Sonu Nigam (born 30 July 1973) is an Indian playback singer, music director, dubbing artist and actor. He has been described in the media as one of the best, most popular and successful playback singers in Hindi and Kannada cinema. In 2022, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour for his contribution in the field of arts.
Nigam sings predominantly in Hindi and Kannada language films but has also sung in Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Odia, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Malayalam, Nepali, Tulu, Chhattisgarhi, Meiteilon and other Indian languages. Nigam has released a number of non-film albums and acted in some Hindi films. He is known as the “Modern Rafi”, a title given to him after his musical idol Mohammad Rafi.
Early and personal life
Nigam and his wife Madhurima at Rakesh Roshan’s birthday in 2017
Sonu Kumar Nigam was born on 30 July 1973 to Agam Kumar Nigam and Shobha Nigam in the city of Faridabad, Haryana. His father was from Agra and his mother was from Garhwal. His sister Teesha Nigam is also a professional singer. He also has another sister Meenal Nigam, who is a Yoga trainer.
Nigam began singing at the age of four, when he joined his father Agam Kumar Nigam on stage to sing Mohammed Rafi’s song “Kya Hua Tera Wada”. Nigam began accompanying his father on his singing appearances at weddings and parties. He moved to Mumbai with his father to begin his Bollywood singing career at the age of 19.He was trained by Hindustani classical singer Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan.
Nigam identifies as Hindu. He married Madhurima Mishra on 15 February 2002. They have a son.
Nigam had changed his name to Sonu Niigaam citing numerology beliefs, but later decided to go back to his birth name.
Awards and Honours
1997 – Sansui Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Male Singer for the song Sandese Aate Hai, from Border
1998 – Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer – Male, for the song Sandese Aate Hai, from Border
1998 – 20th Aashirwad Awards for Sandese Aate Hai Border Best Duet Singers
1998 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Sandese Aate Hai from Border
1998 – Screen Award for Best Male Pop Artist for Kismat
1999 – Screen award for Best pop album for “Deewana”
2000 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Ishq Bina” from Taal
2001 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Panchi Nadiya Pawan Ke from Refugee
2001 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Tu Fiza Hai” from FizaFiza
2002 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Suraj Hua Maddham” from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…
2002 – Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer – Male, for the song “Suraj Hua Maddham”, from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…
2002 – International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) Best Male Playback Award, for the song “Suraj Hua Maddham”, from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…
2002 – Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song “Tanhayee”, from Dil Chahta Hai
2002 – Bollywood Music Award for Best Pop Singer for the album Yaad
2003 – International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) Best Male Playback Award, for the song “Saathiya”, from Saathiya
2002 – Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer – Male, for the song “Suraj Hua Maddham”, from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
2003 – Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer, for the song “Saathiya”, from the film Saathiya
2003 – MTV Immies for Best Singer – Male: Saathiya title track
2003 – Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer – Male, for the song “Saathiya” from Saathiya
2004 – Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer, for the song “Kal Ho Naa Ho”, from Kal Ho Naa Ho
2004 – Producers Guild Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Kal Ho Na Ho” from Kal Ho Naa Ho
2004 – National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer: Kal Ho Naa Ho for “Kal Ho Naa Ho”
2004 – International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) Best Male Playback Award, for the song “Kal Ho Naa Ho”, from Kal Ho Naa Ho
2004 – Bollywood Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Kal Ho Na Ho” from Kal Ho Naa Ho
2004 – Producers Guild Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Kal Ho Na Ho” from Kal Ho Naa Ho
2003 – Most Stylish People in Music, MTV Style Awards
2004 – MTV Immies Award for Best Singer Male (Film) (Main Hoon Na)
2004 – Anandalok Best Male Playback Award for his songs in Bengali movie Bandhan
2004 – Apsara Awards Best Male Playback Singer (Kal Ho Naa Ho – Kal Ho Naa Ho)
2005 – Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song “Main Hoon Na”, from Main Hoon Na
2005 – Swaralaya Kairali Yesudas Award for his outstanding performance in Music.
2005 – MTV Immies Award for Best Pop Album Chanda Ki Doli
2005 – Indian Television Academy Awards Best Singer for Miilee
2005 – Lion Gold’s Award for the song Main Hoon Na from the film Main Hoon Na
2005 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Tumse Milke Dil ka” from the film Main Hoon Na
2005 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Main Hoon Na” from the film Main Hoon Na
2005 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Do Pal” from Veer-Zaara
2005 – Teachers’ Achievement Award
2005 – Most Stylish People in Music, MTV Style Awards
2006 – Star Screen Award Best Male Playback, for the song “Dheere Jalna” from the film Paheli
2006 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the songs “Dheere Jalna” from Paheli and “Piyu Bole” from Parineeta
2006 – Annual Central European Bollywood Awards, Best Male Singer for Sau Dard Hai, from the film Jaaneman
2007 – Bollywood Music and Fashion Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
2007 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
2007 – Nominated: International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) Best Male Playback SInger for the song “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
2007 – Nominated: Filmfare Awards South, Kannada for the song Anisuthide from Mungaru Male
2007 – Indian Television Academy Awards Best Singer for Dill Mill Gayye
2008 – Annual Central European Bollywood Awards, Best Male Playback Singer for “Main Agar Kahoon”, Om Shanti Om
2008 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Main Agar Kahoon”, from Om Shanti Om
2008 – Filmfare Awards South, Kannada, Best Male Playback Singer for Ninnindale from Milana.
