Introduction

Himesh Reshammiya is an Indian music director, singer, actor, television producer, lyricist, film producer, script writer, and distributor. The year 2014 proved to be a good one for Himesh as The Exposé, a film that he produced and acted in, was declared a hit and converted into a franchise. A sequel to the film is in the pipeline for release in May 2015. To top it all, a number from the soundtrack of Humshakals (2014) called Caller Tune, was also a big hit.

Early Life

Reshammiya was born on July 23, 1973 in a place called Dungar, in Gujarat. His father Vipin Reshammiya was a music composer who had already worked with great artists like RD Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Shankar Jaikishan among others. Vipin had also produced a movie Insaaf Ki Jung in 19887. At the age of 11, Himesh decided to take up music as a career to fulfill his father’s desire after he lost his elder brother. Himesh studied at Hill Grange School in Padder Road area, Mumbai. When Himesh was 16 years old, he began his career with a production house, which aired TV soaps on Doordarshan, Ahmedabad, and on Zee TV.6 Two of his famous title song compositions are for the serials Amar Prem and Andaaz (1995-97) on Zee TV.

TV Serials

• Composed Title songs for TV serials Amar Prem and Andaaz on Zee TV

• Judged singing competition Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge on Zee TV, with his group called Rock Gharana.

• Judged the Finale of Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar.

Entry into Bollywood

His break in Bollywood movies came when his friend Salman Khan gave him a chance to become a music director in the film Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya alongside composers Jatin Lalit and Sajid- Wajid in 1998, this was followed up by movies like Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000) and Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002). Fame and success came his way as music director in the 2003 film Tere Naam in which he won a star screen award and a Zee Cine Award for best Music Director. Here onwards his music direction featured in movies like Zameen (2003), Tum – A Dangerous Obsession (2004), Dil Maange More (2004), and in 2005 came the film Aashiq Banaya Aapne wherein Himesh won the coveted Filmfare Best Male Playback Singer Award and Bollywood Music Award for the Best Music Director.

His songs like Zara Jhoom Jhoom from the film Tom, Dick and Harry (2006), Tera Surroor and Tanhaiyan both from the movie Aap Kaa Surroor - The Real Luv Story (2007), proved to be quite popular. Himesh also made his debut as an actor and a singer in Aap Kaa Surroor. His musical style and composition established itself as a fusion of Western and Indian classical music, accompanied by techno beats, firmly grounded in the genre of electronic music. His album Aap Kaa Surroor was the highest selling album in the Indian music history; remaining number one on the music charts for almost a year.

The year 2007 also saw Himesh as a music director doing some tracks in the film Welcome, wherein two of his songs Insha Allah and Kola Laka Vellari became big hits. By 2008, another of song Tum Mile from the film My Name is Anthony Gonsalves also became a hit number. In 2009, the film Radio was his 100th film, as a music director. Soon he composed the tunes for the film Milenge Milenge (2010) wherein the song Kuch To Baaki Hai became a smash hit. Later, the movie Bodyguard (2011) saw the song Teri Meri Prem Kahani winning the Airtel Superstar Award, Big Star Award and the Lions Favourite Music Director Award.

In 2012, he composed for movies like Dangerous Ishhq, Bol Bachchan, Oh My God!, Son of Sardar, culminating in Khiladi 786 which won the Lions Favourite Path Breaking Music Award. The next year he composed music for films like Special 26, Shortcut Romeo and Policegiri. In the 2014, Himesh composed for a flurry of films like The Xposé, Humshakals, Kick, All is Well, Action Jackson, and a remake of Masoom (from Himesh Reshammiya Production Next). The film Humshakals minted Rs 40 crore in the opening weekend3, while The Xposé won him the Life OK Best Entertainer of the Month. Upcoming films in 2015, where Himesh will direct music include The Xposé-2 and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

Awards

• Filmfare Awards: Best Male Playback Singer Award for Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2006).

• Zee Cine Award: Best Music Director for the movie Tere Naam (2003).

• Star Screen Award: Best Music Director for the film Tere Naam (2003).

• Phalke Best Supporting Actor Award for the film Khiladi 786 (2013).