Sonu Nigam pays final tribute to Aadesh Shrivastava with ‘Ave Maria’

Renowned Indian singer and musician Sonu Nigam, in collaboration with Jetsynthesys' Global Music Junction (GMJ) and his music label I Believe Music, has released his special Christmas single 'Ave Maria.' This heartfelt rendition marks Nigam's last collaboration with the late music composer Aadesh Shrivastava.
The song's journey began in 2011 when Aadesh Shrivastava suggested Nigam's name as the Indian vocalist for an international project. “Besides being a brilliant musician, Aadesh ji was like an elder brother to me. Known for his collaborations with Western musicians, he was working on two songs for an international project, one of which was Ave Maria. When asked for an Indian vocalist, he suggested my name because of my training and passion for Western music styles,” Nigam shared.

Unfortunately, the project remained incomplete after Shrivastava's untimely passing. Determined to honor his late mentor's vision, Nigam decided to revive the project, involving Aadesh's son, Avitesh Shrivastava.
“To honor Aadesh ji's vision, I decided to bring Ave Maria to life. With the support of Avitesh, I sourced the original tracks and sought the help of my immensely talented friend Salim Merchant. Salim connected me with the Budapest Film Orchestra, who recorded the grand Western orchestration for the song,” Nigam explained.

The single also features contributions from music duo Anurag Saikia and Ishan Das, along with Japjisingh Valecha, who played a key role in producing the track.
Rajan Navani, Founder and CEO of Jetsynthesys, expressed his excitement: “Sonu Nigam has been a long-standing partner of Global Music Junction, and we are thrilled to collaborate with him on Ave Maria. Christmas is a time for unity and joy, and this rendition, with its unique Indian essence, perfectly captures the festive spirit.”
Nigam elaborated on the unique blend of Indian and Western elements in the track: “We incorporated the soulful melodies of the sarangi and shehnai, blending Indian classical music seamlessly with Western orchestration.”
On a deeply personal note, Nigam dedicated Ave Maria to his mother. “My mother always taught us that God is one and that all paths lead to the same supreme power. Her lessons on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — have stayed with me throughout my life,” he reflected.
This soulful tribute, released on the joyous occasion of Christmas, promises to be a timeless piece that resonates across cultures and generations.