Himesh Reshammiya (born July 23[1]) is an Indian Bollywood film music composer, singer and actor.
Early days
Himesh is the son of Gujarati music director Vipin Reshammiya. When he was 11 years old, he lost his elder brother.[2]. He did his schooling at Hill Grange School in Peddar Road area, Mumbai. Himesh started his career with a production house which aired quite a few TV soaps on Doordarshan Ahmedabad and Zee TV.
Music direction
Early in his career, he received critical acclaim for his musical scores, although the films associated with them were not hits at the box office. His first film as music director was Bandhan (1998), in which he collaborated with Anand Raj Anand to produce the musical score. Although it was not the first film in which he contributed music, it was the first one on which he was listed as a contributing music director.
Himesh Reshammiya was first noticed in Bollywood for his work in the film Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998). He became good friends with Salman Khan, the star of the movie and composed music for several Salman starrers between 1998 and 2006, including Hello Brother, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye, Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha and Kyon Ki. The most successful albums of the Salman-Himesh association were Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya and Tere Naam.
Reshammiya has developed his own unique style of composition, based on pop and techno beats, with a lot of English words thrown in. His most popular albums so far have been Tere Naam and Aashiq Banaya Aapne. Following Aashiq Banaya Aapne, he scored music for a bunch of Emraan Hashmi films like Aksar, Dil Diya Hai and the most recent Good Boy, Bad Boy. Jhalak Dikhlaja and Soniye from Aksar have been two of his biggest hits.
Himesh Reshammiya is considered one of the major music directors in Bollywood. His peppy tunes cater mostly to the youth and the multiplex crowd, but he has also shown versatility, focusing on a more classical style for films such as Banaras: A Mystic Love Story and semi-classical tunes in Tere Naam. 2006 was his most prolific year, with back-to-back releases topping the music charts. His music was aggressively marketed and almost all the tracks from his private album, Aap Ka Surroor, were made into music videos.
In 2007, Reshammiya shifted his focus to his acting career. He also delivered some hits as a music director in early 2007, with Afreen from Red and the title track of Shakalaka Boom Boom.
Singer
Primarily a music director, Himesh later became popular for his vocals which have the distinctive high-pitched nasal twang. Reshammiya, like many of his contemporary music composers, sings several of the songs that he composes. However, he has had unprecedented success in this regard. He won a Filmfare Award in 2005 for Best Male Playback Singer (for the title song of Aashiq Banaya Aapne), becoming the first music composer to achieve this feat. Reshammiya has also released a solo music album entitled Aap Ka Suroor which became extremely popular. He has made it clear, however, that he still plans to put most of his effort in Hindi films.
Recently, music composers have released music videos for songs for films that have not been screened. Reshammiya has continued this trend with Zara Jhoom Jhoom from the film Tom, Dick, and Harry and Jhalak Dikhlaja from Aksar . A music video for an alternative title song for the film Humko Deewana Kar Gaye is also being screened on various music channels these days. Reshammiya and Tulsi Kumar are the singers, and the video is filmed on the movie's actors Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar.
He says that he is inspired by another popular Indian singer Altaf Raja. In October 2006, Reshammiya became the first Indian to perform at the Wembley Stadium in London[3].
Acting
Himesh Reshammiya scored the music and made his acting debut in Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story, which released on 29th June 2007 & opened to bumper response at the indian box office.
Fashion style
Reshammiya wears a cap and is usually seen wearing a pair of jeans with a conspicuous belt buckle along with his trademark stubble. The way he holds the mic with the bottom facing upwards, and the black trench coat that he wears in concerts are also consistent elements of his style. He has grown a beard as opposed to his previous look when he was clean shaven. He also has one earring in his left ear. His friend Prashant Chadha is reputedly responsible for Himesh’s new look. Prashant has also directed all of Himesh’s music videos from his private album "Aap Ka Suroor" as well as promotional videos for the movies "Aashiq Banaya Aapne", "Aksar", "Tom, Dick & Harry" and "Humko Deewana Kar Gaye".
Criticism and controversies
In spite of his popularity, Himesh Reshammiya has been the target of criticism. In the past, his critics have suggested that success has gone to his head, and that he has signed on films indiscriminately[4]. His nasal twang has been criticized by many. Reshammiya used to defend himself saying that his voice is not nasal, but high-pitched singing". However, in an interview with The Times of India, he said "I accept I'm a nasal singer."[5] In another interview with The Times of India, Himesh stated that only one per cent people criticize him, and the remaining 99 per cent love his work[2].
In his debut film as an actor, Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story, Reshammiya added a song Tanhaiyaan from Boney Kapoor's proposed film Milenge Milenge[6]. Reshammiya had composed the song for Kapoor's film but later decided to use it for his own movie. Tips, which held the audio rights of Milenge Milenge, accused Reshammiya of copyright violation, as audio rights for Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story were acquired by T-Series[7]. However, Reshammiya claimed that he had made Kapoor listen to the song, but it wasn't included in Milenge Milenge. He said that he was trying to get in touch with Kapoor "since the past seven months", and since there was no progress on the film, he decided to use the song for his own movie[8]. In June 2007, Boney Kapoor and Himesh Reshammiya made up, after Reshammiya apologized the former.[9]
In November 2006, Himesh remarked that Mukesh, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and R D Burman used to sing nasally. He also claimed that he had thirty-six hits in a year, and none of the above mentioned artists "ever gave the same number of hits in a year"[4]. He said this in response to allegations that all his songs are nasal-based. The remark invited the wrath of late R D Burman's wife, Asha Bhosle, who stated "If anyone says Burman saab sang through his nose he should be slapped". Later, Himesh clarified that his intention was not to insult R D Burman and apologized several times to Asha Bhosle.[10].
