You do not seem to be singing for films like before.

The respect I had myself has grown. I took a step back in 2006. I would rather have people say that
they miss me rather
than say they had enough of me. I just can’t die counting the number of songs I sing. That is when I
decided that every output has to have quality. I am now a singer who is not available for everyone. I
do not sing for every offer that comes my way. The work is for quality now.

But it is in these last five years that you have sung the maximum
numbers in Kannada.
It is all luck and God’s grace. There was a time, not very long ago, when there
were excellent melodies emerging from Bollywood. Hindi films had the best songs.
But things have changed and every filmmaker wants a fast, foot-tapping
numbers. Comparatively, Kannada film
has no monotony and it surprises me every time.

You are more popular in Kannada than in other languages.

I have been popular in Hindi music for a decade and a half now. In Kannada, I get appropriate
and good songs that has kept me popular.

Being so much in demand means you get to choose the best songs in each film.
That is not done. And it should not be that way. The filmmaker and the composer select me for the
song which they feel I should sing. I do not interfere. Luckily the songs I get are good.

God seems to be playing a big role in your success.

I stopped being religious 10 years ago. I am a spiritual person. I am always testing my limits. My
father was no star but he worked hard. All we need to do is work hard. The result is not always in our
hands.

You cut an album Neene Bari Neene in Kannada last year. Anything new on that front.
Myself, Mano Murthy and Jayanth Kaikini worked on that for free. We also spent our money on that
album. It was not for a commercial cause but it was a gift to Kannadigas to say thank you. People
should not just depend on films for their music. There is a whole lot of other music. Devotional songs
are big in Kannada. I have set my eyes on it.

You manage to sing for Kannada films without coming to Bangalore.

My schedules are tight. But that does not mean that I sing without due diligence. I ask filmmakers to
make use of my studio in Mumbai. When I was on a US tour last year, I interacted on video
conferencing with composers Harikrishna and Arjun. It was as good as talking face to face. The quality
of the work is never compromised.

When you started singing Kannada songs, many felt that your pronunciation was not right.
If the person who is making me sing is happy with what I am delivering then it is fine with me too.
Unless and until someone corrects me I will not know if I have pronounced the word correctly. Many in
the North address me as Shonu Nigam. I keep telling them it is Sonu Nigam.

Do you listen to your songs in Kannada?

The title track of Mungaru Male is my favourite. But unfortunately I have not heard all the songs I
have sung in Kannada. After the recording is done, I get to hear it only if the filmmakers send me the
CD.
What prompted you to do an album like Buddha Hi Buddha Hai?
I have just one song in it— the title track. Rajesh Dhabre approached me through my friend programmer Jackie
Vanjari, who was working for my World Music project at that time. I liked Dhabre’s passion and taste, and agreed to
be a part of it.

I once read an interview where you said that you seek inner and outer peace in your life. Is this something that is
manifesting in your life nowadays?

Well.... the seeking days are almost over. I had understood it, but couldn’t apply it until last year. It’s only then that I
realised what I am and what this stuff (spirituality) is about. So do I quit everything? Or do I opt for everything? I
decided to opt for everything because only then I’d know there is nothing to quit from, nor opt for! The perceptions of
happiness and non-happiness, these imaginations have been my own choices all this while!
Have you ever had a spiritual experience while performing or connecting with your fans?

I’ve said this before, I’d say this again... I die on stage. I don’t exist when I am on stage. I wouldn’t be able to do half
as good a job if I existed. I believe it’s only when you make room for the cosmos to intervene, excellence happens.
Every show is a spiritual trip. By spiritual I don’t mean religious by the way. I don’t see the conventional Gods, like
Sheravaali maata, Shivji, Allah mian, Jesus to be honest! I just feel a vacuum, a timelessness, a no gravity situation.
No sorrows, no happiness...just pure bliss!
Have there been any turning points in your life that set you on the path to becoming a spiritual seeker?

