Najim Arshad

Biography

Najim Arshad (born 8 June 1986) is a state award-winning Indian playback singer and music director, sung more than 500 songs in the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi film industries. In 2007, he won the reality show Idea Star Singer. He studied in Swathi Thirunal College of Music and holds graduation and post-graduation degree in music. He was the Rank Holder of University of Kerala in Bachelor Of Performing Arts. He also won the Kalaprathibha title 13 times at the district and sub-district levels during his early school days. He is a recipient of Kerala State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

Personal life

Najim was born to Shahul Hameed (Thirumala Shahul) and Rehma. His father retired from his position as an administrative officer of the Central Vigilance Commission and his mother is a music teacher. He has two elder brothers, Dr. Ajim Shad and Sajim who works as a sound engineer. On 13 September 2015, he married Thazni Thaha (Kiki) in Punalur.

Career

Najim debuted as a playback singer in 2007, with the song "Mizhineer" in Major Ravi's Malayalam film Mission 90 Days. Arshad first gained attention through his album, I'm Here. Najim sang a ghazal for the movie Khaafiron ki Namaaz. He also sang in Diamond Necklace, Casanovva, Doctor Love, Drishyam, Oru Indian Pranayakadha, Jomonte Suvisheshangal, etc. Arshad rose to the top of the music charts in 2012 with the songs Diamond Necklace, Trivandrum Lodge, Ayalum Njanum Thammil and Da Thadiya. He is known for his collaboration with almost all music composers in the Malayalam film industry. He debuted as a music director by composing two Hindi songs in the Mohanlal film 1971 Beyond Borders. The war drama that sheds light onto the Indo-Pak war of 1971, is a multi-lingual film which was also released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Najim has composed the songs Armaan Hazare (singer: Hariharan) and Sarhade (singer: Najim Arshad), that come towards the end portion of the movie. "He received a Kerala State Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the film 'Ketyolanu Ente Malaakha' (Aathmaavile Vaanangalil) in 2019."