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Quick Facts
Born
1973
1973
From
India
India
Journey
Sonu Kumar Nigam, better known as Sonu Nigam, is an Indian singer, composer, actor, and television presenter whose career encompasses Hindi film music, Indian pop, devotional recordings, and playback work in several Indian languages. Born in Faridabad, Haryana, he began performing at four after joining his father, Agam Kumar Nigam, on stage. His early repertoire centred on Mohammed Rafi songs, while his subsequent training under established classical musicians strengthened the technical foundation of his singing.
Nigam moved to Mumbai as a teenager to pursue a career in playback singing. He entered professional recording during the early 1990s and made his film debut with “O Aasman Wale” from "Aaja Meri Jaan" in 1992. His early work included film songs, devotional projects, and recordings influenced by Rafi's repertoire. In 1995, he became the original host of Zee TV's "Sa Re Ga Ma," remaining with the programme for more than five years. The television role gave him national recognition before his film career reached its strongest period.
Nigam established himself as a leading playback singer through recordings such as “Sandese Aate Hain” from "Border," “Yeh Dil Deewana” from "Pardes," “Satrangi Re” from "Dil Se..," “Saathiya” from "Saathiya," “Suraj Hua Maddham” from "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham," and “Kal Ho Naa Ho” from "Kal Ho Naa Ho." His independent albums, including "Deewana," "Jaan," "Mausam," "Yaad," and "Kismat," developed a parallel career outside cinema and allowed him to participate more directly in the presentation of his music.
His repertoire extends across Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Tulu, Nepali and other languages. Alongside playback singing, he has worked as a composer, lyricist, actor and dubbing artist, and has remained active in live performance and television. His composition credits include "Sooper Se Ooper," "Singh Saab the Great," "Jal" and "Half Widow."
Nigam received the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Kal Ho Naa Ho” and has won multiple Filmfare and IIFA honours. In 2022, he received the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honours, for his contribution to the arts.
Across more than three decades, Nigam has built a catalogue that connects Hindi cinema, independent Indian pop and classical-based singing. His career reflects sustained work across recording, composition, television and live performance rather than a single musical role.