2008 – Indian Television Academy Awards Best Singer for Amber Dhara
2009 – Annual Central European Bollywood Awards, Best Male Singer for “Inn Lamhon ke Daaman Mein”, from the film Jodhaa Akbar
2009 – Filmfare Awards South, Kannada, Nominated for Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Mayavagide Manasu” from Haage Summane
2010 – Filmfare Awards South, Kannada, Nominated for Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Hrudayave” from Krishnan Love Story
2010 – BIG Star Entertainment Awards Best Playback Singer of the Decade (2000–2010) (MALE)
2010 – Annual Central European Bollywood Awards Best Male Singer for “Shukran Allah”, from the film Kurbaan
2010 – Nominated:Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer along with Salim Merchant of the composer duo Salim-Sulaiman for the song “Shukran Allah” from the film Kurbaan
2010 – Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) for Best Live Performer (Male)
2010 – Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) for Most Popular Radio Song of the Year for “All Izz Well” from 3 Idiots
2012 – Filmfare Awards South, Kannada, Nominated for Best Male Playback Singer for the songs “Paravasha Naadenu” from Paramathma and “Neerinalli Sanna Ale” from Hudugaru
2012–2013 – Filmfare Awards South – Nominated – Best Playback Singer Male for the song “Chendutiya Pakkadali” from the movie Drama.
2013 – Mirchi Music Award for Male Vocalist of The Year for the song Abhi Mujhme Kahin from the film Agneepath
2013 – Mirchi Music Award for Song of The Year for the song Abhi Mujhme Kahin from the film Agneepath
2013 – BIG Star Entertainment Awards for Best Playback Singer Male (Abhi Mujh Mai Kahin), Agneepath
2012 – Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) for “This is It” with Jermaine Jackson
2013 – Zee Cinema Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Abhi Mujhme Kahin from the film Agneepath.
2013 – 14th IIFA Awards Best Male Playback Singer for “Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin” – Agneepath
2013 – MTV Video Music Awards India for Best Playback Singer Male | Abhi Mujh Mai Kahin
2013 – Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin from the film Agneepath
2013 – Times of India Film Awards Best Playback Singer Male | Abhi Mujh Mai Kahin Agneepath
2014 – Filmfare Awards South – Nominated – Best Playback Singer Male for the song “Baanalli Baadalago” from Simple Agi Ondh Love Story
2014 – Mirchi Music Awards South – Best Male Vocalist Kannada[96]
2015 – Bharat Ratna Ambedkar Award
2015 – Filmfare Awards South – Nominated – Best Playback Singer Male for the song “Ringagide Nan Yede” from Fair & Lovely
2016 – Jagran Film Festival Award for Best Playback Singer Male Award for ‘Dard’ from Sarbjit
2016 – Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) Best Pop Song: “Saiyaan Bina” by Sonu Nigam and Bickram Ghosh
2016 – Nominated: Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) GIMA Award for Best Duet with Shreya Ghoshal
2016 – Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) for Best Devotional Album ‘Krishna Sudha Ras ‑ ISKCON 50th Anniversary’
2017 – 9th Mirchi Music Awards Indie Pop Song of the Year “Aye Jahaan Aasmaan” sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal
2017 – Haryana Gaurav Samman by Haryana Government, Government of India[98]
2018 – Doctorate from Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of music.
2018 – Filmfare Awards South – Nominated – Best Playback Singer Male for the song “Roopasi Summane” from Mugulu Nage
2018 – Lokmat Most Stylish Awards 2018
2018 – Iconic Achievers Awards 2018
2019 – 21st Century Icon Award for Magnificent Performing Arts Award
2020 – Bharat Ratna Dr.B R Ambedkar Award by Government of Maharashtra
2021 – Mirchi Music Award for Male Vocalist of the Decade for the song Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin (Agneepath)
2021 – 2021 Lokmat Sur-Jyotsna Award for his contribution to Indian music
2021 – Champions of Change (award) 2020
2022 – Padma Shri
2022 – Mirchi Music Awards for “Raag-Inspired Song of the Year” for the song “Bheeni Bheeni Si” from Mera Fauji Calling
2022 – Indian Television Academy Awards 2022 for The Performer of the Millenium
2023 – Filmfare Awards – Nominated – Best Playback Singer Male for the song “Main Ki Karaan?” From Laal Singh Chaddha
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