A musical journey

Ask Nikhil Alva why his company Miditech ventured for the first time to produce a special three-part series on singer Sonu Nigam and he says, "He is so popular and it's amazing the way his fan-following is soaring."

Turn the arc lights on "the sensational Sonu" as he was referred to in the Miditech series, and one discovers a man who is visibly relaxed. After a long time.

Says Nigam, "It's like a rebirth to be accepted again, to win back respect and to spring back into action after committing big mistakes."

Back from a hectic tour from the Caribbean Islands and nursing a sore throat, the popular singer talks about "failures even after tasting success" and resurrecting his "lost status". Wasn't all well on the Nigam front?

After all, he's a National Award winner "" he had earlier refused the award on ethical grounds when the government didn't nominate singer Roop Kumar Rathod for the same song, 'Sandese aate hain' from the film Border.

He's also grabbing all the lead songs and awards, becoming choosy "" he recently refused to sing a song with suggestive lyrics for a Salman Khan starrer "" and working with the best music directors.

He has a hectic schedule and is getting ready to perform in Denmark, America, London and even Afghanistan where, he's been told, he has a "sizeable fan following".

He was nominated as MTV Youth Icon this year on the basis of his immense popularity. Film producer and director Karan Johar recently SMSed him and has sent feelers that he wants Nigam to sing songs for his forthcoming mega-venture Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.

Nigam's also back with his non-film album, Chanda Kee Doli (T-Series) after a gap of almost four years and the music is steadily climbing the music charts.

That's a victory considering the music has been composed by Nigam and videos currently on air have also been conceptualised by him. What's more, film producers, directors and music directors are willing to wait for any length of time for this busy singer.

Johar, for instance, waited for one month for Nigam "" who was then in Nepal shooting for a film "" to record the title track of Kal Ho Na Ho. Nigam, who never encashed the cheque for Kal Ho Na Ho songs as a goodwill gesture, smiles, "Yeah! I'm a singer who's enjoying the stardom of an actor."

So what went wrong? "My career as an actor," he says, clearing his throat, "never really took off. And it seems people were simply waiting to pull me down and rebuke me."

Nigam made his debut with a film called Jaani Dushman, a launch-pad for Munish Kohli, director Raj Kumar Kohli's son. The film flopped miserably and Nigam "" who played Sunny Deol's younger brother "" was severely criticised for his attempts at acting.

His next film Kaash Aap Hamare Hote launched Juhi Babbar, actor Raj Babbar's daughter, and once again a shoddy script and a no-role let Nigam down.

While some critics believed that Love In Nepal "" where he played Adi, a flirtatious advertising professional "" did highlight his acting skills to quite an extent, it was the film's poor publicity that gave the singer a third flop in a row. He hardly created a dent in the film industry as an actor.

"On the contrary," says Nigam, "my popularity was severely affected." In his view, it was Sony television's Indian Idol that raised his popularity stakes.

Struggle, it seems, has been a companion in Nigam's life. With no godfather in the industry and no trend of reality hunt shows, this former Delhi lad fought a lonely battle. For instance, in the initial years Nigam had recorded a couple of songs in a studio.

To his horror, he later discovered that his songs were finally dubbed by S P Balasubramaniam, a well-known singer from south India. "For the first time in my life," says Nigam, "I cried like a baby."

He also admits to losing out on working with R D Burman. "I had hoped to get at least one song. By the time we struggled with the snarling traffic to reach the studio where Pancham Da was recording for 1942 "" A Love Story, it was too late."

Music director Usha Khanna gave Nigam a chance to sing a title track for a television serial called Talaash in 1992. Though it was hardly a big break, Nigam decided not to lose any opportunity. "While waiting for buses, I wondered if the city of Mumbai would ever accept me," he reflects.

Nigam finally got his big break with the ardent efforts of T-Series owner, the late Gulshan Kumar who decided to give him a chance to sing 'Achcha silaa diya' for the film Bewafa Sanam. That was the turning point for our singer and though his struggle continued, at least Nigam was finally reaping benefits for his efforts.

Anchoring Zee television's singing talent show, Sa, Re, Ga, Ma "" now called Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa "" gave him tremendous popularity. With his chocolate-boy looks and tremendous knowledge in music, Nigam became an overnight sensation.

The programme, however, "didn't let me concentrate on my music career", feels Nigam. Which is why he parted from them amicably and went ahead to concentrate on singing. Songs like 'Sandese aate hain' from Border and 'Yeh dil' from Pardes were chart-busters and helped Nigam to comfortably position himself in the top-slot.

Gradually, he was singing duets with seniors like Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Paudwal and even Lata Mangeshkar while bagging offers from almost all the big music directors in the Indian film industry.

While professionally his life seemed on a roll, personally he was going through a trying phase. His marriage was on the rocks and in a dignified manner, he managed to clear the air on the Miditech series and admitted to a crisis.

Why did he go public, especially as artists are hush-hush about their personal affairs? "People were speculating and making up their own versions. I wanted to make everything crystal-clear and wanted to end matters pertaining to my personal life," he says.

With all the moolah, star status, rave reviews and the bad taste of starring in hopeless films behind him, is Nigam today a content man? "Yes," comes a firm reply.

"I've been at peace with myself for the past six-seven years now. All the humiliation has given me tremendous patience and immense strength. I always told myself my work will eventually speak for me."

He's right. His work is indeed humming a melodious track.