Music directors, composer, music producers, singers, instrumentalists
Years active
1977–2005, 2009, 2016–present
Members
Shravan Rathod (until 22 April 2021)
Nadeem Akhtar Saifi
Nadeem–Shravan are 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).[1][2]
Nadeem–Shravan were the most successful Bollywood music directors of the 1990s until the early 2000s.[3] 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,[4] and became the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album of all time.[5] Nadeem–Shravan were also behind many of the other best-selling Bollywood soundtrack albums of the 1990s.[5] Their success helped establish the music label T-Series.[6] 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.
Shravan Kumar Rathod, one half of the Nadeem–Shravan duo, in 2012.
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.[7] 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.[8]
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 Planet Bollywood on their "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks".[9] The soundtrack album sold 20 million units,[4] making it the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album of all time.[5]
Nadeem Akhtar Saifi, other half of the Nadeem–Shravan duo, in 1996
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"). Planet Bollywood started the review by saying, "The music for Pardes is Nadeem-Shravan's best ever."[12]
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.[8]
Gulshan Kumar murder case
Gulshan Kumar, the owner of T-Series, was shot dead outside the Jeeteshwar Mahadev Mandir, a Hindu mandir 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.[13] 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.[14]
After the police's allegations against him, Nadeem Saifi had fled to the United Kingdom. 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.[15] 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.[16]
Later years
Nadeem remained in the UK and despite the distance between England and India, he and Shravan continued to make music together. But they later split after Dosti: Friends Forever.[17]
Death of Shravan
On 22 April 2021, Shravan died of COVID-19 after being hospitalized days before in critical condition, in Hinduja Hospital.[18] His son and wife were admitted to another medical facility in the city.[19][20]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2021)
In total span of 16 years only 5 years (1994, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005) are such which don't have Nadeem–Shravan album in top 3. The yearly analysis is as follows:
^"India Today". India Today. 1994. p. 342. In 1990, the super-success of Nadeem–Shravan's Aashiqui ushered in the era of ghazal-type romantic music as in Saajan, Dil, Phool aur Kaante, Deewana.
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