Nadeem–Shravan is an Indian composer duo in the Bollywood film industry of India. They derive their name from the first names of Nadeem Akhtar Saifi (born 6 August 1954) and Shravan Kumar Rathod (13 November 1954 – 22 April 2021).
Nadeem–Shravan was one of the most successful Bollywood music directors of the 1990s until the early 2000s. They displayed a strong influence of Hindustani (classical / semi-classical) music in their compositions, and were the only composers during the 1990s and 2000s who relied heavily on three particular instruments: the bansuri, the sitar and the shehnai in almost all of their songs. By using these instruments in a modern way without disconnecting them from their original value, their contribution is unique compared to some rising music directors evolving a new music style beginning in the mid-1990s. They are considered one of the most successful and greatest music composers in Hindi cinema history.
Their breakthrough soundtrack album was Aashiqui (1990), which sold 20 million units in India, and became the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album of all time. Nadeem–Shravan were also behind many of the other best-selling Bollywood soundtrack albums of the 1990s. Their success helped establish the music label T-Series. The duo's career temporarily came to a halt with the murder of T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar by Mumbai underworld syndicate D-Company, with Nadeem Akhtar Saifi initially accused of involvement, before later being exonerated. The duo eventually made a comeback in the 2000s.
Nadeem–Shravan composed soundtracks for many Hindi films, including Aashiqui (1990), Saajan (1991), Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Sadak (1991), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Deewana (1992), Sapne Saajan Ke (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Rang (1993), Dilwale (1994), Aatish: Feel the Fire (1994), Salaami (1994), Raja (1995), Barsaat (1995), Agni Sakshi (1996), Jeet (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Pardes (1997), Judaai (1997), Mohabbat (1997), Maharaja (1998), Sirf Tum (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kasoor (2001), Ek Rishtaa (2001), Jeena Sirf Merre Liye (2002), Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa (2002), Raaz (2002), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002), Dil Ka Rishta (2003), Andaaz (2003), Qayamat (2003), Tumsa Nahi Dekha (2004) and Bewafaa (2005), Barsaat (2005), Dosti (2005) among others.
Their most commonly featured and favorite singers include "Trio" Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan but other Hindi playback singers like Anuradha Paudwal, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sonu Nigam, Sadhana Sargam, Poornima, Jaspinder Narula, K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Hariharan, Suresh Wadkar, Pankaj Udhas, Mohammed Aziz, Sudesh Bhosle, Shailendra Singh, Shabbir Kumar, Nitin Mukesh, Roop Kumar Rathod, Vinod Rathod, Abhijeet, Shaan, Amit Kumar, KK, Gurdas Maan, Shankar Mahadevan, Babul Supriyo, Manhar Udhas, Bali Brahmbhatt, Jolly Mukherjee, Sapna Mukherjee, Alisha Chinoy, Anwar, Vijay Benedict, Sunanda, Sapna Awasthi, Sarika Kapoor and many others have sung under their baton. Veteran singer Mohammed Rafi also sang for them in their film Dangal and Kishore Kumar in the film Ilaaka. Singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle also sang in few albums for the duo.
Music career
The association of Nadeem Akhtar Saifi and Shravan dates back to 1973 when they met each other at a function. Their first film assignment was Dangal, a Bhojpuri movie in 1973 (released in 1977) which featured the popular Bhojpuri song "Kashi hile, Patna hile" sung by Manna Dey. Their first Hindi movie assignment was Maine Jeena Seekh Liya in 1981 sung by Amit Kumar. In 1985, the duo composed music for a commercial project called Star Ten. Ten Hindi actors (Mithun, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Sachin, Danny, Vijendra, Sulakshana Pandit, etc.) sang some songs with lyrics by Anwar Saagar. Early success Their breakthrough film, Aashiqui (1990), which brought them into the limelight, was gifted to them by none other than Gulshan Kumar. Aashiqui has been rated the 4th best soundtrack ever by PlanetBollywood.com on their "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks". The soundtrack album sold 20 million units, making it the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album of all time.
Their success continued with Saajan, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Sadak, Sainik, Raja, Dilwale, Raja Hindustani and Phool Aur Kaante. Whether it was "Chehra Kya Dekhte Ho" (Salaami), "Adayein Bhi Hain" (Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin), "Sochenge Tumhe Pyar" (Deewana), "Tujhe Na Dekhu Toh Chain" (Rang), "Dilbar" (Sirf Tum) and "Ek Baar To India" (Jeena Sirf Merre Liye) they all had the distinct stamp of Nadeem–Shravan.
Most of their compositions fall under the filmi-ghazal genre, as they were greatly inspired by ghazal music, and Music of Indian classical.
When Pardes soundtrack was released, the tracks had different varieties of songs; songs ("I Love My India" and "Meri Mehbooba"), love songs ("Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain") and qawwali ("Nahin Hona Tha") pop ("My first day in America"), pain ("Ye Dil Deewana"). PlanetBollywood.com started the review by saying, "The music for Pardes is Nadeem-Shravan's best ever."
They have worked with lyricists like Sameer, Anand Bakshi, Faaiz Anwar, Hasrat Jaipuri, Rani Malik and many others. When they arrived on the music scene, Laxmikant–Pyarelal and Anand–Milind were at the top. But subsequently their hard work paid off and they had various hits in a row.
