Master Saleem Biography

Master Saleem, sometimes referred as Saleem Shahzada (Salim Shahzada), is an Indian singer from Punjab, known for his work as a playback singer in Bollywood films, like Heyy Babyy (2007), Dostana and Love Aaj Kal (2009). He has also released private albums, of Punjabi Music, religious music and Sufi music.

Early Life And Training

He was born Saleem Shahkoti (Saleem Shahzada), in Shahkot, near Jalandhar, Punjab. He is the son of the famous Sufi singer Ustad Pooran Shah Koti, who was also the guru of folk singers, Hans Raj Hans, Jasbir Jassi and Sabar Koti. At the age of six, Saleem also became his disciple and started learning singing.

Career

At the age of 10, he gave his first public performance at the opening ceremony of Bathinda Doordarshan (TV station), with his song, Charkhe Di Ghook, and thus earned the name Master Saleem. Soon he started appearing on TV shows, like Jhilmil Taare.

Saleem's first album, Charkhe Di Ghook, was released when he was 10 years old. It was released with the label Sur Taal, created by his father's friend, Majnider Singh Goli, and went on to become a hit. This led to several Punjabi music and religious albums and live shows.

His song Dhol Jagiro Da also became a huge hit and gave him wide popularity. In the late 1990s, however, as he was growing his voice started changing, which lessened his popularity. He made his comeback in 2000, with a hit Aj Hona Deedar Mahi da, which he sang at a New Year's programme at Doordarshan channel, and later released albums dedicated to Goddess Durga including, Mela Maiya Da (2004), Aj Hai Jagrata, Meri Maiya and Darshan Kar Lao.

Around 2005, singer Jasbir Jassi introduced him to music director Sandeep Chowta, who subsequently called him to Delhi to record a single, Sajni in the Sony Music album Teri Sajni.

Eventually, Shankar Mahadevan, of the music trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, saw his performances at a jagaran at the Devi Talaab Mandir, Jalandhar, being aired at a religious TV channel, and thus Saleem made his debut as playback singer with the single "Mast Kalandar" from the film Heyy Babyy (2007) under their music direction.

The song was a hit and launched his Bollywood career. This was followed by most well-known singles including "Tashan Mein" from the film Tashan and Maa Da Ladla from the film Dostana (2008) and Aahun Aahun in Love Aaj Kal (2009).