Birthday Special: Sonu Nigam, melodies and memories

Sonu Nigam has been singing since his teens The birthday boy who turns 48 today can even lift a mediocre song and make it an instant contagious number One of the first memories of Nigam that rests in mind is 1995rsquos aching track from lsquoBewafa Sanamrsquo and pulling off another number in lsquoBarsaatrsquo featuring a totally different mood and toneBut Sonu Nigam became The Sonu Nigam in the late 90s mostly 1997 and in the glorious discography of more than two decades that should continue in future here are some personal favourite songs of someone whorsquos clearly missed in todays era of music An era of twisting songs read tarnishingSandese Aate Hain Border 1997A young brimming Nigam was about to hit 24 when he gave the first smash hit of his blooming career It was a song that comes just before the 1971 war is about to begin Itrsquos a song of hope heartbreak and also the horror of the tragedy But at its heart it still remains a track that affirms how the nation would not be what it is if not for the fearlessness of the armed forcesAisa Lagta Hai Refugee 2000Collaborating once again with Anu Malik JP Dutta and Javed Akhtar after the cult success of lsquoBorderrsquo Nigam oozed melody into the composition that said lsquoAisa Lagta Hairsquo Itrsquos a song where two people express their love for each other and how it feels to be in love The heroine was a Muslim the hero had no religion or identity He called himself Refugee As he escorts her and her family to the other side of the border they develop a sense of compassion for one another Their romance transcends all lines and borders just like this filmrsquos musicAate Jaate Jo Milta Hai Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega 2000Salman Khan and Sonu Nigam is a very underrated match Khanrsquos aura and Nigamrsquos vocals can electrify the celluloid and nearly did in this love triangle Khan is mistaken to be Rani Mukerjirsquos husband and falls in love with his sister Preity Zinta Mukerjirsquos in coma and they travel to a temple atop a hill for her recovery The song plays at a rather unexpected situation but it still works This was Sonu Nigam Anu Malik and Salman Khan at their bestRabba Mere Rabba Rabba Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai 2001He doesnrsquot sing the bit mentioned above itrsquos sung in chorus by a group of girls popping on streets and cyber cafes breaking the fourth wall and telling us about how the hero is head over heels in love with the heroine The song is lsquoIs Pyaar Ko Main Kya Naam Doonrsquo Trust the singer to be as passionate about romance as the hero hersquos singing for For all the success of lsquoMujhe Kucch Kehna Hairsquo Tusshar Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan owe a lot to Sonu Nigam and of course once again Anu MalikThe Title Track of Saathiya Saathiya 2002If itrsquos Yash Chopra it has to be mountains melodies and magic Yes Chiffon Saris too Rani Mukerji gorgeously poses for the camera as Vivek Oberoi sings this haunting AR Rahman number in Nigamrsquos soothing vocals Shaad Ali films the song even more lusciously Despite being a faithful remake of lsquoAlaipayutheyrsquo what made this film stand apart was Rahman and this particular songThe Title Track of Kal Ho Naa Ho Kal Ho Naa Ho 2003Before lsquoChanna Mereyarsquo took over it was the title track of the tearjerker lsquoKal Ho Naa Horsquo that was the ultimate embodiment of heartbreak And just like Ranbir Kapoor did in 2016 Shah Rukh Khan with all his charm and dimpled smile conveyed his tragedy through a number that became too profound to be forgotten just as easily He romanced Preity Zinta in imagination lived the life someone else is enjoying spread his arms against the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and by the time the song was over knew he wonrsquot be alive for too long He nearly breaks down and so do his hardcore fans The feeling remains the same 18 years laterTumse Milke Main Hoon Na 2004Trust Farah Khan to wreck havoc and let her imaginations run wild when it comes to choreographing her songs particularly when shersquos the director too This was her maiden attempt at handling the entire film and Khan being Khan could scream and shout till she got it perfect One really doesnrsquot know what went behind the making of this thunderous number that has a mix of classical and Qawali Itrsquos first filmed on Zayed Khan and Amrita Rao and then moves on to Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen both ignited the screen with their blazing chemistry Nigam isnrsquot a singer just to make you weep he can make you put on your dancing shoes even if you have two left feetJeena Ke Hain Chaar Din Mujhse Shaadi Karogi 2004Salman Khan and Farah Khan gave a rather contagious hook step to a song that has just as much energy as the one above Donrsquot know whether the locale is Goa or Mauritius itrsquos easy on the eye and pleasing to the ears Every time the song plays people take off their shirts put them in between their legs and just begin to move ahead Who cares then if you can dance or not Just enjoy the rhythmSau Dard JaanEMann 2006Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam are indeed a match made in heaven In this love triangle shot stunningly in New York in pure Broadwaystyle debutant director Shirish Kunder gave Salman Khan arguably one of his most underrated roles yet Khan weeps and weeps and weeps in this tragic number that haunts your souls with melodySpecial Mentions Dil Se Tu Hi Tu Pardes Yeh Dil Dulhe Raja Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare Agneepath Abhi Mujhme KahinAlso Read Heres how Sonu Nigam contributed to COVID19 relief measures