Salim–Sulaiman

Salim–Sulaiman is an Indian score composer duo consisting of siblings Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant. The duo compose music predominantly for Hindi films.

Salim–Sulaiman
Salim–Sulaiman at the inaugural press meet of MTV's Super Fight League season 2
Background information
Origin	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Genres	Film score Filmi Qawwali Bollywood Pop
Occupation(s)	score composer, music director
Instruments	Keyboard Piano Harmonium Tabla
Years active	1993–present
Website	salimsulaiman.com

Life and early career

Salim–Sulaiman's ancestral town is Mundra, Kutch, Gujarat.^[1] They were born in Mumbai.^[1] Salim Merchant was born on 3 March 1974 and Sulaiman Merchant was born on 21 December 1970.^[2] They were inspired by their father Sadruddin Merchant, who used to lead Ismaili Scouts Orchestra in India.^[3] Steeped in a family tradition of music as the sons of composer and veteran of the film industry Sadruddin Merchant, Salim mastered the piano on at the Trinity College of Music in London while Sulaiman took up tabla training with such legends as Taufiq Qureshi and Ustad Zakir Hussain.^[4] Six years after their first music composition for a Bollywood film, they received acclaim for the film score of Bhoot.

Salim and Sulaiman have been composing music for over a decade having scored for movies such as Neal 'n' Nikki, Chak De! India, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Fashion. The duo had also composed for many Indi-pop performers including Viva, Aasmaan, Shweta Shetty, Jasmine and Style Bhai among others, composed and produced several TV commercials and collaborated with artistes such as K. S. Chithra, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, Ayisha Abdul Basith.^[5] After that, they have gone to do movies with well-known producers and directors like Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai and Ram Gopal Varma. They were predominantly composing background scores for movies, until the Karan Johar-Shah Rukh Khan production Kaal, for which their song compositions received acclaim.

Salim Merchant was one of the three judges for the fifth season of Indian Idol on Sony Entertainment Television (India).^[6]

They have worked on a hollywood remix for Lady Gaga's songs Born This Way and Judas.^[7][8] They also worked on I'm A Freak By Enrique. The duo did two songs for the Hollywood film Sold.^[9] During the 2020 lockdown Salim–Sulaiman released Gandhi Jayanti single with Ricky Kej.^[10][11] The duo have produced various tracks in collaboration with a number of indie artists including Shivansh Jindal.^[12]

2010 FIFA World Cup

The musical duo collaborated with South African singer Loyiso Bala and Kenyan singer and songwriter Eric Wainaina to record the anthem for 2010 FIFA World Cup. The anthem is the song "Africa – You're A Star".^[13][4]

Indian Idol

Salim Merchant was a judge along with Anu Malik and Sunidhi Chauhan in season 5 and season 6 of Indian Idol. Salim has judged the second season of Indian Idol Junior along with Vishal Dadlani and Sonakshi Sinha.

He was one among the four judges with Coach Shaan, Coach Benny, and Coach Neeti in the second season of The Voice India.

Awards

Award	Year	Result	Awarded for	Nominated work
Mirchi Music Awards	2013	Won	Indie Pop Song of the Year	Cheene Re Mora Chain
Mirchi Music Awards	2014	Nominated		Chulein Aasman
Filmfare Awards	2007	Won	Filmfare Award for Best Background Score	Krrish
Apsara Awards	2009	Nominated	Apsara Award for Best Music Director	Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
IIFA Awards	2005	Won	IIFA Best Background Score Award	Mujhse Shaadi Karogi
Star Screen Awards	2003	Won	Star Screen Award for Best Background Score	Bhoot
Star Screen Awards	2004	Won	Star Screen Award for Best Background Score	Dhoom
Zee Cine Awards	2005	Won	Zee Cine Award for Best Background Score	Ab Tak Chhappan
Daytime Emmy Awards	2009	Nominated	Daytime Emmy Award For Outstanding Original Song in a Children's Series	Wonder Pets[14]
Syracuse International Film Festival Awards	2008	Won	Best Music Director	Fashion
FHM (magazine) awards	2007	Won	Best Dressed Music Composers
Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer	2010	Nominated	Best Singer for Shukran Allah with Sonu Nigam	Kurbaan

