 "Sonu Nigam on Zubeen Garg: ‘I was very fond of his voice, especially when I heard Mere Vatan from Fiza’")
Sonu Nigam announced his upcoming seven-city tour, ‘Satrangi Re India Tour’. The tour will travel across Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Shillong, and Delhi-NCR. In an interview with Firstpost for ‘Not Just Bollywood’, he says that his journey has been nothing less than a dream run.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
Tell us about your interaction with Zubeen Garg when he was alive?
I have known Zubeen for a very long time. Perhaps from the 90s. I was very fond of his voice, especially when I heard Mere Vatan from Fiza. We would bump into each other very frequently like on flights or concerts. The last time we met was perhaps last year in Guwahati in a concert. Never knew it would be our last.
What do you have to say about the change in the music scenario today?
Music or any form of art has changed with time. One must keep a keen eye on what’s changing around us and continue to evolve accordingly. The music today is beautiful and truly represents the present times.
Your best collaboration so far and why?
I have had the fortune of collaborating with many great artists, some seniors, some juniors, and I hold equal respect for all of them. These days, I am particularly enjoying my collaborations with Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant on their project Bhoomi. Every year, we create something extraordinary that receives immense love from music lovers. As for concerts, I am thoroughly enjoying working with Namrata and Rabbani, who are tirelessly putting in their best efforts to make ‘Satrangi Re India Tour’ my best one yet.
You have been an inspiration to millions of aspiring singers. What is your piece of advice to them?
I have no advice for anyone. Everyone has their own journey, and I wish everyone all the best.
You’re embarking on a multi-city tour across India. What can fans expect from this experience, and how different will it be from your past concerts?
There could be many ways to describe what’s different in this upcoming tour, but honestly, even I don’t know how to put it into words. The music, the production, the experience, the songs, everything is taking an unprecedented shape. All I can say is the name ‘Satrangi’ befits what we are going to experience through the Satrangi Re India Tour.
What are some projects you’re most excited to explore next?
I don’t look at projects like that anymore. I work and forget. I allow the Universe to surprise me.
If you have to sum up your journey in the music industry in a few lines, what would it be?
My journey has been like a dream run. I have literally grown up in this industry. I have learnt everything here. I am thankful to God for that.
Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a 'Rotten Tomatoes' certified critic. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it's a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.