Well,it’s difficult to put it all in words. Like any typical Indian, my journey began with religion. Hinduism, in my case. In
the year 2003, in my home temple, I felt something strange, something I still can’t explain. But I was crying. Then I
separated from my wife for a while, and then reunited, and then separated again. And then reunited again. During this
patch, extensive yoga initiated me in this quest. Then interactions and discourses with a close and realised friend of
mine added reality to it. But at the end of it, it’s our own journey, willingness and surrender.

Spirituality is a word that I generally don’t use as it’s more misused than used in the world. But this experience has
given me the strength to walk alone if required.

Is there any spiritual philosophy or spiritual values that you follow?

The only thing that I am doing on this path is, to keep a check on myself. I am not ruthless with myself. On the
contrary, I socialise often, party, drink, laugh, entertain, etc. But I watch my Self. I’m witnessing my patterns. For
instance I just witnessed myself having a lot of fun beating people in word play on Twitter. Even though the excuse
was that I was giving it back to the ones who had been unfair or nasty, I could notice myself getting entrapped in
negativity, secretly enjoying hurting the other party. The old Sonu resurfaced. So I quit Twitter.

By indiaabroad
Thursday Jun 24 11:55 PM

Mumbai, June 24 (IANS) Bollywood playback singer Sonu Niigam, who is a huge fan of late pop legend Michael
Jackson, said he is working on a tribute for Jackson with his brother Jermaine Jackson.

'I am working on a song which will be my tribute to Michael Jackson. This will be the first tribute song to the singer
with one of his family members. After the song is recorded, I will work on a music video and release it soon,' Niigam
told reporters here

'I am very happy that Jermaine agreed to work on the song with me,' he added.

Jackson died June 25 last year. On his first death anniversary, 92.7 Big FM will play the songs of the King of pop all
day and Niigam will be on air dedicating his favourite Jackson songs.

'Micheal Jackson was a great artist and as an artist it is my duty to appreciate his commendable work. He changed a
lot of things in the music industry and I don't think any singer around the world is left untouched by the kind of work
he has done,' said Niigam.
The singer, who has been the voice behind chartbuster songs like 'Kabhi alvida na kehna', 'Saathiya', 'Kal ho naa ho',
'Dil chahta hai' and 'Sandese aate hain' among others also revealed that he was in Los Angeles last year when the
news of Jackson's demise broke.

'I was just two miles away from Michael Jackson's house where he died. When we got to know the news. I, my wife
and my son, we went to his house in the evening and lit a candle there. So many people were standing there,' he
revealed.

On the professional front, Niigam informed that he is currently working on an album on world music.

'I'm not singing too many film songs nowadays because I am not getting the kind of songs I want and I am not willing
to do mediocre work. I am working on a world music album currently because I want to focus and encourage non-film
music as well,' he said.

It’s been quite some time now that Mumbai has seen Sonu Nigam performing live on stage, so it
was with a lot of excitement that they looked forward to Monday evening.

The singer enthralled a housefull audience at the occasion of the platinum jubilee year of a bank.
And needless to say, music lovers could not get enough of Sonu’s melodious voice, even after he
mesmerised them for almost two hours. The crowd was seen singing along with him as he sang
some of his most famous numbers like Har Ghadi Badal Rahi, Shukranallah and Bijuria. He even
sang a medley of old songs including Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua and Bol Radha Bol. “Music is
everything and a person who fills his life with music will always be happy, so enjoy!” he said
before starting the show. Giving him company on stage was Gunjan Singh, who too belted out
some hummable songs like Raat Baaki Baat Baaki and Dance Pe Chance Maar Le.

Sonu’s son keeps him busy

Sonu Niigaam is a busy man. And it is not just his career that
keeps him busy.

From a time when Sonu would be a part of every film music

album he has moved on to sing only a few select songs a year.
While he does more shows the singer is also kept busy by his
son Nevaan.

The two and half year old is growing fast and keeps him
amused. “Yes he is two years and nine months now. Time
actually flies!” says the singer talking about his son who was
born in the US in 2007. Sonu spends a lot of time with Nevaan
teaching him and playing with him.

