| The many faces of Himesh Reshammiya
Whatever Himesh Reshammiya does makes news -- even when he laughs out loud! The latest promo for Aap Kaa Surroor, his movie that releases this week, shows the composer break into a guffaw. With the tagline that goes: 'And you thought he doesn't even smile'. India's hottest music composer has mastered the art of hitting the headlines – Even if it means he turn into a cartoon, dance with Mallika Sherawat or take potshots at other musicians. As fans and critics wait to deliver its verdict on Himesh the actor, here's looking at the various phases of his life and career.
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Early days:
Himesh Reshammiya was born on July 23, 1973 in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Himesh drew early inspiration for music from his father, music director Vipin Reshammiya. He started his career as an assistant director with a production house in Mumbai, which aired quite a few TV soaps on Doordarshan Ahmedabad and Zee TV. Himesh did receive tremendous acclaim for his scores, even though the films that he composed for turned out to be damp squibs at the box office. |
The Salman-Himesh association:
Himesh's first big break came when he composed the foot-tapping numbers for the Salman Khan-Kajol starrer Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya in 1998. Salman and Himesh went on to become good friends, so much so that Salman insisted that Himesh would compose the music for all his forthcoming ventures. The duo churned out several hits like 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, which starred Salman's current flame, Katrina Kaif and his brother Sohail Khan. His compositions, a fusion of techno and Sufi music, were finally beginning to get noticed. Judge on Saregamapa Challenge
Fans of his music got a glimpse into Himesh the person when he appeared as a judge on Zee TV's musical reality show Saregamapa Challenge as a mentor. In both seasons of the show, Himesh has been accused of over-promoting his favourite students – Vineet and Mauli Dave. But he also has been applauded for holding his own against the legends of Indian music. The 'Rock star' arrives:
Himesh became an overnight sensation when he turned playback singer with Aashiq Banaya Aapne. He proclaimed himself to be the original 'Rock star' of India and the audiences seems to just love him. Reshammiya has developed his own unique style of composition, based on pop and techno beats, with a lot of English words thrown in. He was however criticised for his distinctive high-pitched nasal twang and his lack of variety in song compositon. Nevertheless, 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, with the likes of Deepika Padukone scorching the screen with him. His 2007 hits include Amin & Afreen from Red, the title track from Shakalaka Boom Boom and all songs from Namastey London His style statement:
When you think of Himesh, the first thing that comes to your mind is his famous cap! The singer says he has a reason why he wears the cap and promises to reveal the reason in his film Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story. He is usually seen wearing a pair of jeans with a conspicuous belt buckle along with his trademark stubble. The singer adds that the person who is responsible for his new looks: Jeans, stubble, trench coat and an earring is his best friend Prashant Chadha. Chadha has also directed all of Himesh's music videos from his private album "Aap Ka Suroor".
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Criticism and controversies:
In spite of his popularity, Himesh Reshammiya has been the target of criticism on several occasions. Himesh was panned by critics for singing through his nose. In an interview with The Times of India, Himesh claimed that only one per cent people criticise him for his nasal twang, and the remaining 99 per cent love his work. Himesh also got into much trouble when he was quoted saying that legends like Mukesh, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and R D Burman used to sing nasally. This crated a furore and the late R D Burman's wife, Asha Bhosle stated that if anyone said Burman sang through his nose he should be slapped. Later, Himesh clarified that his intention was not to insult R D Burman and apologised several times to Asha Bhosle. The two have made peace now and have collaborated for the Mehbooba song in Aap kaa Suroor. |
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Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil
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