Hesham Abdul Wahab

Hesham Abdul Wahab
Hesham Abdul Wahab
	Abdul Wahab in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Sayyed Hesham Abdul Wahab
Born	14 October 1990 (age 34); Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Occupations	Music director; music producer; singer; audio engineer; mixing engineer;
Years active	2007–present
Spouse	Ayshath Safa
	Musical career
Genres	Film score; World music; Sufi music;
Instrument(s)	Keyboard, piano, vocals
Labels	Think Music

Sayyed Hesham Abdul Wahab (born 14 October 1990) is an Indian music director, music producer, singer and audio engineer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema.^[2]^[3] He is best known for his compositions for the soundtrack of Hridayam (2022) and the music album Qadham Badha^[4] produced by British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf. He is the recipient of a Kerala State Film Award, SIIMA Award, and IIFA Award for music direction.^[5]

Early life

Sayyed Hesham Abdul Wahab was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Born in a family of musicians,^[6] he took interest in music at a very young age and got professional training in Carnatic and Hindustani classical music. He started singing at the early age of 8 and was introduced to piano when he was 11.

After completing schooling from International Indian School in Riyadh, Wahab went on to complete a diploma in audio engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in audio production from SAE Institute with top honors.^[7]

Hesham married Ayshath Safa on 22 January 2018.

Career

Early career

Hesham left Saudi Arabia to go to India in 2007 to be part of the music reality show Idea Star Singer^[8] which paved the way for his foray into playback singing and later composing.

Recording career

Wahab's first recording project was in 2013 with his first single Meri Dua^[9] produced by Offline Creations. He got his first major break when Andante Records signed him for their record label. His first album Qadam Badha(Step Forward),^[10] an amalgamation of Sufi music and World Music produced by eminent Iran born British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf was released in 2015.

Music composing

Wahab forayed into Malayalam film industry as a music director in 2013 year with the film Salt Mango Tree.^[11] His debut as a music composer for the Bollywood film^[12] Mera India is set to release in 2019. He has also worked with several noted composers and lent his voice to many Indian films. In 2018, his song Jaana Meri Janaa from the film Cappuccino fetched Vineeth Sreenivasan his second SIIMA Award for the Best Playback Singer in Malayalam.^[13]

In 2018, Wahab founded LIVEwithMUSIC, an independent music academy where he takes classes on sound production.^[14] Hesham arranged and mixed filmmaker Alphonse Puthren's debut composition Kathakal Chollidaam which was released as a music video featuring several Malayalam film actors and their children. He composed the soundtrack of Vineeth Sreenivasan's film Hridayam, which consists of 15 songs.^[15] He has since composed music for other Malayalam films, including Madhura Manohara Moham (2023), and Sesham Mike-il Fathima (2023).

Wahab made his Telugu composing debut with the romantic comedy Kushi (2023) and went on to compose music for the Telugu romance films Hi Nanna (2023) and Manamey (2024).

Discography

All films are in Malayalam, unless otherwise noted.

Year	Film	Soundtrack	Film score	Notes	Ref
2015	Salt Mango Tree	Yes	No	3 songs
2017	Cappuccino	Yes	No	5 songs
2017	Pretham Undu Sookshikkuka	Yes	Yes	4 songs
2018	Angane Njanum Premichu	Yes	Yes	5 songs
2018	Marubhoomiyile Mazhathullikal	Yes	Yes	2 songs
2019	Mohabbathin Kunjabdulla	Yes	No	2 songs
2022	Ole Kanda Naal	Yes	Yes	3 songs
	Varthamanam	Yes	No	1 song
	Aanaparambile World Cup	Yes	No	1 song
	Cabin	Yes	Yes	2 songs
	Chuzhal	Yes	Yes
	Madhuram	Yes	No
2022	Hridayam	Yes	Yes
	Mike	Yes	Yes
	Ini Utharam	Yes	Yes
2023	Madhura Manohara Moham	Yes	Yes		^[16]
	Kushi	Yes	Yes	Telugu film	^[17]
	Sesham Mike-il Fathima	Yes	Yes		^[18]
	Spark L.I.F.E	Yes	Yes	Telugu film
	Philip's	Yes	Yes
	Hi Nanna	Yes	Yes	Telugu film
2024	Once Upon a Time in Kochi	Yes	Yes		^[19]
2024	Manamey	Yes	Yes	Telugu film
TBA	The Girlfriend †	Yes	Yes	Telugu film	^[20]
	8 Vasanthalu †	Yes	Yes	Telugu film	^[21]
	Once More †	Yes	Yes	Tamil film	^[22]

TV series

Kerala Crime Files (2023)
Kerala Crime Files (Season II)^[23]

Albums

Qadam Badha (2015)

