THE MERCHANTS OF MUSIC & MELODY

BROTHERS SALIM AND SULAIMAN HIT THEIR HIGH NOTES TOGETHER — WINNING AWARDS, COLLABORATING WITH INTERNATIONAL ICONS AND CEMENTING A LEGACY THAT WILL BENEFIT ASPIRING MUSICIANS FOR YEARS TO COME

- Sonali Velinker Kamat

THEY MAY be cast in the time-honoured tradition of musical jodis like Shankar-Jaikishan, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Jatin-Lalit, but Salim and Sulaiman Merchant are committed to moulding their own unique legacy. Though their hyphenated stage name evolved by default, their career was built on determination, passion and perseverance. It takes all that and more to sustain a 30-year run in the music industry and still feel like the finish line is far, far away. “It’s the journey,” they tell me, and it is clear that’s not a cliché but a mantra for the Merchantmen. Super-hit film songs and immense audiences are by-products of their main objective — leaving a lasting lyrical legacy that includes timeless music, and a platform for burgeoning talent to explore their creativity without restriction.

“Legacy is my foremost thought, always,” says Sulaiman, the elder Mr. Merchant. “You have to be able to listen to the music you’ve created in the past and feel proud of it.” Salim concurs, explaining their philosophy: timeless tunes trump scripted successes any day of the week. “Our objective isn’t to create a hit film song, but to make music that we believe in. Look at examples like Ali Maula (Kurbaan), Haule Haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi) or Mar Jaava (