If you are a fan of legend Sonu Nigam, then this is definitely for you. From working as a playback singer in several Hindi films including Pardes, Dil Se, Sarfarosh, Kal Ho Naa Ho, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham to releasing his own album, Deewana, with T-Series, Sonu Nigam has given many hits to the Indian music industry. His career was at peak between 1990s and 2010s. There is something magical about his melodious voice that he can lift up your mood within seconds. Being a Sonu Nigam fan, I can surely vouch for that.

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So, someone created a thread on Sonu Nigam’s classic songs on Twitter and it will surely send you to a nostalgia trip. 

A Twitter user, @zyadaahorahahai, posted several tracks crooned by Sonu Nigam and claimed no one can/could sing the way he did. In the thread, the user also shared some trivia behind his songs.

1. Saathiya (Saathiya)

 “This gem needs no introduction. It was the 2nd best-selling album of 2002.”

2. Kismat Se Tum Hum Ko Mile (Pukar)

“As a child who used to listen to old Hindi songs all day long (thanks to my father),I wasn’t a fan as I was a hardcore Rafi loyalist. I didn’t have the depth & Saathiya was not released yet. Well, this changed everything. It was shot at Marcus Baker glacier in Alaska.”

3. Tanhayee (Dil Chahta Hai)

“So, I had got at least one Sonu song, which I used to ask my father to play at least once everyday. I wasn’t his fan yet. But then one song came, which hit me so hard that he became the only new singer whom I allowed to enter into my sacred playlist of Kishore, Rafi, Hemanta.”

4. Satrangi Re (Dil Se)

“After Saathiya, I became a fan. I started exploring his discography. I came across this gem I missed & became addicted to it. With this song sequence, Dil Se (which was previously titled ‘Ladakh- Ek Prem Kahani’) became the 1st Hindi movie to be shot in Pangong Tso.”

5. Mujhe Raat Din (Sangharsh)

“I asked my father to listen to Dil Se! He thanked me & borrowed a DVD of Sangharsh & we decided to watch it together. Akshay signed it as his career was going through a rough patch. Ended up acting so well that he almost won the Best Actor award (Sanjay Dutt-Vaastav).”

6. Yeh Dil Deewana (Pardes)

“Once I told this incident to my cousin elder brother, who was a big Nadeem-Shravan fan (he still has one big box full of only NS CDs), gifted me a cassette of ‘Pardes’. This song was composed, written & recorded within 2 days. The sequence was shot in 1.5 days.”

7. Kal Ho Naa Ho (Kal Ho Naa Ho)

“Next year “Kal Ho Na Ho” was released & it created history. The title track got so famous that everyone became a Sonu fan. The tune was composed by Loy Mendosa at German Bakery, Pune when Nikhil Advani was humming “My Heart Will Go On” & wanted a song of similar mood.”

8. Sun Zara (Lucky: No Time for Love)

“This song, composed by Adnan Sami, made me watch the film. This & ‘Chori Chori’ song became so hit that it made the album that year’s 5th highest-selling. Riddhima Kapoor (sister of Ranbir) was going to debut but she declined as she was getting married.”

9. Sau Dard (Jaan-E-Mann)

“Next year, in Sirish Kunder’s debut directorial Salman was roped in after SRK declined as he was shooting for ‘Don’, which released the same day & it couldn’t sustain. The album got critical acclaim later. This movie remains Salman’s most underrated performance IMO.”

10. Main Agar Kahoon (Om Shanti Om)

“Next year, this huge SRK blockbuster released. Though the album was initially going to be composed by Rahman, who opted out due to copyright disagreements, Vishal-Shekhar created a history. I listened to it for the 1st time in Aneek Dhar’s voice in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2007.”

11. Do Nishaniyan (Jhootha Hi Sahi)

“After the success of “Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na”, director Abbas Tyrewala decided to work with Rahman again in his next film. Meanwhile, many songs of Sonu Nigam were released, but this song has a special place in my heart. It was my first song-ringtone even.”

12. Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin (Agneepath)

“One of the finest Hindi remakes of all time (in fact the best IMO) gave one of the finest Sonu Nigam songs. Karan Malhotra took 4 hours to narrate the story to Ajay-Atul while humming the bgm (OG one) himself. The composer duo used live instrumentation for recording.”

13. Zindagi Maut Na Ban Jaye (Sarfarosh)

“Though there are so many songs of Sonu Nigam, but this had a special place in my heart. Also Sarfarosh was one of the Hindi movie audio cassettes I bought after Dil Se.”

14. Rabba Mere Rabba (Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai)

“Though the movie, directed by legendary Satish Kaushik, had its heart in its place due to the story, was a flop. But due to this Sonu classic mainly, the album became 2nd highest-selling of that year.(more than Raaz, Dil Chahta Hai, Gadar, Lagaan!)”

15. In Lamhon Ke Daman Mein (Jodha Akbar)

“Well, I know I have not added “Sandeshe Aate Hai” or “Suraj Hua Maddham” or “Do Pal” or “Tumhi Dekho Na”. Art is subjective. But somehow, the song I can not & will not ignore is this gem. For me, it will remain a classic, forever.”

16. Mere Haath Mein (Fanaa)

“As Salim Merchant once said, playback singing is about dynamics & expressions, #SonuNigam is probably the only playback singer, who sings each line (sometimes even each word) with different expressions. He can make a song alive.”

17. Cham Cham (Striker)

“I don’t know how I forgot to add the song which I religiously listened to throughout my college life. The song was a blessing in disguise for me.”

18. Jane Kyun Tanha Ho Gaye (Bhram)

Here’s how netizens are reacting to this thread: 

Apart from these songs, my personal favourites are from his album Deewana including Ab Mujhe Raat Din, Deewana Tera, Is Kadar Pyar Hai, and Kuch Tum Socho. So, which song is your favourite?

Sonu Nigam will always rule in our hearts! Thank you for these gems.