In November 2006, Reshammiya and his co-artists were questioned by the Income Tax department about their income from a concert in Surat. The organizer of the show, Nanu Ghaswalla, claimed that the IT officials were upset because they had been denied free passes for the show[11].
On June 27, 2007, Himesh Reshammiya visited the shrine of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti, disguised in a burqa, reportedly to avoid crowd of fans. Some people objected to this, and some even felt that it was a publicity stint for his forthcoming film.[12] Later, Reshammiya issued an apology for "offending religious sentiments", which was accepted by the Anjuman Committee that runs the shrine.[13] The Khadims (servers) of the Anjuman Committee said that he had not committed any offence, and there was no need for an apology.[14]
Himesh Reshammiya School Of Music
Reshammiya is planning a "Himesh Reshammiya School Of Music", which will have ten divisions including Rock, Sufi-Rock, Indian classical vocal, instrumental, pop etc. Each division will have three kinds of curricula (professional, amateur, and hobbyists). Reshammiya is planning eight schools, each on a 25,000 sq. ft. premises in the four Indian metros[15].
Awards
Star Screen Awards (2007) Nomination for "Best Music Director" for Aksar
Filmfare awards (2005):
Nomination for "Best Music Director" for Aashiq Banaya Aapne
"Best Playback Singer (Male)" for Aashiq Banaya Aapne
Zee Cine Awards (2006):
"Best Playback Singer (Male)" for Aashiq Banaya Aapne
Nomination for "Best Music Director" for Aashiq Banaya Aapne and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya
IIFA Awards Dubai (2006):
"Best Playback Singer (Male)" for Aashiq Banaya Aapne
Zee Cine Awards (2004):
"Best Music Director" for Tere Naam
Filmography
As An Actor
Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story (June 29, 2007) ...... HR
In Productions
Halla Bol (2007)
Nanhe Jaisalmer (2007)
Victoria No. 203 (2007)
Hostel (2007)
Benaam (2007)
Alibag (2007)
Dasavatharam (2007)
Aankh Micholi (2007)
Marna hai toh agey aao (2007)
Music Director
Mr. Fraud (November 9, 2007)
Love Story 2050 (November 2007)
Darling (July 20, 2007)
Agar (July 6, 2007)
Welcome (July 2007)
Apne (June 29, 2007)
Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story (June 29, 2007)
Fool and Final (June 1, 2007)
Good Boy Bad Boy (May 11, 2007)
Shakalaka Boom Boom (April 6, 2007)
Red (film) (March 9, 2007)
Namastey London (March 9, 2007)
Rocky - The Rebel (2006)
Dil Diya Hai (2006)
Aap Ki Khatir (2006)
Ahista Ahista (2006)
Anthony Kaun Hai? (2006)
Phir Hera Pheri (2006)
Chup Chup Ke (2006)
Tom Dick And Harry (2006)
36 China Town (2006)
Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006)
Banaras - A Mystic Love Story (2006)
Shaadi Se Pehle (2006)
Aksar (2006)
Anjaane - The Unknown (2005)
Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi (2005)
Kyon Ki (2005)
Koi Aap Sa (2005)
Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005)
Iqbal - By Chance (2005)
Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005)
Silsiilay (2005)
Yakeen (2005)
Main Aisa Hi Hoon (2005)
Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye (2005)
Blackmail (2005)
Insan (2005)
Vaada (January 7, 2005)
Dil Maange More (2004)
Aabra Ka Daabra (2004)
Aitraaz (2004)
Shukriya (2004)
Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa] (2004)
Taarzan: The Wonder Car (2004)
Julie (2004)
Run (2004)
Bardaasht (2004)
Tum? (2004)
Ishq Hai Tumse (2004)
Milenge Milenge (2004)
Zameen (2003)
Tere Naam (2003)
Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne (2003)
Chalo Ishq Ladaaye (2002)
Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002)
Humraaz (2002)
Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa (2002)
Aamdani Athanni Kharcha Rupaiya (2001)
Uljhan (2001)
Jodi No.1 (2001)
Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000)
Kurukshetra (2000)
Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000)
Hello Brother (1999)
Bandhan (1998)
Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998)
Playback Singer
Aap Ka Suroor - Real Love Story(July 29, 2007)
Fool and Final(June 1, 2007)
Good Boy Bad Boy(May 11, 2007)
Shakalaka Boom Boom(April 6, 2007)
Namastey London(March 9, 2007
Red: The Dark Side[March 9, 2007)
Rocky - The Rebel(2006)
Dil Diya Hai(2006)
Aap Ki Khatir(2006)
Ahista Ahista(2006)
Anthony Kaun Hai?(2006)
Chup Chup Ke(2006)
Phir Hera Pheri(2006)
Tom Dick And Harry(2006)
36 China Town(2006)
Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye(2006)
Banaras - A Mystic Love Story(2006)
Aksar(2006)
Aashiq Banaya Aapne(2005)