Music videos

Meri Dua (2013)
Mothirakkallu (2019)^[24]
Await (2020)^[25]
Yatra (2020)^[26]
Mounam (2021)
Tribute to World Cup Football (2022)^[27]

Playback singer

Year	Song	Film/Album	Composer	Language
2009	Panivizhum Kaalama	Pattalam	Jassie Gift	Tamil
2011	Kannerinjal^[28]	Traffic	Mejo Joseph	Malayalam
	Ladki	The Train	Sreenivas
	Vidhuramee Yatra	Gaddama	Bennet–Veetraag
2013	Thaazhvaaram	Thira	Shaan Rahman
2014	Mounam Chorum, Sneham Cherum	Ohm Shanthi Oshaana	Shaan Rahman
2015	Jeevanil	Swargathekkal Sundaram	Rakesh Keshav
2015	Kattummel,Kanavil	Salt Mango Tree	Hesham Abdul Wahab
2016	Are Thu Chakkar	Valleem Thetti Pulleem Thetti	Sooraj S Kurup
	Ethu Meghamaari	Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho	Shaan Rahman
	Pulkodiyil	Take Off	Shaan Rahman
2017	Thumbikal Thaalam Thullum	Chicken Kokkachi	Jassie Gift
2017	Ente Bharatham	Ente Bharatham	Binesh Mani
2018	Oru Thee Pole	Aadu 2	Shaan Rahman
	Snehithano	Angane Njanum Premichu	Hesham Abdul Wahab
	Swapnam Swargam	Padayottam	Prashant Pillai
	Kannoram	Marubhoomiyile Mazhathullikal	Hesham Abdul Wahab
2019	Maahiya	Oru Adaar Love	Shaan Rahman
	Manushya Nee	Kalippu	Anaz Sainudeen
	Safarnama	Muhabbathin Kunjabdulla	Hesham Abdul Wahab
	Mere Maula	Pranaya Meenukalude Kadal	Shaan Rahman
2021	Zindagi	Varthamanam	Hesham Abdul Wahab
	Chollamo	Ole Kanda Naal
	Darshana	Hridayam
2022	Kumkumamaake	Brahmāstra (Malayalam)	Pritam
2023	Doore Oru Mukilin	Aromalinte Aadhyathe Pranayam	Charles Simon
	Na Roja Nuvve	Kushi	Hesham Abdul Wahab	Telugu
	En Rojaa Neeye			Tamil
	Nanna Roja Neene			Kannada
	En Rojaa Neeye			Malayalam
	Kushi Title Song			Telugu
	Kushi Title Song			Hindi
	Yedhaki Oka Gaayam			Telugu
	Gaaju Bomma	Hi Nanna
	Idhe Idhe
	Kannaadi Kannaadi			Tamil
	Anbe Anbe			Tamil
	Magalalla			Kannada
	Idhe Idhe			Kannada
	Konjathe Konjathe			Malayalam
	Penne Penne			Malayalam
	Sheeshe Ki Gudiya	Hi Papa (Hindi title of Hi Nanna)		Hindi
	Pehle Pehle	Hi Papa (Hindi title of Hi Nanna)		Hindi
	Idhi Idhi Maaya	Spark L.I.F.E		Telugu
	Gnapakaalu	Spark L.I.F.E		Telugu
	Thinkal Poovin	Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum	Justin Prabhakaran	Malayalam
	Ushaa Kiraname	Vela	Sam C. S.
	Sadhaa	Philip's	Hesham Abdul Wahab
	Niraye	Philip's	Hesham Abdul Wahab
	Ninne Kandannu	Qalb	Prakash Alex
	Malarthan Vizhundhadhu	Aneethi	G. V. Prakash Kumar	Tamil
2024	Njaanaalunna	Varshangalkku Shesham	Hesham Abdul Wahab	Malayalam
	Kande Njaan Aakashathoru	Once upon a time in Kochi	Hesham Abdul Wahab
	Aazhithiramaala	Pushpaka Vimanam	Rahul Raj

Awards and nominations

2015 – Best Music Director – Kairali Cultural Forum Abu Dhabi – Short Film Festival^[29] – Oru Vappichi Katha
2015 – Best Upcoming Music Composer of the Year – Mirchi Music Awards South^[30] – Salt Mango Tree
2016 – Best Singer – Ramu Kariat Award^[31] – "Kattummel" (Salt Mango Tree)
2021 – Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director – Hridayam
2021 – Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Music Director – Hridayam^[32]
2022 – Best Song – Mazhavil Music Awards – "Darshana" (Hridayam)^[33]
2024 – Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Telugu – Hi Nanna and Kushi
2024 – SIIMA Award for Best Music Director – Telugu – Hi Nanna and Kushi
2024 – IIFA Award for Best Music Director – Telugu – Hi Nanna^[34]

