Salim–Sulaiman, the renowned Indian music composer duo, hails from an ancestral town in Mundra, Kutch, Gujarat, though they were born in Mumbai. Salim Merchant was born on 3 March 1974, and Sulaiman Merchant on 21 December 1970. They were deeply inspired by their father, Sadruddin Merchant, who led the Ismaili Scouts Orchestra in India. Coming from a musical family, Salim and Sulaiman were exposed to music early on. Salim honed his piano skills at the Trinity College of Music in London, while Sulaiman studied tabla with celebrated maestros such as Taufiq Qureshi and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
Their journey into the music industry began with composing for Bollywood films, with their breakthrough coming from the film Bhoot. Over the years, the duo went on to compose music for iconic films like Neal 'n' Nikki, Chak De! India, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and Fashion. They also worked with several Indi-pop artists, including Viva, Aasmaan, Shweta Shetty, Jasmine, and Style Bhai. Additionally, they composed for TV commercials and collaborated with renowned artists such as K. S. Chithra, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, and Ayisha Abdul Basith. Their collaboration with Bollywood directors and producers such as Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, and Ram Gopal Varma helped solidify their position in the music industry.
Salim Merchant gained further prominence as a judge on the Indian reality music show Indian Idol seasons 5 and 6, alongside Anu Malik and Sunidhi Chauhan. He also judged Indian Idol Junior season 2 and appeared as a coach on The Voice India. On the international stage, Salim and Sulaiman were involved in remixing songs for Lady Gaga's Born This Way and Judas and worked on I'm A Freak by Enrique Iglesias. They also contributed two songs to the Hollywood film Sold.
The duo made a remarkable contribution to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, collaborating with South African singer Loyiso Bala and Kenyan singer Eric Wainaina to create the anthem "Africa – You're A Star." During the 2020 lockdown, they released the single Gandhi Jayanti in collaboration with Ricky Kej.
Further cementing their legacy, Salim–Sulaiman launched Merchant Records, their own record label aimed at nurturing new talent and producing innovative music that transcends genre boundaries. Through their label and YouTube channel, they continue to explore the fusion of traditional Indian sounds with global influences. In 2023, they celebrated their 31-year musical journey with the release of Shukranallah, directed and written by Shakti Hasija. Their ongoing contributions to both Bollywood and independent music underscore their commitment to artistic freedom, innovation, and the growth of emerging talent in the industry.
