It was the time of Gulshan Kumar(late 80’s and early 90’s), when a young singer standing on an artificial stage with lots of colorful light around him, used to sing Mohammad Rafi’s songs for T-series audio cassettes. He got his first break(hit song) in Hindi film Industry in 1995 with Achcha sila diya tune mere pyaar ka - “Bewafa Sanam” and he never looked back after that and he is now the most demanding singer of India. Although it’s difficult to choose just 20 of his songs, here I am putting my favorites.
1. Mujhe raat din(Sangharsh) – 1999 – Jatin-Lalit
A melodious romantic song with Sonu singing to it with too much perfection, Jatin-Lalit(Romantic kings of 90’s) giving one of their one of the best performances, this song is very close to me.
2. Aisa lagta hai(Refugee) – 2000 – Anu Malik
If you are going for a sleep, listen to this song in low volume and you will feel relaxed; the mellisonant voices of Sonu and Alka Yagnik have added magic to the fine composition from Anu Malik.
3. Tu hi tu satrangi re(Dil se) – 1998 – A. R. Rehman
If you ask me “which is most difficult song sung by Sonu Nigam”, I will name this without thinking for a second. He sung this song with such an ease that
4. Aahista aahista milte hai dil sanam(Yeh Zindagi ka safar) – 2001 – Daboo Malik
Many people would not have heard this song, but this is really one of the best songs that Sonu has ever sung. Most rhythmic part of the song comes when Sonu sings:
“Raaste yeh naye, Inme hum kho gaye….
Manzilon ka pata, Milke dhoondhenge hum ….”
5. Meri jindagi mein aaye ho(Armaan) – 2003 – Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy
Armaan, a flop movie of 2003 with a very good duet in dulcet voices of Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan. A slow romantic song which will give peace to your mind.
6. Hamein jab se mohabbat ho gayee hai(Border) – 1997 – Anu Malik
Sandese aate hai. *was the song which became more famous from this movie(Sonu was also a part of that), but this is one song which will make you fall in love(not necessarily with a gal or a boy, might be anything).
7. Kasto maja hai(Parineeta) – 2005 - Shantanu Moitra
This is the song which can make Sonu Nigam proud with one more national award this year. Sonu Nigam used to be the anchor of famous TV show “SA-RE-GA-MA” when Shreya Ghoshal came out as a product of this show and now they make arguably the best singing pair in Hindi Film industry.
8. Saathiya(Title song) – 2002 – A. R. Rehman
Sonu’s magical voice and Rehman’s magical music, what can we ask for in a good song.
9. Fiza(Title song) – 2000 – Anu Malik
The second most difficult song that Sonu has sung(after “Satrangi “). This song has so many ups and downs that singing this song itself is difficult and Sonu has sung it very well.
10. Pehli pehli baar(Sangharsh) – 1999 – Jatin-Lalit
This song is sung in the mellifluous voices of Sonu Nigam and Shraddha Pandit and is one of my all time favorite song. This song has a soothing effect which makes you feel comfortable and whenever I listen to this song I tend to forget all my tensions for some time.
11. Sandese aate hai(Border) – 1997 – Anu Malik
There are no words to desribe this song; I can eloquently say this as the “Best composition by Anu Malik”.
12. Rabba mere rabba(Mujhe kuch kehna hai) – 2001 – Anu Malik
This song has some “Ajeeb si Kashish“, which makes it a very different and very special song. The best part is, when Sonu sings “Is pyaar ko main . kya naam doon …”.
13. Main hoon na(Title song) – 2004 – Anu Mailk
Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal are going to break and make many new records in singing, they both are extremely talented and more importantly they are young and they have enough time to reach at their pinnacle. This song is again a perfect example of the two singers’ talent.
14. Jaage jaage(Mere yaar ki shadi hai) – 2002 – Jeet Pritam
The best song of this movie and Sonu Nigam shining in the song despite Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik also singing the song too.
15. Meri duniya hai(Vaastav) – 1999 – Jatin-Lalit
Many of us would not have expected such a melodious song from a movie like “Vaastav”. Sonu and Kavita Krishnamurthy have sung this song beautifully.
16. Meri duniya mein aake(Tum bin) – 2001 – Nikhil-Vinay
The third most difficult song that Sonu has ever sung.? Yes the third most difficult and a beautiful song to listen.
17. Suraj hua Maddham(Kabhi Khushi kabhi gham) – 2001 – Sandesh Shandilya
One of the best compositions of Sandesh Shandilya and Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik singing the song to perfection.
18. Kal ho na ho(Title song) – 2003 – Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy
This is one of the songs that Sonu Nigam finds very close to himself, so there’s nothing else to write about this song.
19. Gustaakh dil tere liye(Dil maange more) – 2004 – Himesh Reshmmiya
Another good composition from Himesh Reshmmiya and Sonu gave the right energy to this song.
20. Do pal ruka(Veer Zaara) – 2004 – Late Madan Mohan
”Ek Dard bhara geet”, sung with enormous ease and the honeyed voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Sonu Nigam doing the justice with Late Madan Mohan’s composition.
Here are some of my favorite songs from Sonu Nigam’s Albums that I have not added to the 20 songs but the songs are very dear to me.
Deewane hoke hum milne lage sanam(Jaan)
Ab mujhe raat din(Deewana)
Kuch tum socho kuch hum sochein(Deewana)
Mohabbat kabhi maine kee to nahin thee(Yaad)
Is kadar pyar hai tumse(Deewana)
Another of my fav .
Dhalne lagi hai raat, koi baat kijiye.(Inteha)
Let me tell you there was a time when one singer used to take hold of the whole industry for years; Kishor Kumar and Mohammad Rafi have done the same for more than 20 years(at least). Now the scenario has changed, people want a new freshness in every new song they listen and hence even the inimitable king of 90’s Kumar Sanu is not getting many songs to sing; in other words singers are not long lasting now-a-days. But I am 200% sure that Sonu Nigam will be on top of all for a long time to come, he still has miles to go before he sleeps.