References

^ "Sami Yusuf's blessed life – The British singer on his latest peace project and move to Hollywood". Retrieved 5 February 2015.
^ "Hesham Wahab's music for 'Salt Mango Tree'". The Times of India. 16 January 2017.
^ "List of Malayalam Songs by Singers Hesham Abdul Wahab". MSIDB.org. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
^ "Hesham Abdul Wahab – Qadam Badha". The Hindu. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
^ "52nd Kerala State Film Awards: The complete winners list". The Indian Express. 27 May 2022.
^ "It was my dream to become a composer: Hesham Abdul Wahab". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
^ "Sami Yusuf's latest discovery, Hesham Abdul Wahab, releases new album Qaddam Badha". The National. 19 January 2015.
^ "Music is my first love: Hesham Abdul Wahab". Times of Oman. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
^ "Meri Dua – Hesham Abdul Wahab (Official Music Video)". Offline Creations. Retrieved 24 February 2016 – via YouTube.
^ "Album review: Qadam Badha". The National. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
^ "'Salt Mango Tree': Let them fly". Manorama Online. Manorama News.
^ "Hesham to debut in Bollywood". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
^ "Malayala Manorama".
^ S, Gautham (27 February 2021). "Hesham marches to his own tune". The New Indian Express.
^ Sidhardhan, Sanjith (22 February 2021). "Vineeth Sreenivasan writes, sings for Alphonse Puthren's composition Kathakal Chollidaam". Times of India.
^ "Sharafudheen-Rajisha Vijayan's next titled Madhura Manohara Moham; First look out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
^ Soman, Deepa (21 April 2022). "Hesham Abdul Wahab to debut in Telugu through Vijay Deverakonda's next". Times of India.
^ "Kalyani Priyadarshan to headline 'Sesham Mike-il Fathima' – Times of India". The Times of India. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
^ "Kande Njanaakaashathoru song from Once Upon a Time in Kochi is out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
^ "Rashmika Mandanna begins shooting for Rahul Ravindran's 'The Girlfriend'". The Hindu. 7 December 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
^ "'8 Vasanthalu' wraps filming across multiple scenic locations in India". The Times of India. 20 August 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
^ "'Once More': Hesham Abdul Wahab to make Tamil debut with Arjun Das and Aditi Shankar's film". The Hindu. 5 October 2024.
^ "'Kerala Crime Files' season 2 goes into production". The Hindu. 20 February 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
^ "Mothirakkallu". Apple Music.
^ "Await | Hesham Abdul Wahab". Spotify. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
^ "Yatra by Hesham Abdul Wahab feat. Arun Naik". Amazon Music.
^ "Mohanlal's musical tribute to FIFA World Cup 2022 impresses football lovers, watch video". English.Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
^ "Traffic Songs Download, Traffic Malayalam MP3 Songs, Raaga.com Malayalam Songs". www.raaga.com.
^ ""Oru Vappachi Katha" Short Film By Thamar" – via YouTube.
^ "Upcoming Music composer of the year Archives".
^ Menon, Anasuya (24 December 2016). "A space so Sufi". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
^ "Kerala Film Critics Awards announced, Dulquer Salmaan, Durga Krishna win big". Cinema Express. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
^ "Mazhavil Music's Lifetime Achievement award presented to Sreekumaran Thampi". OnManorama. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
^ "IIFA Awards: 'Jailer', 'Dasara', '2018: Everyone is a Hero', 'Kaatera' win 'Best Picture'". Onmanorama. Retrieved 25 October 2024.

External links

Hesham Abdul Wahab at IMDb
Facebook

[1] "Sami Yusuf's blessed life – The British singer on his latest peace project and move to Hollywood". Retrieved 5 February 2015.

[2] "Hesham Wahab's music for 'Salt Mango Tree'". The Times of India. 16 January 2017.

[3] "List of Malayalam Songs by Singers Hesham Abdul Wahab". MSIDB.org. Retrieved 7 February 2016.

[4] "Hesham Abdul Wahab – Qadam Badha". The Hindu. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.

[5] "52nd Kerala State Film Awards: The complete winners list". The Indian Express. 27 May 2022.

[6] "It was my dream to become a composer: Hesham Abdul Wahab". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 February 2016.

[7] "Sami Yusuf's latest discovery, Hesham Abdul Wahab, releases new album Qaddam Badha". The National. 19 January 2015.

[8] "Music is my first love: Hesham Abdul Wahab". Times of Oman. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2016.

[9] "Meri Dua – Hesham Abdul Wahab (Official Music Video)". Offline Creations. Retrieved 24 February 2016 – via YouTube.

[10] "Album review: Qadam Badha". The National. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.

[11] "'Salt Mango Tree': Let them fly". Manorama Online. Manorama News.

[12] "Hesham to debut in Bollywood". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 22 February 2016.

