mohd Rafi’s voice+Western Classical+Indian Classical which is a pleasure to the ears and will surely last for years.
10>Tumse milke dilka-Main Hoon Naa
This is the output of the three Indian idol judges working together. This modern qawaali has been composed for Shahrukh and Zayed both lip-syncing with a single voice. Both the following antaras were made in a different tune.did u notice?
a)DIl mera paagal hai jaana.(For Zayed)
b)Tumko Pooja hai tumhaari ibaadat ki hai.(For Shahrukh)
11>Taal pe jab ye-Refugee
When this song was released there were controversies. Kumar Sanu had filed a complaint against the makers as they had made sonu resung all the tracks of refugee. I dont know what Sanu would have done to it but sonu nigam helped Anu Malik to bag a national award and Abhishek Bachchan was liked inspite of Refugee’s bad box office results.
12>Kismat se tum-Pukar
Lata once said its easiest to work with Allah Rakha Rahman i.e ar Rahman as he tells u to sings the same track couple of times and go. Even if its a duet you need to come alone sing and just leave everything for Rahman to mix.
Anil Kapoor won National award for this Rajkumar santosh movie. The verse is a very difficult one to sing hence Anuradha Paudwal was used along with Sonu for this beautifully picturised track
13>Sun zara soniye-Lucky
Whole and sole sonu nigam track. Adnan Sami gave the music plus he sang the whole number again too but sonu’s voice was the one which was picturised. A very melodious track just grows on you everytime you listen it.
14>Suraj hua madham-K3G
Sandesh Sandhilya composed this track in a Jatin Lalit dominated movie which is one of the most romantic duets of Shahrukh-Kajol pair. Ends slowly & nicely with .kya yeh mera pehla .pehla pyar .hai
15>Meri duniya hai-Vaastav
Though Vinod Rathod normally sings for Sanjay dutt be it Khalnayak or Munna Bhai MBBS, Sonu’s voice was unconventional choice by Jatin Lalit.
16>Rabba mere rabba-Mujhe kuch kehna hai
This is an energetic track with sonu trying to sing like south indian singers.for Anu Malik
Is Pyaar ko main .kya naam doon.
17>Mera rang de basanti-Bhagat Singh
Amongst the overdose of Bhagat Singh movies ar Rahman, Rajkumar Santoshi combination holds the flag high. Its always difficult to sing a patriotic song in which Mahander kapoor was a master. But Sonu proved that be it patriotic or romantic or sad or funny track like aslam bhai he is a versatile singer.
18>Piyu bole-Parineeta
Though Sonu Nigam normally songs better than his female co-singers Shreya didnt allow him to grab the lion’s share here.
The ques-answer shows the equal talent of both of them
Dil me jo baatein hai baatein jo dil mein hai.dil hi me rakhna piya
19>Khaamoshiyaan-One2ka4
Though the movie was a disaster but this song is still remembered because there was this rare combination to sing.
Sonu and Lata which reminds us of Rafi-Lata. Music ar Rahman the new tansen instead of Naushal who is called Tansen of Hindi cinema.
20>Yaar mangiyaasi-Kaante
Some one please go and find Anand Raaj Anand, how can he hide after making such an awesome track with Sonu Nigam.
Sonu was re-used by him in Mujhe Pyar hone laga from Jaanasheen.
Yaar Mangiyasi is my favourite amongst my own list of 20. If you are feeling low listen to it. you will start crying .dont do that please even if you understand a little bit of Punjabi.