Salim and Sulaiman
Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant
Background information
Origin	Mumbai, India
Genres	Film score, soundtrack
Occupation(s)	Music director, singer, composer, record producer, instrumentalist, arranger, programmer
Years active	1993–present

Siblings Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant are an Indian composer duo who compose music for Hindi films.

Life and early career[edit]

They belong to a Muslim family and are inspired by their father Sadruddin Merchant, who used to lead Ismaili Scouts Orchestra in India.^[1] 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.^[2] They emerged as popular composers only in 2003, 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 Ustad Zakir Hussain and Ustad Sultan Khan. 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 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) .^[3]

They have worked on a Bollywood remix for Lady Gaga's songs Born This Way and Judas.^[4][5] They also worked on I'm A Freak By Enrique. The duo are also composing music for the Hollywood film Sold, produced by Academy Award winner Jeffrey D. Brown.^[6]

2010 FIFA World Cup[edit]

The musical duo collaborated with South African singer Loyiso Bala and Kenyan singer and song writer Eric Wainaina to record the anthem for 2010 FIFA World Cup. The anthem is the song "Africa – You're A Star".^[7][8]

Indian Idol[edit]

Salim Merchant worked as judge along with Anu Malik and Sunidhi Chauhan in season 5 and season 6 of Indian Idol. Salim will judge the second season of Indian Idol Junior along with Vishal Dadlani and Sonakshi Sinha

Awards[edit]

Filmography as composers[edit]

For songs[edit]

For Background score only[edit]

• Bang Bang (film)(2014)
• Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (2013)
• Krrish 3 (2013)
• Race 2 (2013)
• Cocktail (2012)
• Anaganaga O Dheerudu (Telugu) (2011)
• Anjaana Anjaani (2010)
• I Hate Luv Storys (2010)
• Kites (2010)
• Paathshaala (2010)
• Wanted (2009)
• Love Aaj Kal (2009)
• De Dana Dan (2009)
• Dostana (2008)
• Fashion (2008)
• Bhoothnath (2008)
• God Tussi Great Ho (2008)
• Singh Is Kinng (2008)
• Race (2008)
• Sunday (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)
• Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
• Hyderabad Blues 2 (2004)
• Hum Tum (2004)
• Ab Tak Sodhi (2004)
• Agni Pankh (2004)
• Kahan Ho Tum (2003)
• Qayamat (2003)
• Moksha (2001)
• Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999)
• Hameshaa (1997)
• Singer:Chitra, Song Name: Sangeet, Raaga Raaga (album) (1993)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Salim and Sulaiman Official Website

Events of Salim Sulaiman in USA and Canada http://events.sulekha.com/salim-sulaiman_tickets_artist_140