Filmography as composers

For songs

• Main Atal Hoon (2024)
• The Power (2021)
• Coolie No. 1 (2020)
• Prawaas (2020)
• Setters (2019)
• 102 Not Out (2018)
• Poorna: Courage Has No Limit (2017)
• Janaan (2016)
• Jai Gangaajal (2016)
• Wedding Pullav (2015)
• 22 Yards (2014)
• Ungli (2014)
• Mardaani (2014)
• Kaanchi: The Unbreakable (2014)
• Rabba Main Kya Karoon (2013)
• Satyagraha (2013)
• Chakravyuh (2012)
• Heroine (2012)
• Jodi Breakers (2012)
• Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011)
• Shakal Pe Mat Ja (2011)
• Aazaan (2011)
• Love Breakups Zindagi (2011)
• Anaganaga O Dheerudu (Telugu) (2011)
• Band Baaja Baaraat (2010)
• Aashayein (2010)
• Teen Patti (2010)
• Pyaar Impossible! (2010)
• Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009)
• Kurbaan (2009)
• Luck (2009)
• Wonder Pets! (2009)
• 8 x 10 Tasveer (2009)
• Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
• Fashion (2008)
• Roadside Romeo (2008)
• Bombay to Bangkok (2008)
• Samar (2008)
• Aaja Nachle (2007)
• Chak De! India (2007)
• Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii (2007)
• Dor (2006)
• Iqbal (2006)
• Neal 'n' Nikki (2005)
• Kaal (2005)
• Darna Mana Hai (2003)
• Bhoot (2003)
• Gate To Heaven (2003)
• 3 Deewarein (2003)
• Ghaath (2000)

For background score

• Ganapath (2023)
• Skater Girl (2021)
• Coolie No. 1 (2020)
• Desert Dolphin (2020)
• Student of the Year 2 (2019)
• Race 3 (2018)
• Fukrey Returns (2017)
• Kaabil (2017)
• Ungli (2014)
• Kill Dil (2014)
• Bang Bang! (2014)
• Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (2013)
• Dhoom 3 (2013)
• Krrish 3 (2013)
• Race 2 (2013)
• Student of the Year (2012)
• Cocktail (2012)
• Anaganaga O Dheerudu (2011) (Telugu)
• Action Replayy (2010)
• Anjaana Anjaani (2010)
• I Hate Luv Storys (2010)
• Kites (2010)
• Paathshaala (2010)
• Wanted (2009)
• Love Aaj Kal (2009)
• De Dana Dan (2009)
• Dostana (2008)
• Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008)
• Fashion (2008)
• Bhoothnath (2008)
• God Tussi Great Ho (2008)
• Singh Is Kinng (2008)
• Race (2008)
• Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)
• Sunday (2007)
• Partner (2007)
• Dhoom 2 (2006)
• Krrish (2006)
• 36 China Town (2006)
• Shortcut (2006)
• Ustad & Divas (2006)
• Fanaa (2006)
• Pyare Mohan (2006)
• Being Cyrus (2006)
• Fight Club – Members Only (2006)
• Mere Jeevan Saathi (2006)
• Dosti: Friends Forever (2005)
• Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! (2005)
• Salaam Namaste (2005)
• No Entry (2005)
• Barsaat (2005)
• Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005)
• Naina (2005)
• Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women (2005)
• Vaada (2005)
• Koffee with Karan (TV Series) (2004)
• Aitraaz (2004)
• Dhoom (2004)
• Shock (2004) (Tamil)
• Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
• Hyderabad Blues 2 (2004)
• Hum Tum (2004)
• Ab Tak Chhappan (2004)
• Agni Pankh (2004)
• Kahan Ho Tum (2003)
• Qayamat (2003)
• Moksha (2001)
• Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999)
• Hameshaa (1997)

