Chanda Ki Doli: Sonu Nigam’s First Musical Statement as a Composer

Year of Release: 2005

Album: Chanda ki Doli

Lyricist: Nusrat Badr

Composer: Sonu Nigam

Some songs don’t arrive with a flourish. They drift in quietly, like moonlight slipping through a window. 'Chanda Ki Doli' is one such song – gentle, unhurried, and deeply romantic, carrying the calm confidence of an artist who knows exactly what he wants to say.

This is Sonu Nigam's baby, right from its conception to its promotion. Bhushan Kumar, the owner of T-series, sees him programming something on his computer in his home studio. Impressed by what he hears, he suggests it as the opening song of Sonu’s new album. The maestro ends up composing twelve songs, out of which they select nine.

Chanda ki Doli is a romantic album. All the nine songs are composed and sung by Sonu and the lyrics written by Nusrat Badr. “The USP of the album is that the mid tempo and the orchestration of the songs differ. My aim as a singer is to reach the interiors by catering to the masses as well as the classes instead of making an attempt to impress only the so-called classes.”

The song ‘Chanda Ki Doli,’ unfolds like a tender conversation rather than a performance. The melody is unhurried, allowing emotion to breathe, while the arrangement stays deliberately restrained. There is no attempt to overwhelm. Just a quiet intimacy that lingers long after the song ends. As a composer, Sonu chooses simplicity over spectacle, letting the tune and the emotion carry the weight, making the song feel timeless rather than tied to a particular moment.

Sonu also works hard on his look for the album. He consults Jamuna Pai and sticks to a strict diet. His hairstylist Aalim, chops off the long hair to give him a fresh, boyish look. On the 27^th of May, he faces the camera, to shoot for the music video of the song 'Chanda ki Doli.'

The result is a video that is a delight to watch even today, twenty-one years on, marked by its calm mood, measured pace, and an almost old-world stillness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhhwWbnpsQM

The singer now supervises all the promotions for the new album. The launch takes place at a special two-hour concert held at the Ravindra Natyamandir, Prabhadevi on the 30^th of May, 2005. It is attended by a large number of Bollywood celebrities like Jaya Bachchan, Anup Jalota, Suresh Wadkar and Phaguni Pathak.

In an interview backstage, Sonu admits he's nervous. He has already proved his worth many times over as an ace singer. This, however, is different. For the first time, he is stepping forward to reveal another side of his artistry – that of a music composer. The nervousness is understandable, for this is not about lending his voice to someone else’s vision, but about placing his own creative instincts in full view.

The same concert is telecast on Sony television, on the 10^th of June. A special four-part series called Sensational Sonu Nigam - The Making Of A Star, is also aired on TV, showcasing his entry into Bollywood as a playback singer, his initial struggles as well as his triumphs. Says a delighted Sonu - “All the promos that you saw for my new album were masterminded by me. Thanks to Sony Entertainment, my album got noticed on television. Though T Series would never acknowledge it, Sony played a very important role in projecting 'Chanda Ki Doli'".

The album is a resounding success. It bags the MTV Immies Award as well as the Anandolok Award for the best pop album.

In Sonu Nigam’s long and varied journey, 'Chanda Ki Doli' marks a moment where composure, conviction, and creative clarity come together.

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