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READY FOR CHALLENGES Sonu Nigam

Or may be it has something to do with his penchant for being different. The singer, also known for his chocolate-boy looks, says. “It’s my personality. I like to be different. I don’t like to do or talk about what everybody else is discussing.”

So it is not surprising that his music has traits of his personality. His latest album, ‘Classically Mild,’ is an instance. The album, he describes, is semi-classical with a touch of mainstream commercial music. It is nearly three years since his last album ‘Chanda Ki Doli’ released but why did Sonu decide to take the classical route this time? And you get the obvious for an answer. “It’s different. I felt that these days film music glorifies only the dance genre. Classical music has been largely left untouched.” He continues, “It is not hardcore classical music, as I didn’t want to overwhelm the listeners. The classical element will touch them mildly. Also, I wanted to do something challenging. The kind of songs I am singing in films these days are like nursery rhymes to me. I had to move to the next level. I had to work really hard for the songs in this album. It is not something I can sing without being prepared.”

Except for some years of classical training, Sonu boasts of being a self-taught singer and it is this learning that manifests itself in his latest album. “Knowing the foundation does help, but a lot depends on one’s understanding,” he feels.

Tell him that his bare-chested video in the album is being talked about and Sonu takes it as a compliment. “It is nice that for once a singer is making news instead of an actor. It was the director’s idea, as the concept is based on mythology.”

As the popular television host of the music show on Zee TV, ‘Sa Re Ga Ma,’ Sonu made headlines sometime ago when he decided to press the pause button when his playback career was at its peak. “It was getting exhausting. I didn’t want to over-expose myself and ruin my prospects. I have become very selective, as I realised I need to respect myself,” he explains.

Other than the romantic ‘In Lamhon Ke Daman Mein’ in the just-released ‘Jodhaa Akbar,’ ‘Nagada Nagada’ from ‘Jab We Met’ and ‘Dil Ka Haal Sune Dil Wala’ from ‘Bombay to Bangkok’ are the only songs to his credit in the last six months.

What else is there in his kitty? He pauses for a minute, and after much deliberation says, “I don’t remember singing for any film that is soon to come. But I have been listening to a lot of film scripts of late. Though my ‘Love in Nepal’ didn’t have a proper release, whoever has seen it has liked my work. By April, I will decide on something,” promises Sonu whose two earlier films, ‘Kaash Aap Hamare Hote’ and ‘Jaani Dushman’ failed to make a mark.

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