How two childhood friends transformed the sound of modern Bollywood cinema
In short: From a chance meeting in a recording studio to over 3 billion YouTube streams, Vishal–Shekhar have redefined Indian film music. By introducing techno elements to the industry, this duo has moved beyond traditional melodies to create global hits with artists like Akon and The Vamps.
The partnership between Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani began in 1999. While working on tracks for the film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, the childhood friends met in a studio and decided to form a musical team. Their early work included guest compositions for films like Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein and Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, before they released their first full soundtrack, Vadh, in 2002.
The duo gained significant recognition with the 2003 soundtrack Jhankaar Beats, which earned them the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. They were credited with introducing techno music to Bollywood, a trend they sustained through successful soundtracks such as Om Shanti Om (2007) and Dostana (2008). Their influence is evidenced by their massive digital footprint, having surpassed 3 billion streams on YouTube.
Their versatility is reflected in their ability to collaborate across genres and borders. They have worked with international artists including Akon, The Vamps, Imogen Heap, and Diplo. While Vishal Dadlani is also the vocalist for the Mumbai-based electronic band Pentagram, Shekhar Ravjiani is a trained classical singer who learned the accordion from his father, Hasmukh Ravjiani.
The duo's commercial dominance is marked by a string of hits and award nominations. Their 2016 track "Nashe Si Chad Gayi" from Befikre was the first Indian song to reach 300 million and then 400 million views on YouTube. Furthermore, their 2017 song "Swag Se Swagat" from Tiger Zinda Hai became the fastest song in the world to reach 100 million views on YouTube.
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