[13] "Malayala Manorama".

[14] S, Gautham (27 February 2021). "Hesham marches to his own tune". The New Indian Express.

[15] Sidhardhan, Sanjith (22 February 2021). "Vineeth Sreenivasan writes, sings for Alphonse Puthren's composition Kathakal Chollidaam". Times of India.

[16] "Sharafudheen-Rajisha Vijayan's next titled Madhura Manohara Moham; First look out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 22 January 2023.

[:0-17] Soman, Deepa (21 April 2022). "Hesham Abdul Wahab to debut in Telugu through Vijay Deverakonda's next". Times of India.

[18] "Kalyani Priyadarshan to headline 'Sesham Mike-il Fathima' – Times of India". The Times of India. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.

[19] "Kande Njanaakaashathoru song from Once Upon a Time in Kochi is out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 26 February 2024.

[20] "Rashmika Mandanna begins shooting for Rahul Ravindran's 'The Girlfriend'". The Hindu. 7 December 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 February 2024.

[21] "'8 Vasanthalu' wraps filming across multiple scenic locations in India". The Times of India. 20 August 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 October 2024.

[22] "'Once More': Hesham Abdul Wahab to make Tamil debut with Arjun Das and Aditi Shankar's film". The Hindu. 5 October 2024.

[23] "'Kerala Crime Files' season 2 goes into production". The Hindu. 20 February 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 October 2024.

[24] "Mothirakkallu". Apple Music.

[25] "Await | Hesham Abdul Wahab". Spotify. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.

[26] "Yatra by Hesham Abdul Wahab feat. Arun Naik". Amazon Music.

[27] "Mohanlal's musical tribute to FIFA World Cup 2022 impresses football lovers, watch video". English.Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 22 January 2023.

[28] "Traffic Songs Download, Traffic Malayalam MP3 Songs, Raaga.com Malayalam Songs". www.raaga.com.

[29] ""Oru Vappachi Katha" Short Film By Thamar" – via YouTube.

[30] "Upcoming Music composer of the year Archives".

[31] Menon, Anasuya (24 December 2016). "A space so Sufi". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.

[32] "Kerala Film Critics Awards announced, Dulquer Salmaan, Durga Krishna win big". Cinema Express. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

[33] "Mazhavil Music's Lifetime Achievement award presented to Sreekumaran Thampi". OnManorama. Retrieved 3 January 2023.

[34] "IIFA Awards: 'Jailer', 'Dasara', '2018: Everyone is a Hero', 'Kaatera' win 'Best Picture'". Onmanorama. Retrieved 25 October 2024.

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v t e Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director
1969–1980	G. Devarajan (1969) G. Devarajan (1970) V. Dakshinamoorthy (1971) G. Devarajan (1972) K. Raghavan M. B. Sreenivasan (1973) M. S. Viswanathan (1974) Bhaskar Chendra Varker (1975) A. T. Ummer (1976) K. Raghavan (1977) M. B. Sreenivasan (1978) None (1979) Jerry Amaldev (1980)
1981–2000	M. B. Sreenivasan (1981) Johnson (1982) Shyam (1983) Shyam (1984) G. Devarajan (1985) Bombay Ravi (1986) Ouseppachan (1987) G. Aravindan (1988) Johnson (1989) Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath Jerry Amaldev (1990) Raveendran (1991) Bombay Ravi (1992) S. P. Venkatesh (1993) Berny-Ignatius (1994) Ilaiyaraaja (1995) Vidyasagar (1996) Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri (1997) Vidyasagar (1998) Sunny Stephen (1999) Vidyasagar (2000)
2001–present	M. G. Radhakrishnan (2001) Raveendran (2002) M. Jayachandran (2003) M. Jayachandran (2004) M. G. Radhakrishnan (2005) Ramesh Narayan (2006) M. Jayachandran (2007) M. Jayachandran (2008) Mohan Sithara (2009) M. Jayachandran (2010) Sharreth (2011) M. Jayachandran (2012) Ouseppachan (2013) Ramesh Narayan (2014) Ramesh Narayan (2015) M. Jayachandran (2016) M. K. Arjunan (2017) Vishal Bhardwaj (2018) Sushin Shyam (2019) M Jayachandran (2020) Hesham Abdul Wahab (2021)

v t e SIIMA Award for Best Music Director – Telugu
2011–2020	Thaman S (2011) Devi Sri Prasad (2012) Devi Sri Prasad (2013) Anup Rubens (2014) Devi Sri Prasad (2015) Devi Sri Prasad (2016) M. M. Keeravani (2017) Devi Sri Prasad (2018) Devi Sri Prasad (2019) Thaman S (2020)
2021–present	Devi Sri Prasad (2021) M. M. Keeravani (2022) Hesham Abdul Wahab (2023)