Nadeem-Shravan first met at St Anne's Girls School in Mumbai in the early '70s. The school had invited the duo as judges to judge the school's music competition. The short meeting proved fruit .. Read More
ful as the duo became good friends. In the early 70's music teams like Shanker Jaikishen, Laxmikant Pyarelal and Kalyanji–Anandji were big music directors. Hence the duo decided to make a team of music directors.
Nadeem-Shravan debut film celebrates Golden Jubilee
Since Bollywood had top music directors hence getting a break as independent music director was difficult. Thus after one year of struggle in Bollywood, Nadeem-Shravan decided to try luck in Uttar Pradesh film industry. They started with Bachubhai Shah's Bhojpuri film Dangal (1979). The film had all super hit songs, particularly the song Ha Kaashi hile Patna hile Calcutta Hilela…sung by Mana Dey was a national craze. The film celebrated Golden Jubilee purely on strength of its good music.
1980
Nadeem-Shravan worked for C-Grade films in Bollywood
The success Dangal opened doors for Nadeem Shravan in Bollywood. The first Bollywood film was Bebassi. The film was a flop but Nadeem Shravan got work in the '80s but all the films were low budget C-Grade film action or horror thrillers like Apradhi Kaun, Zakhmi Insaan, Cheekh, Vikram Betaal, Qatil Aur Ashiq, Khooni Mahal, etc.
After the failures of C-Grade films, Nadeem Shravan stopped doing such films and waited until they got A-grade films. Eventually A-grade film director Aziz Sejawal gave them the opportunity in his hit film Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri (1989) starring Jackie Shroff, Farha, Shakti Kapoor, and Kader Khan. The film was a huge hit. The music was also hit particularly the title song "Baap Numbari Beta Dus Numbri…. was very popular.
1990
Nadeem Shravan hit a jackpot with Aashiqui
Nadeem Shravan hit a jackpot with the super hit music of Aashiqui (1990). However, few know that Aashiqui was actually a Non-filmy Music Album that was produced by T-Series owner Gulshan Kumar to promote singer Anuradha Podwal in a big way. The songs were composed by Nadeem Shravan and lyrics written by Sameer.
However, just before the release of the album film director Mahesh Bhatt heard the songs and was bowled over by its enchanting music. Hence Bhatt convinced Gulshan Kumar to make a film and explore the songs on a bigger platform. Gulshan Kumar loved the idea. He nodded. The result was Aashiqui.
Nadeem Shravan won three Filmfare Best Music Director Award in a row
Mahesh Bhatt wrote and directed Aashiqui by brilliantly weaving the songs in the film. To curtail the expense of the film, Mahesh Bhatt made the film on a shoe-string budget by casting newcomers Anu Aggarwal, Rahul Roy, and Deepak Tijori. The film turned out to be a blockbuster at the box-office. The music sold like hot cake! Aashiqui created history and became a musical hit of 1990. Each song was super hit like Nazar Ke Saamne.....Ab Tere Bin........Bas Ek Sanam Chaahiye ......Dheere Dheere Se…
Nadeem Shravan toppled top music director Bappi Lahiri for his music in Aaj Ka Arjun and Anand-Milind for Dil and went away winning their First Filmfare Best Music Director for the brilliant score in Aashiqui. What is amazing is that Nadeem Shravan became the Second Music directors after Shanker Jaikishen to win three Filmfare awards in a row. After Aashiqui (1991), Nadeem Shravan won consecutive Filmfare Best Music Director Award in a row for Sajjan (1992) and Deewana (1993).
Nadeem Shravan toppled the dominance of Laxmikant–Pyarelal in '90s
Just as Laxmikant–Pyarelal toppled the supremacy of music wizard Shanker Jaikishen in the 60's similarly Nadeem Shravan repeated history and toppled the dominance of Laxmikant–Pyarelal and became number one music director in the '90s. Nadeem Shravan revived the era of melody and gave a string of hitting melodious songs Dheere Dheere Se Mere Dil Mein Samana…Aashiqui (1991), Dheere Dheere Pyar Ko Badhana Hai… Phool Aur Kante ( 1991), Dekha Hai Pehli Baar… Sajjan (1992), Sochenge Tumhe Pyar……..Deewana (1992), Ghunghat Ki Aad Se Dilbar Ka……Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Kitna Haseen Chehra… Dilwale (1994), Akhiyaan Milaoon Kabhi… Raja (1995), Kitna Pyaara Tujhe Rab Ne…….Raja Hindustani (1996), Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain…., Pardes (1997), etc.
Nadeem Shravan got a setback 1997
When everything was going great guns suddenly in the year 1997 Gulshan Kumar was murdered by underworld don Dawood Gang but media reports were rife with music director Nadeem's name in the murder plot!! Nadeem was accused of conspiring with Abu Salem but in the lie detector test in the Forensic Science Laboratory in Bangalore, Abu Salem declared that Nadeem is innocent. In 2002, Nadeem was acquitted of all charges by a Mumbai sessions court. But still, he was legally harassed hence Nadeem moved to London and took a British Citizenship. He fought a long legal battle in London and was finally acquitted. However, the Nadeem Shravan Music Jodi was badly hit and the two lost many films.
2000
Nadeem Shravan returned with a bang with Dhadkan
Though Nadeem resided at London he was in touch with Shravan and the two composed songs but filmmakers kept distance with them. Finally, Ratan Jain, the owner of Venus Worldwide Entertainment Pvt Ltd, who produced Baazigar (1993) and made Shah Rukh Khan a star, dared and signed Nadeem Shravan for his film Dhadkan (2000). Interestingly, Ratan Jain’s gambled succeeded. As usual, Nadeem Shravan lived to their reputation and delivered melodious music – Remember hit songs like Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hain Dil Se…; Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan Mein… The music won Filmfare Nomination for Best Music Directors.
The success of Dhadkan opened flood gates for Nadeem Shravan
The duo continued their winning combination with Raaz (2002). The music of the film was huge hit remember hit songs Aapke Pyaar Mein… Jo Bhi Kasmein Khai Thi….Main Agar Saamne…… The film won Screen Best Music Award director award. They even won Filmfare Nomination. After this, they gave hit films like Andaaz (2003), Bewafaa in 2005, etc
Nadeem Shravan split in 2005
The Nadeem Shravan Jodi split in 2005. Ironically their last film was titled Dosti: Friends Forever. The reason behind their separation was film producer's alleged complaints of Nadeem not operating from Mumbai. Nadeem started his own business of perfume in Dubai while Shravan took retirement from music and started Music Teaching Classes.
Nadeem Made a Come Back as Solo Music Director
Though Nadeem started Perfume business and made money but his heart lay in music thus in 2016, Nadeem Saifi Akhtar contacted his permanent lyricist Sameer and expressed his desire to make a comeback in Bollywood without his regular patner Shravan. Sameer agreed. Thus with the film, Ishq Forever Nadeem returned to Bollywood in 2016.
Soon famous filmmaker Suneel Darshan, with whom he gave the super hit music for his film Dhadkan signed him for his home production Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha (2017). Later Nadeem Shravan's 2 hit songs were re-created Dilbar Dilbar… from film Sirf Tum in Satyameva Jayate (2018) and Tumhein Apna Banane Ki….( Sadak) has been re-created in the latest Sadak 2 (2020). It is also expected Nadem would give music for the Deewana 2 to be released in 2020.
It may be noted that Nadeem operates from London and has plans to return to India.