Mumbai, August 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News) Singer Sonu Nigam has opened up about the challenges of singing in unfamiliar languages, saying vocalists must make a conscious effort to sound as natural as possible while also relying on those who guide them through the language.
Speaking exclusively to IANS, Sonu explained that singing in a language one is not familiar with requires both personal effort and guidance from someone well-versed in its nuances.
Asked how he manages the intricacies of different languages after singing in several of them, Sonu said, “There are a few layers to this answer. First of all, it depends on the singer’s capability to imbibe a style. When I first sang songs in the South Indian languages, I kept S. P. Balasubrahmanyam in my mind.”
The singer said he tried to draw inspiration from legendary vocalist S.P. Balasubrahmanyam to bring greater authenticity to his performances in South Indian languages.
He also stressed the importance of having a competent language coach or guide.
“We also have to rely on the person teaching us. If that person is not well-versed in the language, which is very much possible, then we will obviously sing in incorrect language,” Sonu said.
“So, some efforts we have to put from our side and some we have to rely on the person teaching us,” he added.
According to Sonu, pronunciation and linguistic nuances can significantly influence how authentic a song sounds, making the person guiding a singer through an unfamiliar language an important part of the process.
Meanwhile, Sonu has recently returned to his roots with his latest Haryanvi track ‘Chunni’, which he has sung with Renuka Panwar.
The song has been penned and composed by Aamin Barodi, while the music video features Charmee Zaveri.