Gulshan Kumar murder case Gulshan Kumar, the owner of T-Series, was shot dead outside the Jeeteshwar Mahadev Mandir, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva of which he attended daily in Jeet Nagar, Andheri West suburb of Mumbai, on 12 August 1997. Mumbai underworld organization D-Company was involved with the murder. The police also accused Nadeem Saifi of having paid for the murder due to a personal dispute and fled the country after the murder. According to the police, Nadeem hatched the conspiracy in Dubai in May with Anees Ibrahim Kaskar, the brother of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and Dawood's associates Abu Salem and Kayyum. Crime branch sources said Nadeem has been out of Bombay since Gulshan Kumar died. During the interrogation of the arrested gangsters, the police reportedly learned that Nadeem had organized a "secret" music function in June for Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar in Dubai. Many well-known Bollywood personalities, the police claim, were present.
In 2001, the case was taken to the London High Court, which rejected the Indian government's request for extradition on the grounds that there was no prima facie case against Saifi. In August 2001, the prosecution's main witness, Mohammed Ali Hussain Shaikh, who had earlier claimed Saifi participated in the murder, eventually revealed that he didn't know Saifi and had never seen him. Abu Salem also denied Nadeem's involvement on Indian national television. Saifi was also exonerated by four courts, including the House of Lords in the United Kingdom and the sessions court in Mumbai. Saifi eventually acquired British citizenship, and later moved to Dubai, where he runs a successful perfumery business.
Later years
Despite long-distance collaboration from London, they continued producing hits into the early 2000s Dhadkan (2000), Kasoor (2001), Ek Rishtaa (2001), Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa (2002), Raaz (2002), Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002), Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), Dil Ka Rishta (2003), Andaaz (2003), Qayamat (2003), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (2004), Bewafaa (2005), Barsaat (2005), and Dosti (2005). The duo split in 2005 but briefly reunited for Do Knot Disturb (2009).
Shravan was hospitalised in critical condition at the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He died on 23 April. His son and wife were admitted to another medical facility in the city.
Filmography
Year Film Notes1977 Dangal Bhojpuri film 1979 Mai Ka Lal 1982 Apradhi Kaun? Zakhmee Insaan Maine Jeena Seekh Liya Anmol Sitaare Naya Safar 1983Sajai Da Maang Hamaar Bhojpuri filmLohi Nu Tilak1985 Cheekh1986 Qatil Aur Ashiq Vikram Betaal1987 Khooni Mahal1988 Zulm Ko Jala Doonga1989 Ilaaka Hisaab Khoon Ka Lashkar1990 Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri Solah Satra Aashiqui Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Apmaan Ki Aag1991 Laal Paree Jigarwala Jaan Ki KasamDil Hai Ke Manta NahinSaajan Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Music DirectorSaathiPhool Aur Kaante Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music DirectorPyaar Ka SaayaSadak1992Dil Ka Kya Kasoor Panaah Jaan Tere Naam Deewana Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Paayal Sapne Sajan Ke Bekhudi Kal Ki Awaz Junoon Dilwale Kabhi Na Hare Anaam1993 Balmaa Divya Shakti Shreemaan Aashique Damini Sangraam Krishan Avtaar Waqt Hamara Hai Rang Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Dhartiputra Aadmi Khilona Hai Sainik Dil Tera Aashiq Kaise Kaise Rishte Tadipaar Pyar Pyar1994 Dilwale Salaami Saajan Ka Ghar Aatish: Feel the Fire Ekka Raja Rani Kranti Kshetra Stuntman Chhoti Bahoo1995AndolanAnokha Andaaz Raja Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Gaddaar Saajan Ki Baahon Mein Zamaana Deewana Barsaat1996MajhdhaarAgni Sakshi Saajan Chale Sasural Jung Himmatvar Jeet Raja Hindustani Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Winner, Star Screen Award for Best Music Director1997 Judaai Jeevan Yudh Pardes Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Winner, Star Screen Award for Best Music Director Mohabbat Naseeb1998 Saat Rang Ke Sapne Maharaja 1999 Aa Ab Laut Chalen Sirf Tum2000 Dhadkan Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director2001 Kasoor Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love Hum Ho Gaye Aapke2002 Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa Raaz Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Winner, Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya Ansh: The Deadly Part Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam Dil Hai Tumhaara Jeena Sirf Merre Liye2003Zinda Dil Dil Ka Rishta Indian Babu Yeh Dil Andaaz Qayamat: City Under Threat Hungama Footpath Raja Bhaiya2004 Sheen Tumsa Nahin Dekha: A Love Story Hatya2005 Bewafaa Barsaat Dosti: Friends Forever Last film before official split2006 Mere Jeevan Saathi2008 Gumnaam – The Mystery2009 Sanam Teri KasamPreviously released as Sambandh (1996) Do Knot Disturb Comeback after their split in 20062016 Ishq Forever Nadeem Saifi as a Solo Music Director2017 Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha Nadeem Saifi as a Solo Music Director2025 Andaaz 2 Nadeem Saifi first film after Shravan's Demise
Music albums