Songs sung by Salim Merchant

Year	Songs	Album	Language	Composer	Lyricist	Notes
2006	''Aashayein''	Iqbal	Hindi	Salim–Sulaiman	Irfan Siddique	Sang the Chorus.[15]
2009	''Shukran Allah''	Kurbaan	Hindi	Salim-Sulaiman	Niranjan Iyengar
2009	"Khudaya Ve"	Luck	Hindi	Salim-Sulaiman	Shabbir Ahmed
2010	''Aye Khuda''	Paathshaala	Hindi	Hanif Shaikh	Hanif Shaikh

Discography as composers

Year	Album	Artist(s)	No. of songs	Notes
1992	Ragga Ragga	K.S.Chithra, Voodoo (rapper)	8 songs	First Album
1995	Shweta – The New Album	Shweta Shetty, Shantanu Mukherjee, Sagarika Mukherjee	8 songs	Also known as Shweta – The New Album and other hits on Audio CD with the additional of 4 bonus tracks from 8 main tracks.
	Dole Dole and Other Hits	Suchitra Krishnamurthy	1 song
1996	Channel Hits	Various	1 song
1998	Maa	Sagarika, Shaan, Shweta Shetty, Suchitra Krishnamoorti and others As mentioned on the back of the album cover	8+3 songs (11 songs)
2000	Prema.com	Various	1 song
2001	Bhoomi	Zubeen Garg, Bhoomi, Ustad Sultan Khan and others	8 song
2020	Date Kar Le	CarryMinati	1 Song	[16]
2022	Tsunami	Khesari Lal Yadav	1 Song	[17]

References

1. "Salim - Sulaiman". www.facebook.com.
2. "Har Ghar Kucch Kehta Hai" - Episode 6–30 December 2013
3. "The Ismaili: Scoring the sounds of Bollywood". Retrieved 11 May 2011.
4. "It's merchant magic". www.iol.co.za.
5. "Composers Salim-Sulaiman team up with UAE singer for devotional track 'Salaam'".
6. "The Rise of Salim-Sulaiman". Passion For Cinema. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
7. "Lady Gaga Goes Desi With Salim-Sulaiman Merchant". 13 April 2011.
8. "I was never a crazy fan of Gaga: Salim". The Times of India. 17 April 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013.
9. "Sold's music is very different from the movie: Salim Merchant". radioandmusic.com. 6 May 2016.
10. "Salim-Sulaiman collaborate with Ricky Kej for Gandhi Jayanti". The Times of India. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
11. Rozario, R. R (9 October 2020). "Lockdown Diaries: Salim Sulaiman release Gandhi Jayanti single with Grammy Award Winner and US Billboard #1 artist, Ricky Kej". www.flipsyde.live. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
12. Rozario, R. R (31 January 2021). "Music Directors Salim-Sulaiman Take A Chance With Young Indie Musician-Singer Shivansh Jindal And The Result Is Fabulous". flipsyde.live. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
13. "Salim Sulaiman to perform at FIFA world cup". NDTV. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
14. "Salim-Sulaiman nominated for Emmy". The Times of India. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013.
15. "Salim Merchant: KK was so secure as an artist, he insisted I sing the chorus of Aashayein instead of him -Exclusive!". The Times of India. 1 June 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
16. "YouTube star CarryMinati collaborates with Salim-Sulaiman for new song - OrissaPOST". Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST. 28 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
17. "Khesari lal Song: 'बवाल' करने के बाद अक्षरा सिंह संग खेसारी लाल यादव लेकर आए 'सुनामी', मच गई तबाही". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.

External links

• Salim and Sulaiman Official Website