Wonder, if he would too grow up to become a singer. Of course,

Sonu says there is a long time before we can talk of that.

Sonu Niggam doesn’t want to cheat his listeners

The latest release from the star-singer’s

kitty is now out in market after more than a decade. T-Series is releasing yet
another album ‘Yeh Naya Naya’ by Sonu Niggam which the singer had actually
recorded in 1994. He alerted his fans on twitter by posting, “Attention attention!!
My New Album Yeh naya naya by T Series is Not New At All.” In his next tweet he
adds, “It was recorded in 1994, my earliest ever work and if a company is
misleading you, it's my duty as an artiste to clarify this.” And he ensures with his
fans that if they buy it they should not look for modern-day music by tweeting,
“Since a lot of u will buy it thinking this is my latest offering to you. Buy it for sure,
but not because it is new, but because it is Ancient!” Sonu Niggam fans anyway
know that the good music is not new or old but eternal.

more stories...

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Source: Indiainfo

Published: Thursday, August 05, 2010 14:57 [IST]

“Composers conspired to not give me work” - Sonu Niigaam

Sonu Niigaam who was recently in news for having deleted his twitter account after
being panned by his followers for having sported two pig tails in one of his music
shows, is now back in scene with a reality show Chhote Ustad.

He would be seen judging the kids singing reality show that has roped in 10 Indian
kids and 10 from Pakistan. They will together form 10 teams in which each team will
have one Indian child and one Pakistani child. The teams would compete against
each other and not the nationality. The show aims at spreading the message of love
and peace across the countries.

As we all know Sonu has been choosy about the TV shows he has done so far. In a
candid interaction with media he spoke about the appeal of Chhote Ustad. Scroll
down to also find out Sonu’s opinion on religion and cosmic energy.
You are one of the popular reality show judge on television and now you
are set to judge the kids in this show.

According to me judging is wrong concept. Since it’s a format of the show it has to
be done. I don’t think that I am capable of judging someone just because I am
somebody big. Also I don’t think that I am better than the contestants who I am
suppose to judge on the show. There can be someone who is better of me. It’s just
the matter of age.

You have been very choosy about doing shows on TV, so what made you
take up this show?

I liked the concept as I believe it is difficult to change the adults’ mentality. If they
have grown with the view that Muslims are enemies or Hindus are enemies they will
continue to believe so, no matter how much you pursue them. So when the children
from the neighbouring country would come to our nation and receive the warmth
here, definitely they would go back and spread good words there. It has to begin
from somewhere so why not us. For sure, you will see the difference soon.

How do you look at religion?

I feel religion should be domesticated and not internationalized. It means one

should follow the religion at home but should not create noise of it. The minute
religion steps out of house, peace is disturbed and hostility prevails because one
tends to promote his/her religion as superior most.

Isn’t the reality shows are adding pressure on these little ones?

As far as the pressure of competition is concerned, competition exists in schools as

well. The reality shows are good platform for kids to learn and gauge their
standings. Sachin Tendulkar did not decide to become cricketer at the age of 18. He
had been playing since he was a child. So when these kids participate in reality
shows, they actually avail the opportunity to learn.
Today as a leading music personality, what do you suggest to all those
children who aspire to make career in music?

I would suggest to their parents that they should teach their children at least one
instrument so that the child does not rate the songs as good for the number of
times he has heard it but for the quality of it.

You have worked with Gajendra Singh in past as well.

We have seen the days when we use to shoot three to five episodes in a day. It use
to be so hectic that I had started dreaming of Sa Re Ga Ma when I am asleep. At
that time there was no voting system. In a day we use to have several guests on the
show for the different episodes and then I had to prepare respective songs in their
honour. I remember I have written my own scripts so many times. So I would sum
up saying that the bond has grown stronger by the day.

You have been constantly doing something or the other with your hair.

What if someday I turn bald! You never know about men hair fall. I simply grow
them. Last time I trimmed my hair in October. Also it’s my age, I can’t carry the
same chocolate boy look all my life. Also I like to play with my hair do.

