When it comes to working the stage or the audience, there are few as good as the Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam. When you talk of a “performance” in his context, it’s not just singing but a mix of acting, mimicry, dancing and singing.
The Sonu Nigam Epic Event — My Musical Journey, Oberoi Middle East’s 13th sold-out UAE concert, at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, marked his 20 years in the music industry with Dubai Shopping Festival’s 20th anniversary.
“I’ve done concerts in so many venues all over the world but, I repeat, I’ve always been amazed at how an interactive and surila [in tune] audience you are. You are not just listeners. There’s an artist in each of you,” Nigam said to the 5,950-strong audience at the show.
You wonder when you’ve heard a singer once, or even twice, on stage, how much newness he or she could bring to a show. But there were people at the venue who wouldn’t miss any concert of Nigam’s. Standing in front of me in the line at the entrance was Dinesh Khiara, a Dubai-based businessman who was attending a Sonu Nigam show for the fourth time in a row.
“I’d booked my ticket in October itself when they first started selling. I didn’t wait for my family, I was coming whether they were or not,” Khiara told me. A total of 16 members of his family did, however, manage to book tickets before they sold out and he said they met more relatives and friends.
Accompanying Nigam was a symphony orchestra that had musicians who’d played in the original recordings of some songs in the 1950s.
“The number of instruments used in the Indian film industry to create music cannot be matched by any other,” Nigam said introducing his musicians. “We’ve used such unheard of instruments. Have you heard a more beautiful instrument as the rabab?,” he said focusing on the melodious small guitar-like stringed instrument, singing the title song from Fanaa.
Though Nigam has a singular style in all his shows, he always manages to make it sound different with his prowess to switch from pop, rock, contemporary, spiritual to pure classical all in one breath. His line-up of songs this time was also different, some he was singing for the first time on stage, from his previous shows except for the inclusion of the anthemic Bijuria, Abhi Mujhme Kahin (Agneepath) and the title of Kal Ho Naa Ho which he concluded his show with.
Nigam also regaled the audience with funny stories from his years of struggle.
“Dad always said ‘sing it right, don’t sing through your nose,” he said creating laughter with a nasal rendition. “Initially the songs I sang were quite laughable to it. I sang stuff such as Achha Sila Diya and songs about being jilted, dying and pain. At school I got teased and the worse was the fan mail — actual letters at that time — that questioned me why I sing only these weepy, sad songs while people such as Anu [Malik] was singing Oonchi Hai Building [mimicking Malik].
“There was this film called Papa Kehte Hai and Uditji [Narain] was giving playback to the hero of the film for Ghar Se Nikalte Hi [mimicking Narain] and [Kumar] Sanuji was singing Ye Thode Paise Hai [again, mimicking Sanu] and I was giving playback for the song Mujhse Naraaz Ho To Ho Jao which was picturised on Anupam Kher, the father! I would look into the mirror and question myself ‘am I 21 or what?’”
Nigam made sure his father shared the stage with him and sang a tribute to his mother — while displaying his talent with a set of drums. Jonita Gandhi, the runaway success from Chennai Express and young, talented singer Prajakta Shure also accompanied him.
“Truly epic event,” said Khushboo Rochlani as we slowly filed out — Nigam was still on stage shaking hands and taking selfies with his fans. “What I like best is he’s one of the few performers who has respect for time. He always is on time, which I think the audience loves.”
“Not a single dull moment. He had men screaming I love you Sonu. He is the true badshah of Bollywood music,” said Mitun De Sarkar, a Dubai-based nutritionist, who attended the show with a friend.
