# Hesham Abdul Wahab

Sayyed Hesham Abdul Wahab (born 14 October 1990) is an Indian music composer, music producer and singer who predominantly works in Malayalam and Telugu cinema. He is best known for the compositions of Qadham Badha (2015), Hridayam (2022), Kushi (2023) and Hi Nanna (2023). He is the recipient of a Kerala State Film Award, SIIMA Award, and IIFA Award for music direction.

## Early life

Sayyed Hesham Abdul Wahab was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Born in a family of musicians, 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.
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 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 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), 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, with the film Salt Mango Tree. His debut as a music composer for the Bollywood film 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.
In 2018, Wahab founded LIVEwithMUSIC, an independent music academy where he takes classes on sound production. 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. 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

| Year | Title | Songs | Score | Language | Notes |
| 2015 | Salt Mango Tree | Yes | No | Malayalam | 3 songs |
| 2017 | Cappuccino | Yes | No | Malayalam | 5 songs |
| 2017 | Pretham Undu Sookshikkuka | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | 4 songs |
| 2018 | Angane Njanum Premichu | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | 5 songs |
| 2018 | Marubhoomiyile Mazhathullikal | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | 2 songs |
| 2019 | Mohabbathin Kunjabdulla | Yes | No | Malayalam | 2 songs |
| 2022 | Ole Kanda Naal | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | 3 songs |
| 2022 | Varthamanam | Yes | No | Malayalam | 1 song |
| 2022 | Aanaparambile World Cup | Yes | No | Malayalam | 1 song |
| 2022 | Cabin | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | 2 songs |
| 2022 | Chuzhal | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | |
| 2022 | Madhuram | Yes | No | Malayalam | |
| 2022 | Hridayam | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | |
| 2022 | Mike | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | |
| 2022 | Ini Utharam | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | |
| 2023 | Madhura Manohara Moham | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | |
| 2023 | Kushi | Yes | Yes | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Sesham Mike-il Fathima | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | |
| 2023 | Spark L.I.F.E | Yes | Yes | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Philip's | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | |
| 2023 | Hi Nanna | Yes | Yes | Telugu | |
| 2024 | Once Upon a Time in Kochi | Yes | Yes | Malayalam | |
| 2024 | Manamey | Yes | Yes | Telugu | |
| TBA | The Girlfriend † | Yes | Yes | Telugu | |
| TBA | 8 Vasanthalu † | Yes | Yes | Telugu | |
| TBA | Once More † | Yes | Yes | Tamil | |

### TV series

* Kerala Crime Files (2023)
* Kerala Crime Files (Season II)

### Studio albums

* Qadam Badha (2015)

### Music videos

* Meri Dua (2013)
* Mothirakkallu (2019)
* Await (2020)
* Yatra (2020)
* Mounam (2021)
* Tribute to World Cup Football (2022)

### As playback singer

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

## Awards and nominations

* 2015 – Best Music Director – Kairali Cultural Forum Abu Dhabi – Short Film Festival – Oru Vappichi Katha
* 2015 – Best Upcoming Music Composer of the Year – Mirchi Music Awards South – Salt Mango Tree
* 2016 – Best Singer – Ramu Kariat Award – "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
* 2022 – Best Song – Mazhavil Music Awards – "Darshana" (Hridayam)
* 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