Indian music director duo excited about Oman debut

Muscat: World famous Indian music director duo, Salim Sulaiman, who performed in the opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup in 2010, is excited about their Muscat event this month.
The sensational musician brothers, who have composed music for more than 100 Bollywood films and television shows, will make their Oman debut at the City Amphitheatre, Qurum on February 19.
In an exclusive interview, the bothers said that they are excited, humbled and really looking forward to the Muscat event.
“The people of Muscat have been giving us so much love ever since our songs hit the charts. We really owe them a great concert and we are happy to have this opportunity to give back love through our concert,” they told the Times of Oman.
One of the Bollywood’s hottest music directors, the duo said they will be performing some of their biggest hits from Chak De India, Kurbaan, Band Baaja Baarat, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Fashion, etc.
“We will also sing some of our Sufi devotional songs like Bismillah and Allahu Akbar, some old melodies from the 60s and 70s and end with a Punjabi dance mix. This is very special to us and we will make sure that the people of Muscat remember this concert for a long time to come,” they said.
Regarding their career in music, the brothers said they started their career as teenagers.
“Making music happened to us very early and we never realised that this passion would turn into our profession.
“We both grew up listening to similar artistes. We chose our instruments in such a way that we complemented each other and made music together,” they said
Regarding the way Bollywood music and expectations from music composers have changed since they joined the industry, they said the film industry keeps going through different phases.
“We as composers have always followed our hearts when it comes to composing. We always believed in making a good song rather than a hit song. We have never ever succumbed to any pressure,” they added.
On being roped in to compose for the Hollywood film Sold, they said they got a call one day from film maker Jeffery Brown and that was it. “We loved the story and everything else followed,”they added.
Regarding songs close to their heart, they named Ali maula and Yeh haunsla as being two very special numbers.
Akshay Chowdhary, Director of Light & Shadow Enterprises, said, “We are extremely happy to bring to Oman the dynamic duo that has been scoring music for Hindi films for a long time now. They are among India’s top music composers, having scored for more than 100 films including Chak De India, Band Baaja Baaraat, Kurbaan, Heroine, Fashion, Aaja Nachle, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Fashion and Iqbal among others.”
The Salim-Sulaiman concert will have an ensemble of 25 musicians performing on stage. “Some top singers from Bollywood, including top female singer Shweta Pandit, will be accompanying them,” Akshay said.
Steeped in a family tradition of music as the sons of composer and veteran of the film industry Sadruddin Merchant, Salim mastered the piano at the Trinity College of Music in London while Sulaiman took up tabla training with legends such as Taufiq Qureshi and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
They have also composed several records incorporating cinematic, folk, electronic and Sufi influences to their music. “They have really redefined the music scene in India,” Akshay Chowdhary said.
The programme is being brought to Oman by the Sultanate’s event management agency, Light & Shadow Enterprises.
The presenter of the concert is Minara, a product of Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives (AVOD) S.A.O.G. “Over the years, we have made the effort to redefine entertainment in Oman.
Concerts such as Temptations Reloaded with Shahrukh Khan and Katrina, Akon’s Live Concert and Salman Khan’s event which we have done in the past have proved our organisational skills, set up abilities, production calibre and eye to detail. Continuing the tradition, we want this to be the biggest concert of the year,” said Akshay Chowdhary.