In Kannada
Nigam’s first song in Kannada was "Ello Yaro Hego" in the year 1996 for the film Jeevanadi starring Dr.Vishnuvardhan. The song's music was composed by Koti with lyrics by R N Jayagopal. Nigam has sung over 700 Kannada songs and has received several awards for them.
His songs include "Cheluve Yeke Bande" from the film Majnu composed by Gurukiran; "Usire Usire" from Huccha composed by Rajesh Ramnath,"Titanic Heroine nee nanna cheluve" from the film "snehaloka"; the title track from the film Monalisa composed by Valisa Sandeep; "Hamsave Hamsave" from the film Gatti mela composed by Hamsalekha, "Kannale Kannale" from the film Aham Premasmi composed by V.Ravichandran and "Baaninda Baa Chandira" from the movie Kanti composed by Gurukiran. The 2006 film Mungaru Male created a sensation and several records, mainly in Karnataka. The songs not only set records of highest sales and downloads, the film also set a national record on 29 December 2007 of having completed an entire year at the PVR Cinemas Bengaluru, the first time an Indian language film to do so.
The songs Mungaru Maleye and Anisuthide were composed by Mano Murthy and written by Yogaraj Bhat and Dr.Jayanth Kaikini respectively. Nigam became a sensation in the South and was called the Golden Singer of Karnataka. Nigam says that he finds Kannada songs more fulfilling than the Hindi numbers. Sonu Nigam, in a recent interview to the Deccan Herald news paper has said ‘Kannada songs make me feel positive’. He said, "I highly respect the muscians of Karnataka and many of my favorite songs are in Kannada. I consider Bangalore as my second birth place. Even if someone requests me to sing a Kannada song while I’m performing in the West Indies, I will sing it for them”.
After that, he sang many Kannada songs including "Antu intu", "Kanaso Idu", "Ade Bhoomi Ade Baanu", "Ee Sanje Yaakaagide", "Ninna Gungalle", "Maayavi Maayavi", "Gelathi Neeniruvaaga", "Ello Maleyaagide", "Ninnindale Ninnindale", "Male Ninthu Hoda Mele", "Aaramagi Idde", "Maayavaagide manassu", "Maathinalli helalaarenu", "Odi Bandenu", "Ninnanne Nodutha", "Athi Aparoopa", "Udisuve Belakina", "Nooraru Preethi Maathu", "Janumada Jodi", "Minchaagi Neenu", "Jeeva Kaleva", "Onde Samane", "Neeralli Sanna", "Eradu Jadeyannu", "Hethavalalla Avalu", "Yaava Seemeya", "Ellavannu Heluvaase", "Nudisale", "Nodutha Nodutha", "Nee Sanihake", "Yeno Helabeku", "Maleyali Jotheyali", "Paravasha", "Maanasa Gange", "Gup Chup", "Modada Olage", "Aaakasha Neene", "Dil Khush", "Kan Kanna Salige", "Maathu Nannolu", "Neenendare Nannolage", "Neenendare Nanage Ishta", "Ille Ille Ello", "Ninna Kannallide", "Summane Yaake Bande", "Hrudayave Bayaside Ninnane", "Ee Sanje Mabbu Raathri", "Ee Janmavu", "Ninna Nodalentho", "Enaagali Munde", "Putta Putta Kai", "Munduduva", "We are Ok", "Kannaliddare Kanassu", "Gaaliye Nodu Baa", "Ninninda Haaganthe", "Bhoomi Suthodu", "Onde Samane Mididide", "Hrudayavu Ninnade", "Maleya Haniyalli", "Ommomme Yaako", "Preethiyali Haaduve", "Ondooral Oblu Cheluve", "Kaddu Nodala", "Mathe Mathe Ninna", "Enaaytho Adeneyatho", "Sanju Mathu Geetha", "Jotheyalli Nee Baaro", "O Gunavantha", "Baa Maleye Baa", "Dhim Dhim", "Sanjeya", "Yaako Yeno", "Nijaana Naanenaa", "Koncha Reshime", "chalisuvaa cheluve", "Ee Bisilali", "Midiva Ninna", "Onde Ninna Nota Saaku", "Belakininda Baanella Banna", "Chinna Hele Hegiruve", "Dil Dhadak", "Inthi Ninna", "Jagadalu Kanisada", "Lahari", "Lola Lola Thelo", "Maneyannu Kattona", "Mella Mella Ee Preethi", "Mudhaada Ee Naguvige", "Naa Barede Ninna, "Neeli Baanina", "Nenapina Male Hani", "Nodu Baa Cheluve", "Enendu Hesaridali", "Paravashanadenu", "Jhum Jhumka Jhumka", "O Parijatha", "Neene Nanna Saviganasu", "Modale Sigalilla", "Hoovina Santhege", "Chendutiya Pakkadali", "Malla Malla", "Manada Havaamana", "Athi Aathura", "Obba Hudugana Manassu", "Usirigintha Neene Hathira", "Anju Malle Malle", "Enella Helona", "Baa Illi Beesu Thangaaliye", "Modala Maleyanthe", "Mynaa Mynaa", "Buddhi Illa", "Nannede Veene" and many more. His recent songs are 'Baanali Badalaago' from the film "Simple Aagond Love Story" composed by Bharath; 'Mussanje Maleyali' and 'Chennagidde Naanu' from Kannada Sudeep starrer Bachchan composed by V. Harikrishna and the song 'Jagadalliro' from Darshan starrer "Bul Bul" also composed by V. Harikrishna.
With the same Mungaru Male combination, music director Mano Murthy, lyricist Jayant Kaikini and Nigam got together for a Kannada album Neene Bari Neene produced by Ashok Kheny. The songs Neene Bari Neene and Baa Nodu Gelathi were shot on the outskirts of Bengaluru featuring Nigam and model Madhuri Bhattacharya in the lead. Sonu Nigam also composed a theme song for the Karnataka Bulldozer's team in the Celebrity Cricket League. The song was sung by Sonu Nigam, Kunal Ganjawala and Sowmya Raoh, who also penned the lyrics. Latest song in kannada is "soundarya samara"from film Kaddipudi.
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