Shankar Ehsaan Loy

The composing trio of singer Shankar Mahadevan, guitarist Ehsaan Noorani and keyboardist Loy Mendonsa—known collectively as Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy—revolutionised the sound and direction of Indian film music, drawing from their experience in Hindustani classical music, ad jingles and rock music, among other styles. The union was forged after meeting through work in the ad music space in the late ‘80s. Early soundtracks for films like Dus and Rockford showed the group could lead powerful action films and coming-of-age stories alike. The latter helped them make their breakthrough with songs for Dil Chahta Hai, which had a mix of playful party songs as well as stirring ballads, as well as Lakshya, in the early 2000s. Introducing rock in a big way for songs like “Pretty Woman” from Kal Ho Naa Ho, the trio went all out with Rock On!! in 2008, while also crafting evocative songs that balanced tradition and modern for films like Taare Zameen Par and Wake Up Sid. Becoming bankable composers for filmmakers like Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have ruled radio airwaves and clinched top music honours at Filmfare and the National Film Awards. From sports biopics like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag to capers like Bunty Aur Babli, dramas like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and comedy-musical The Archies, the trio command a powerful sense of sonic storytelling that has become the sound of a generation.