Two young artists from Srinagar, Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami, have made a significant mark in the Indian music industry by contributing to the title track of the upcoming Bollywood film Saiyaara, produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF). Directed by Mohit Suri and starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film is set for release on July 18.
Faheem has lent his vocals to the title song, while Arslan has co-composed the track alongside renowned Bollywood music director Tanishk Bagchi. For the two artists, who hail from non-film backgrounds, the collaboration marks a major milestone in their creative journey.
“We are from Srinagar. Our journey is like that of any common Kashmiri youth,” said Faheem Abdullah in a conversation with Rising Kashmir. A postgraduate in English Literature from Bangalore, Faheem added, “I never imagined being part of a YRF film. I am the first in my family to take up an artistic career. It still feels surreal.”
Arslan Nizami, who previously worked as a tunnel engineer at the Zojila Tunnel project, credited his early musical inspiration to his school teacher and his father, celebrated Kashmiri singer Kaiser Nizami. “My father was my first guru, but I was hesitant. It was my teacher who gave me the confidence to pursue music,” he said.
The breakthrough came when Arslan left his job at the Zojila Tunnel to join Faheem. Goals set and journey to Mumbai started with high hopes and less avenues.
Their journey into Bollywood began with a leap of faith. “Faheem called me one day and said, ‘Come with me out of the mountains.’ I quit my job. For 13 days in Mumbai, we knocked on doors. On the 14th day, we met Tanishk Bagchi. He saw something in us,” Arslan recalled.
The title track of Saiyaara had already been composed by the duo prior to their meeting with Bagchi and director Mohit Suri. “We never imagined it would find its place in a YRF production,” said Faheem.
“Faheem had the first idea for the song. When we met Mohit Suri, it was like a dream come true,” Arslan said.
Discussing their musical sensibilities, Arslan said: “Kashmir has a deep-rooted tradition in folk music, but we wanted to bring something contemporary while staying true to our roots.” Faheem added, “Traditional is the new contemporary. In Saiyaara, the sound is modern—driven by guitars and contemporary rhythms. Just because we are from Kashmir doesn’t mean every song must include Kashmiri instruments. Bollywood demands versatility.”
On the set of the film, Faheem shared a heartwarming moment. “We met a Kashmiri Pandit among the crew. Out of around a hundred people, there were four Kashmiris on the set. That was truly a delight.” Looking ahead, both artists expressed a commitment to promoting Kashmiri art and culture.
“We hope this project opens doors for other Kashmiri youth who dream of Bollywood,” said Arslan. “We too were inspired by others, and now we hope to inspire at least a few.” Faheem echoed the sentiment. “Kashmiris have dreams, even if they feel limited by circumstances. We always believed we were made for something greater—and somehow, it happened in the form of Saiyaara and YRF.”
