The much touted show "Explosion 2009" featuring Sonu Niigaam and Sunidhi Chauhan is scheduled at the Shrine Auditorium on Aug 2. He spoke candidly toIndia Journal about the show, his career and his views on some aspects of life.
Asked how different the show is going to be from his earlier tours, Niigaam, without divulging any details , promised to "shock" Los Angeles in his new venture with Sunidhi Chauhan. He is very excited to partner with her, their very first tour together – having only performed only twice with her on stage previously in the last decade. Singing the praises of Chauhan, he promised their fans a treat , double the excitement , as he put it, than his going it alone on stage. He believes this is going to be " the finest ever musical show America has ever seen" When it was pointed out that is what people say after every one of his shows he added that that is exactly what he wants people to feel every time he comes on – forget about the previous performance and talk of the new one.
Niigaam was quick to defend his costar when a question was posed how it would be to sing with Sunidhi Chauhan after performing with a giant like Asha Bhosle. His rapid fire retort was " Yes Ashaji is a giant. But Sunidhi is also a giant – just because she is young no one can discount her talent or disqualify her." He continued to state he does not respect artists only because of age , but for the temperament and newness the they bring to music. He added that since her entry into the music arena in 1999, Chauhan has completely changed the perception of people of a playback singer and today she is not any less than her elders in the profession. He wished talented artists are recognized earlier in their lives and labeled ‘legends’ when they are young and alive , rather than when they are either old or dead and gone.
Niigaam stuck to his guns when it came to the subject of marriage. When asked if it was true he had made a statement that while he is a happily married man, marriage is only a small part of his life. His response was "Absolutely, of course." He contends anything created by man is temporary. Childbirth for example he says is natural and will go on forever , but marriage and other social practices - all have an expiry date. He said that his wife fully agrees with his take on the subject and added that he fortunately lives with people who understand him and know where he is coming from.
The musical star denies he is superstitious. If that be the case why did he add on an "i" and an "a" to his name a few years ago? That was provoked, he said, by numerology which he believes is a science based on mathematics which in itself is the infrastructure
of the laws of the universe. He is a strong supporter of the view that certain names based on numerology have a stronger appeal and register instantaneously whereas others randomly chosen are easily forgotten. He said he couldn’t imagine Amitabh Bachchan having acquired his star status with a name like, no offence meant, Rajiv Gupta, which is perfectly suited to business or in the corporate world.
Touching on his acting career which has not quite taken off as he had hoped for Niigaam said everything in life goes through a process of evolution. He thinks he did a more than decent job on the roles he has played so far but has come to realize that even if one’s work is appreciated, it takes a blockbuster to launch a film star. Since promoting a movie and making it a hit involves the collective effort of many people, its success lies, not just in the hands of the actor. He adds pensively that in the film firmament, some work – some do not, some get respect- yet they don’t work.
For that matter, he was asked why he even wanted to try and hit the big screen when he has such a good thing going in his musical career. He agreed that music is very much a part of him, but it’s not the whole of him. His success, he attributes, not just to his voice, but his attitude and his keenness to learn, respect other talents and trying to imbibe them also. Acting is another faculty he understands and which other people think he understands which is why they continue to offer him roles. What he still needs to learn about the movie industry is making wise decisions, what to accept and which to reject, something he thinks he is getting better at day by day.
The recession , according to the singer, has not affected the industry in any way. He said he has been doing plenty of shows because when the chips are down, people wish to be entertained and if one provides it , the fans will be there however bad the economy. At a personal level the financial downturn has had no impact on Sonu Niigaam because he claims he does not have too many vices. All his expenses are work related and even purchases for his wardrobe are strictly for shows . otherwise he states he is quite happy and comfortable in his 7 year old jeans and a shirt.
Is it true that Sonu Niigaam is moving away from playback singing? In a way, yes, was his answer. He proclaims he does not want to be led by his work or his profession. He wants to be in total control of his life and not suffer the fate of many others including Michael Jackson who had let their image take over their life and personality and ended up either dying prematurely or becoming frustrated individuals as they grew older. Over the past four years he has been extremely (twice) cautious about what he is doing, how much work he does and has made himself completely exclusive. He concluded with " Money will keep coming anyway, it is not the priority – it is about your own self gratification. If I can control my work , I am a much happier man."
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