Since its inception in the early 90's, Hindi film music has owed much of its popularity to a select number of vocalists striding its stage with gravitas.
After struggling a lot for an entrance in the Indian music industry, Sonu Ji came with full confidence and bang on. The singer has made His own place in the industry today. Referred as the no. 1 singer of India, He has been rewarded with numerous awards including National Award, Filmfare, IIFA and the list continues. A singer par excellence, with so much of varieties, variations, and possibilities; a true musician who gives equal importance to techniques and tonal quality.
One can't explain or define what Sonu Ji has with His singing. Its His passion. He creates a magic all over when He hits a musical note. Even India's doyenne of the genre, the nightingale Lata Mangeshkar Ji says, " Sonu is the best of all". She has a strong belief that whenever Sonu Ji will step in the field of composing He will be the best in that field as well. And no doubts, Sonu Ji has composed for some of His private albums, penned the lyrics and they were the mega hits.
A multi talented showman, who is a master of music, an instituition, a university. If a person wants to learn music, just hear Him sing and you'll get it all. After achieving so many milestones, Sonu Ji is so humble, down to earth personality, a different class of dignity altogether. Wherever He makes an appearance, He just win hearts of all.
Sonu Ji himself says, " I've done a lot of hard work to reach to this stage and it still continues. Before being a good vocalist or a performer, one should be a better human being." And the singer has implemented all this on Himself so well that one can't believe that he/she is standing next to such a great person.
Sonu Ji has worked with some of the best music directors such as A R Rahman, Anu Malik, Daboo Malik, Usha Mangeshkar, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Jatin Lalit, Nadeem Shravan, Raju Singh, Shantanu Moitra, Preetam, Sajid Wajid and many more. Recorded vocals for thousands of movies and with so many other legends. Sonu Ji has a record of recording 45 songs in a day.
So much of dedication and determination towards music is worth watching. A born talent, who has judged many TV reality shows, hosted the longest running musical reality show, acted in movies, a sound engineer, can play almost all the instruments with equal perfection, a live performer, lyricist, a composer and what not.
The only singer today, who can sing a classical number, a ghazal, a film song, fusion, a bhajan, an old song with full confidence and perfection. Simly a living legend, a student of life.
If I went on writing on the legendary voice, pages would be short and the ink of my pen would be finished.
Therefore, I am summing it up and thus this article is a tribute to my idol, my musical father, Sonu Bhaiya. The journey started from the age of 3 is running in full speed till date and will be continued for many more decades.
The journey of this mellifluous and superbly talented voice has just begun and the very best of Sonu Niigaam is still to come.
So just wait and watch.