Quick Facts
Biography
Ismail Darbar (born 1 June 1964) is an Indian composer and violinist, a popular name in Indian Film Industry: Bollywood. He was a contestant on Bigg Boss 3 in 2009.
Career
Ismail Darbar is from Surat, Gujarat. He worked for several years as a session violinist for leading music directors Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji, Bappi Lahiri, Rajesh Roshan, Anand-Milind, Nadeem-Shravan, Jatin-Lalit and A. R. Rahman. Finally he got the break after so many years with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Earlier Darbar had played violin for Jatin-Lalit in the movie Khamoshi: The Musical. Later on his music in Bhansali's Devdas was acclaimed. He did not work with Bhansali after Devdas due to personal differences. After Devdas, Darbar did a few more movies but was unable to get much success. In 2005, he composed for seven out of 12 tracks for Subhash Ghai's Kisna: The Warrior Poet after A. R. Rahman had left the project mid-way to complete an international assignment. However Ghai would later say, "The music [of the film] has turned out so well that you can't distinguish an Ismail song from a Rahman one".
He was one of the four judges on Zee TV's Indian musical program Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005. The other judges were Jatin-Lalit, Aadesh Shrivastava and Himesh Reshammiya. He was one of the four judges on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005 and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007. He was also one of the three judges for Amul Star Voice of India 2 and Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star – Season 2 on DD National..
In 2007, Ismail Darbar also came up with a music album called Rasiya Saajan directed by S Ramachandran. Ismail Darbar also appeared Bigg Boss (Season 3) on Colors TV.
He entered in state level politics by joining BJP Gujarat in 2011.
Awards
- R.D Burman awards in 1999
- National award for the music of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999
Filmography
As music director
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam | Won – National Film Award for Best Music Direction Won – Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director |
| 2000 | Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa | |
| 2002 | Deewangee | |
| 2002 | Devdas | Won – Screen Award for Best Music Director Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director |
| 2002 | Desh Devi | |
| 2002 | Shakti: The Power | |
| 2003 | Baaz: A Bird in Danger | |
| 2003 | Vishnu | Telugu film |
| 2005 | Kisna: The Warrior Poet | Co-composed with A. R. Rahman |
| 2006 | Husn | |
| 2006 | Debojit | |
| 2007 | Rasiya Saajan | Private album |
| 2008 | Mehbooba | |
| 2009 | The Unforgettable | |
| 2013 | Mahabharat | Star Plus |
| 2013 | Kaanchi | Co-composed with Salim-Sulaiman |
| 2014 | Ssimran | |
| 2014 | Ek Tho Chance | (unreleased) |
| 2014 | Gurudakshina | |
| 2016 | Santheyalli Nintha Kabira | Kannada film |
Controversies
Darbar became the subject of controversy when he accused A. R. Rahman of having bought the Academy Awards he won for the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Rahman denied the allegations by Darbar, but decided not to file a lawsuit against him. On 2 February 2015, Darbar, his son Zayed and their associates were arrested for physically assaulting an assistant director Prashamit Chaudhury employed by him earlier. Ismail refused to pay his due salaries and instead settled score by assaulting his former employee.