Early success

Their breakthrough film, Aashiqui (1990), which brought them into the limelight, was gifted to them by none other than Gulshan Kumar. Aashiqui has been rated the 4th best soundtrack ever by Planet Bollywood on their "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks".^[9] The soundtrack album sold 20 million units,^[4] making it the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album of all time.^[5]

Nadeem Akhtar Saifi, other half of the Nadeem–Shravan duo, in 1996

Their success continued with Saajan, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Sadak, Sainik, Raja, Dilwale, Raja Hindustani and Phool Aur Kaante. Whether it was "Chehra Kya Dekhte Ho" (Salaami), "Adayein Bhi Hain" (Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin) "Sochenge Tumhe Pyar" (Deewana), "Tujhe Na Dekhu Toh Chain" (Rang), they all had the distinct stamp of Nadeem–Shravan.

Most of their compositions fall under the filmi-ghazal genre, as they were greatly inspired by ghazal music,^[10] and Classical music.^[11]

When Pardes soundtrack was released, the tracks had different varieties of songs; songs ("I Love My India" and "Meri Mehbooba"), love songs ("Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain") and qawwali ("Nahin Hona Tha)" pop ("My first day in America"), pain ("Ye Dil Deewana"). Planet Bollywood started the review by saying, "The music for Pardes is Nadeem-Shravan's best ever."^[12]

They have worked with lyricists like Sameer, Anand Bakshi, Faaiz Anwar, Hasrat Jaipuri, Rani Malik and many others. When they arrived on the music scene, Laxmikant–Pyarelal and Anand–Milind were at the top. But subsequently their hard work paid off and they had various hits in a row.^[8]

Their songs often contain Jhankaar, Conga, Bongos, Electronic drum fusion beats. They have insisted on sticking to lyricist Sameer and male singers Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan and female singer Alka Yagnik for most of their compositions.

Other soundtracks by them include Saajan (16), Sadak (51), Raja Hindustani (56), Dhadkan (73), Deewana (79).

Gulshan Kumar murder case

Gulshan Kumar, the owner of T-Series, was shot dead outside the Jeeteshwar Mahadev Mandir, a Hindu mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva of which he attended daily in Jeet Nagar, Andheri West suburb of Mumbai, on 12 August 1997. Mumbai underworld organization D-Company was involved with the murder.^[13] The police also accused Nadeem Saifi of having paid for the murder due to a personal dispute and fled the country after the murder. According to the police, Nadeem hatched the conspiracy in Dubai in May with Anees Ibrahim Kaskar, the brother of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and Dawood's associates Abu Salem and Kayyum. Crime branch sources said Nadeem has been out of Bombay since Gulshan Kumar died. During the interrogation of the arrested gangsters, the police reportedly learned that Nadeem had organized a "secret" music function in June for Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar in Dubai. Many well-known Bollywood personalities, the police claim, were present.^[14]

After the police's allegations against him, Nadeem Saifi had fled to the United Kingdom. In 2001, the case was taken to the London High Court, which rejected the Indian government's request for extradition on the grounds that there was no prima facie case against Saifi. In August 2001, the prosecution's main witness, Mohammed Ali Hussain Shaikh, who had earlier claimed Saifi participated in the murder, eventually revealed that he didn't know Saifi and had never seen him.^[15] Abu Salem also denied Nadeem's involvement on Indian national television. Saifi was also exonerated by four courts, including the House of Lords in the United Kingdom and the sessions court in Mumbai. Saifi eventually acquired British citizenship, and later moved to Dubai, where he runs a successful perfumery business.^[16]

Later years

After being inactive for sometime, Nadeem–Shravan made a comeback of sorts with Dhadkan, Ek Rishta, Kasoor, Hum Ho Gaye Aapke, Yeh Dil Aashiqana, Raaz, Dil Hai Tumhaara, Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, Qayamat, Hungama, Andaaz, Dil Ka Rishta, Bewafaa, Tumsa Nahin Dekha: A Love Story, Barsaat, Dosti and Do Knot Disturb.

Nadeem remained in the UK and despite the distance between England and India, he and Shravan continued to make music together. But they later split after Dosti: Friends Forever.^[17]

Split

In 2005, the duo split, but came back for Do Knot Disturb, which was their last movie together. Nadeem started his own perfume and bag company and was also involved in solo compositions. Shravan was uninterested in continuing with his music and instead focused on the music careers of his sons (Sanjeev–Darshan) and movie production. Another reason cited is probably the growing distance between the two. In an interview, Nadeem stated that there wasn't any conflict between him and Shravan. In late 2013 it was announced that the duo would work together again on the sequel of Deewana but they later split due to personal conflicts again as a result of which Nadeem decided to return as a solo composer for Ishq Forever in 2015 but it did not become a hit because the quality of Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik was missing from his tunes.

Comeback of Nadeem Saifi

In 2016, Nadeem Saifi-Akhtar made his comeback with lyricist Sameer in the film Ishq Forever. He had split with his partner Shravan and worked on the film as a solo composer. The film features ten songs. In the year 2017 he continued his musical career in the film Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha as a solo composer and film is produced and directed by Suneel Darshan.

Nominations

• 1992 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Phool Aur Kaante
• 1994 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke
• 1996 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Raja
• 1998 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Pardes
• 2001 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Dhadkan
• 2001– Star Screen Best Music Director Award – Dhadkan
• 2001– IIFA Best Music Director – Dhadkan
• 2003– Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Raaz
• 2004– Zee Cine Best Music Director – Andaaz