Singer Sonu Nigaam to turn Star in Kannada!

Sonu Nigaam who was in Bangalore to unveil the BIG 92.7 FM's Bejann Hitz spoke to TWB about his success, life and more, in an exclusive interview:

TWB: Your ability to sing so well in Kannada, a language you don't know, is amazing. What's the secret? How much time does it take for you to finish a song?

SN: It's the result of all the hard work I have put. I don't know Kannada, but I am very involved, and bring a lot of expression to my voice. A singer may know the language, but if he can't express it in his voice, it is useless. I give lot of importance to expression. I ask the translator to repeat the lyrics as many times as possible with his lip movement and write it down, line by line, word by word. I get to know the story, the song sequence, the background, age of the hero, and then I put my soul into the song. That's how singing a Kannada song is easy as doing it in Hindi for me. It takes an hour to complete a Kannada song, 3 times more than in Hindi. And I do rehearsal while I am flying.

TWB: Of late you are more active in Kannada than in Hindi. How do you find the change?

SN: He also  said that he gives prime importance to the quality of content in a movie while choosing songs. I do not always want to sing for the hero, I can be singing for a beggar too  in a movie but it should have quality and sadly that it is missing in Bollywood nowadays.
I have been fortunate in getting good music composition and lyrics in Kannada industry right from Love to Mungaru Male to the latest Abhay. Yet another good song is going to come in the forthcoming film "Suriyakanti" with Ilaya Raja's music. I have contributed many compositions to Hindi industry but I don't get a chance to  listen to my own collections, whereas in Bangalore whenever I come I do listen to Kannada songs of my own collections, and feel thrilled and  that shows the love the people have for my songs. Because Bangaloreans are more chilled out when compared to Mumbai audience! Music doesn't have language.

TWB: Very few singers happen to be good looking, but you are popular for your voice as well as looks!

SN: It is your attitude that makes you look good. I try and keep my mental balance in sync with my spiritual sense. When I sing, I sing keeping in mind the audience, and strive to give them full satisfaction.

TWB: What are you working on now?

SN: I am working on a unique Video album called "Time Travel" bringing to life the 40 years old songs of Talat Mehamood, Hemanth Kumar, Kishoreda, Rafi Sab, and Mukesh, but it's not a remix. I will be seen like singing with the legends. There will be overall 9 songs. It's really like traveling in time from the point of view of music. The first volume is almost complete, and we plan to bring out many more volumes in the near future. 

TWB: What is your view on remixes?

SN: Remixes are common nowadays. Some singers do use a false voice but they are not able to sustain in for a longer period. I also sometimes use a false voice, but I am able to manipulate and return to the original voice and track.