Himesh Reshammiya

Himesh Reshammiya is born on 23rd July 1973 and is the son of Veteran Gujarati music director Vipinji Reshammiya.

Himesh lost his elder brother at the age of 11, and decided to take up music as his career after the incident, to fulfill his father's wishes. He did his schooling at Hill Grange School in Peddar Road area, Mumbai.At just 16 years old and before he went into music direction, he produced television serials for Zee TV which included serials such as “Andaz” & “Amar Prem”.

His debut as music director was for the film Bandhan, in which he collaborated with Anand Raj Anand to produce the musical score. Himesh Reshammiya was first noticed in Bollywood for his work in the film Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998). He befriended Salman Khan, the lead of the movie and composed music for several Salman starrers thereon. The movies include 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, Kyon Ki 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 a major music director 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.

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. He is the first music director to have won a Filmfare Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

Himesh Reshammiya's trademark style includes a baseball cap, stubble reminiscent of George Michael, form-fitting jeans, and a belt with an oversized buckle. His style of handling the microphone with the bottom facing upwards, and the black trenchcoat that he wears in concerts are consistent elements of his style along with a piercing on his left ear. His friend Prashant Chadha is reputedly responsible for Himesh's makeover. Prashant has directed the music videos for songs of his album "Aap Ka Suroor" as well as promotional videos for the movies Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Aksar, Tom, Dick & Harry and Humko Deewana Kar Gaye.

TRIVIA:

In spite of his popularity, Himesh Reshammiya has been the target of criticism. In the past, his critics had suggested that success has gone to his head, and that he had signed on films indiscriminately. His nasal twang has been criticized by many. Reshammiya initially defended himself but later in an interview admitted that he was indeed a nasal singer.

In November 2006, Himesh fired up a controversy by stating that Mukesh, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and R D Burman had a nasal style of singing. The remark invited the wrath of late R D Burman's wife, Asha Bhosle and Himesh had to eat his own words by apologizing several times to her.

Himesh is not someone new to controversies and the guy sure knows how to handle himself in troubled waters. All said and done, there seems to be no stopping his nasal voice from reaching our ears in the confines of discotheques, buses, autos and last but not the least barber shops.