You are the first Indian to delete your twitter account.

I was not there on twitter to let people know that I got up or I had food. I am too
good with words to do something of that sort. It is also dangerous for blunt people
like me. If somebody’s writing wrong things about me obviously I would react to it. I
had started giving back to people in a manner I was not suppose to, so I finally
decided to delete it as I realized it is bread and butter of the people who are doing it
but not mine. I should not retaliate to it. I will be back on twitter just for the music
workshop. For that matter, Facebook is better as there you have a choice, here in
twitter anybody who likes me can follow.
You have also been singing less in films these days.

When I said that I have reduced on work I did not mean that am not working. But
the leading composers like Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Vishal-Shekhar and Pritam made it
a point that if he’s not singing let’s not give him work only, and they all made the
best use of this opportunity. It’s been a long that I sang for them. That’s not right,
instead one should look at it in a way that when the person is exclusive that means
he is not selling cheap.

What do you have to say about many Pakistani singers flourishing in

India?

If one is destined to earn name and fame in India it will happen to him. His destiny
has already been written. It is all upon the one’s cosmic structure. I completely
believe in cosmic structures, it is difficult to comprehend but everything in this
world happens for a reason.

But it’s never other way round. We have never seen any Indian singer
flourishing in their country.

When there are two brothers, one is rich and the other is poor. The richer one would
only be able to help the poor one, similarly when our industry is stronger than theirs
obviously it becomes our responsibility to help them avail the opportunities here.
We have a market for our music and films there and also our industry appeals them.
Give and take is between equals. If we are capable of giving then why not!

Though super singer Sonu Niigaam has been away from public glare for some time, he has never
been too far away from controversies. Whether it is a spat with a journalist or getting embroiled
in a squabble with Vidhu Vinod Chopra some time ago, he has been getting some share of
newsprint off and on.
Donning a new hairstyle, sweet-faced Sonu promises to turn a new leaf now. He is all set to
come up with his new album of world music. Also, he will now be seen on television in the role
of mentor in the music reality show Amul Chhote Ustad -Do Deshon Ki Ek Awaaz, coming soon
on Star Plus.
Speaking at the recent launch of the show in Mumbai, Sonu clears the air about his absence from
the industry. “People misheard me. I said that I am not going to do bad work, I was always open
to good work. People like Shankar Mahadevan, Vishal-Shekhar and Pritam never offered me
work. In the industry cinema has become a very big thing and singers are just a little subordinate.
Now, I am coming up with a new album on world music. The album has seven songs in different
languages. Four songs are in English, two in Hindi and one in Gujarati. The album is going to be
released shortly.”
Sonu is indeed trying to bring the world closer through his music. He believes that music can
help India and Pakistan find a common chord and defends the participation of Pakistani artistes
in Indian shows, including Chhote Ustaad. “Our industry is bigger than the film industry in
Pakistan. The public there follow our films and our music. So, it is our duty to invite them as the
big brother. We have the greater responsibility of encouraging music in our neighbouring
country. Give and take comes when both parties are equally strong,” he says.
By Sonu's side is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, also a part of the reality show. He says, “It is not that we
do not want to invite Indian artistes, but the present political situation in our country is not
conducive for it. Terrorism is there, even shows are not held. People in Pakistan have the utmost
respect for Indian artistes. We like Indian films and Indian artistes more than our own. We only
like to see Indian stars.”
Sonu states, “Chhote Ustaad is going to be a one-of-its kind show, and it is going to play a good
role in improving ties between both countries. What I believe is that you cannot change the
mindset of an adult. The seeds of peace can be sowed in tender minds. The kids from our
neighbouring country, who are participating in the show, are subject to Indian hospitality. They
are going to spread the message of peace when they are back home. We will see the positive
effect of this, maybe after a decade when this generation grows up.”
Sonu goes on to add, “It is a music show and we are going to talk only about music.Both me and
Rahat are going to give a personal touch to the kids. It is not a competition between the children
of the two countries. We have 10 voices from each country; they are kids and we cannot divide
them.”