Sonu Nigam on managing the intricacies of language
Mumbai, Aug 12
Sonu Nigam talked about how he manages the intricacies of language as a singer.
Speaking exclusively to IANS, Sonu Nigam said that when singing a song in an unfamiliar language, one has to make an effort to sound as familiar with the language as possible.
He added that one also has to depend on the person who is guiding them through the song, because if he is not good with the language, they will end up singing incorrectly, no matter how hard they work.
The singer was asked, "You have sung songs in so many languages. It is believed that the intricacies of the language are very complicated. How easy or difficult is it for you as a singer to understand them and then act accordingly?"
Sonu Nigam told IANS that when he began singing for South, he used to keep S. P. Balasubrahmanyam in mind to sound more authentic.
He shared, "There are a few layers to this answer. First of all, it depends on the singer's capability to imbibe a style. When I first sang songs in the South Indian languages, I kept S. P. Balasubrahmanyam in my mind."
"We also have to rely on the person teaching us. If that person is not well-versed in the language, which is very much possible, then we will obviously sing in incorrect language. So, some efforts we have to put from our side and some we have to rely on the person teaching us", he further went on to explain.
Meanwhile, Sonu Nigam recently reconnected with his roots with his latest Haryanvi track 'Chunni'. Along with him, the song has also been crooned by Renuka Panwar.
Scored and penned by Aamin Barodi, the music video of this latest Haryanvi number features Charmee Zaveri.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is actually a very insightful take. Most people don't realize that singing in a language you don't speak is not just about pronunciation—it's about capturing the soul of the language. Sonu ji has done that beautifully across so many languages. Respect!
His point about the guide being important is so true! If the person teaching you doesn't know the language well, you're bound to make mistakes. It's a team effort. Also, 'Chunni' sounds amazing—glad he's doing Haryanvi now! 😊
Sonu Nigam is one of the most versatile singers we have. Whether it's Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, or Haryanvi, he always gives his best. The fact that he consciously thought of SPB sir while singing South songs shows his dedication to perfection.
While I love Sonu ji's music, I feel the article could have delved deeper into how he maintains the cultural nuance rather than just the pronunciation aspect. Still, his honesty is refreshing. But yes, language intricacy is underrated in the music industry.
Coming from someone who doesn't understand Hindi, this is fascinating. It shows how much effort goes into making music sound authentic across languages. Respect to Sonu Nigam for sharing this behind-the-scenes insight!
M We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.