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Sonu Nigam's social experiment will restore your faith in humanity

Sonu Nigam's social experiment will restore your faith in humanity

Nigam shed fancy clothes and a grand stage for a rags and a spot on a Mumbai street corner. Here's what happened next
Updated 18 May, 2016

Sonu Nigam played dress-up this week. He went disguised as an old man with a harmonium to play music on the streets of Juhu, Mumbai.

The singer-composer did this as part of a social experiment of the Culture Machine's digital channel, Being Indian.

Nigam proved that it's not his star value that makes people admire him, it's his beautiful voice.

"This has been one of the most enlightening and remarkable experiences of my life," said Nigam after revealing his real identity. "Wohi mai hun, wohi awaaz hai farq hai tou kapro ka umr ka." (It's the same me, the same voice, the difference is just of the clothes and age.)

While many expect a roadside singer to be ignored, Nigam's voice not only attracted a crowd but a lot of appreciation from bystanders. Nigam was particularly humbled by a man who came to him, telling him his voice is so wonderful he would like to record it. After recording the voice that man took Nigam's hands into his own, not knowing at all it was the brilliant singer, and asked him if he had eaten. Nigam was particularly touched at how the man actually had twelve rupees in his palm which he left in the hands of the roadside ustaad.

"Mujhe itna acha laga. mujhe laga maine laakhon rupey kamaliye. Ek undefined jaga par jaa kar mujhe kisi ne saugaat di. Maine apne office ko kaha hai k isse frame karke rakh dein." (I loved that. I felt like I had earned millions. In such an undefined place, some gave me such a precious gift. I told my office to frame it [the Rs12] for me.)

Nigam, so moved by this man, added, "I wish that I can meet him again. 12rs ke badle (in return for it)... I want to give something back to him, out of love."

This love and appreciation was the message of his experiment. Sonu Nigam wanted to address how this fast-paced world has made people stop appreciating everything around them because "present mai jo horaha hota hai hum ussko appreciate nahi karte." (Whatever is happening in the present we don't appreciate it.)

However, this experiment proves that people will indeed stop to appreciate true beauty, "This is also a learning for me, and for everyone who's watching the video k khushiyan yahin par hi hain (that happiness is here). You don't have to look else where."

Comments

Muhammad Ali May 18, 2016 01:11pm
Respect from a Pakistani in Germany... You won my heart
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Pak May 18, 2016 01:12pm
Attention seeker
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Karma Dorji May 18, 2016 01:25pm
Kudos. Chandan cinema juhu.:)
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Asd May 18, 2016 01:26pm
Sonu You are the best not only in voice but in humility also
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Mady May 18, 2016 01:37pm
Sonu's video says, an unknown can touch your heart through his music
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Careless Whispers May 18, 2016 01:38pm
Great... Wonderful :)
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SHARMAJI May 18, 2016 01:44pm
Priceless, Sonu and 12 rupees he get
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Dipak Singh May 18, 2016 01:47pm
Excellent... I appreciate that person, who gave Rs. 12/-. He actually respect true talent.
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Nomi May 18, 2016 01:59pm
Loads of Love for Sonu Nigam. please come to Islamabad for concert ... I am sure it will be sold in seconds. Recently held concert by Baby doll girl was super hit with platinum seats sold for 5 lacs each...
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Zain May 18, 2016 02:33pm
This is a copied "social experiment". It was done earlier by a renowned violin player as well.
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sania May 18, 2016 03:53pm
@Zain so you want to say that social activities have also copy rights lolx
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Thoroughthinker May 18, 2016 04:12pm
A good soul awakening! Nigam should explore and team-up with Master Aslam, the rickshaw-driver singer of Karachi whose talent is still in the woods even after appreciation by Lata-ji from India. It would be a great combination.
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Myview May 18, 2016 04:21pm
@Zain You are free to do it too,dear.No one will sue you for copyright. Let me know,I might attend.
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Myview May 18, 2016 04:22pm
@Pak You must be labeled a champion of negative seeker.
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Iftikhar Husain May 18, 2016 04:29pm
What a remarkable artist he is I am really touched with this my prayers for his more success.
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Irad May 18, 2016 05:17pm
Sonu proved that being a good human is priceless. God Bless Sonu.
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jo May 18, 2016 06:14pm
@Muhammad Ali And respect to Sonu Nigam from the UK. He does have a wonderful voice and has great musical knowledge..
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Max May 18, 2016 06:31pm
Most people seem to be missing the point - this experiment was not about Sonu Nigam. It was about the common people and their reaction to art - may it be a violin maestro (Joshua Bell) playing in a Metro station or a Bollywood singer at a Mumbai street corner. In this busy and almost 'its all about me' world, do we stop and listen to a beautiful tune. I would say that the common man in Mumbai still has the time to 'stand and stare (and listen)' and appreciate good art in what form it appears. And that is a good thing.
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mukul May 18, 2016 06:39pm
proud to say that he is from my city!!!
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Rev. Eldrick Lal May 18, 2016 08:19pm
Since when bolloywood stars have started doing such things. Just seeking cheap publicity.
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ed May 18, 2016 08:26pm
Love the concept. Respect Sonu anyway... BUT the GoPro Camera is always visible in the footage when he sits at the footpath... over his right shoulder... look above his slippers. If there were other cameras equally visible to all present, one can not say. But it might have kinda given away his "anonymous street busker" avatar to the genuine people present.
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Shakti May 18, 2016 08:35pm
You make me feel proud to be an Indian.
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Brijesh May 18, 2016 09:10pm
Well done Sonu ji
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azkhan71 May 18, 2016 10:15pm
Awesome experiment by Sonu Nigham and this experiment proved the world that there are people with Golden heart like the guy who gave Rs12 to Sonu Nigham AKA Ustad on the road.
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Khalid Toronto May 18, 2016 10:15pm
Only a few days ago, Richard Gere and Keanu Reeves did the same homeless routine to see if people really cared.
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Mumbai Indian May 18, 2016 10:16pm
Awesome crowd. Proud to be fr Mumbai..
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Ashu May 19, 2016 01:48am
@Max You hit the nail, dude
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Hassan Kamal May 19, 2016 03:56am
People of India have been able to develop taste for good music and that is because of the constent supply of songs and music.
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Zaid Khan May 19, 2016 09:45am
Wah ji wah faith in humanity restored.. As a Pakistani surprised to see only Indians commenting and those few Pakistanis that did had only negative things to say what a shame. May us South Asians realise we have more that unites us then divides us..peace.
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Adeel Saleem May 19, 2016 10:54am
Sonu is indeed a wonderful singer and good man.....tribute from a Pakistani
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Sheena May 19, 2016 11:01am
Sonu NIgam from India and Sajjad Ali from Pakistan , both don't have any match in the whole world nor their brilliance is questionable for any reason. true Masters of their work.
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Akbar Ali Siddiqui May 19, 2016 05:39pm
Sonu Nigam always rock
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anon May 21, 2016 05:58pm
@Zain The experiment is not being conducted by Sonu, he is part of it along with other actors like Ranvir, Ranbir, Arjun etc.
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