Playback singer Sonu Nigam fought back tears while launching the second season of Tihar Idol, a singing talent show that the authorities of the high-security jail first organised in 2012 on the lines of Indian Idol.
The singer, who enthralled the inmates and officials with his arresting performance at the event that kickstarted on Monday, said, “I am so overwhelmed seeing these people perform so well... Seeing the kind of passion and dedication and hope they have, I could hardly hold back my tears. I just tried hard not to cry as I had to perform here for them.”
“It is the first time ever that I am performing in a jail and I was clueless to the kind of experience it would be. But I promise to be here for Tihar Idol 3, 4 and 5 as well in future,” he said.Singers, including Raja Hassan, Nandini Dev and actress Akriti Bharti and Sonu’s father Agam Nigam, also performed here. The whole competition will take place within the jail premises and run up to May next year stretching over 40 episodes.
DIG Delhi prisons, Mukesh Prasad, Jail No. 1 Superintendent Rajesh Chouhan and other senior jail officials and staff were present at the occasion. “I am indebted to the organisers and guests who came here to support our initiative. last season of Tihar Idol was a success and we hope to repeat it in the next,” Prasad said.
Sonu sang a few songs like Sandese aatey hain..., Mera rand de basanti chola... and Kal ho na ho... and dedicated them to the inmates. He said he could understand what the inmates feel while staying away from their families.“I am here as your voice. I am your soul for the day. But I want a promise from all of you that the next time I come here, I must not see any one of you again. I’d be pleased to see no audience here,” said Nigam.
Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachchh Bharat mission, Nigam said he wholeheartedly supports the initiative. “I am a strict believer of cleanliness and I appreciate and support the campaign our PM has started,” he said.He also said that the Government must first fulfil its duties and then fine or challan the citizens for not following the rules of cleanliness.