Satinder Sartaaj

Some Lesser Known Facts About Satinder Sartaaj

• Satinder Sartaaj is an Indian singer, songwriter, poet, and actor, who shot to fame with his Punjabi song Sai from the music album Sartaaj (2010). Holding a doctorate in Sufi music, Sartaaj is one of the few singers who are highly qualified.

• He grew up in a middle-class family of farmers in Bajrawar, Hoshiarpur.

• As a child, Sartaaj was hooked to the melody emanating from the sarangi and flute of the wandering artists. When he was in class 3, Sartaaj started performing at the Baal-Sabhas.

• While Sartaaj was pursuing a PhD from Panjab University, Chandigarh, he met Gauri, who was also pursuing a PhD in Environment. Soon, they fell in love with each other and began dating. A few years later, they got married according to Sikh rituals.

• When Sartaaj was studying at Panjab University, he participated in and won various Punjab Heritage Foundation Competitions. He also stood second in the 24th All-India Light Vocal Festival.

  

• After pursuing a certificate course and diploma in the Persian language, Sartaaj joined Punjab University’s Music Faculty and taught music for around 6 years.

• Satinder Sartaaj once participated in the singing reality show Zee TV Antakshari hosted by Annu Kapoor. He was praised for his performance in the folk category on the show.

• In 2003, Sartaaj was featured in Zee Punjabi’s documentary on the Life of Sayyad Waris Shah.

• In 2008, Sartaaj got the opportunity to perform at a gig in Toronto, Ontario. The organisers of the show apparently heard Sartaaj singing on YouTube. Impressed with his voice, the organisers booked Sartaaj to perform for the Punjabi-Canadian audience.

• A year later, Sartaaj released his debut music album Tere Qurbaan. However, it went unnoticed.

• In 2010, Satinder Sartaaj released his music album Sartaaj and became very popular for his track Sai from the album. The album also included the Punjabi songs Nikki Jehi Kuri and Filhaal Hawavan, which were liked by the audience.

  

• Subsequently, Sartaaj released the music album Cheerey Wala Sartaaj (2011), which included popular songs like Motia Chameli, Dil Sabh De Vakhre, Cheere Waleya, and Adhi Kick Ch Start Mera Yamaha.

  

• Thereafter, he sang many popular Punjabi songs including Zikr Tera (2014), Sajjan Raazi (2016), Hazaarey Wala Munda (2016), Masoomiat (2017), Udaarian (2018), and Titli (2022).

  

• In 2017, Sartaaj played the role of Maharaja Duleep Singh in the American film The Black Prince. Centred in British India, the film revolves around the story of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and Punjab and his relationship with Queen Victoria, the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The film was released in three languages- Hindi, English, and Punjabi.

  

• In his Punjabi film debut Ikko Mikke, Sartaaj played the role of Nihaal, a sculptor. In an interview, Sartaaj revealed that he read about 90-92 scripts before deciding to work in Ikko Mikke. ^[10]The Times of India

  

• He has also appeared in the Punjabi film Kali Jotta (2023) opposite Neeru Bajwa.

  

• Sartaaj, along with his troupe, has performed live at various events and concerts organised in Punjab, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur, and Jammu. He has also conducted music tours across various countries like Canada, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

  

• Sartaaj considers the Persian Muslim poets Rumi and Shams Tabrizi his inspirations.

• In an interview, Sartaaj revealed that Sufi music was a means for him to connect with God.

• Various media houses consider him the saviour of the Gurmukhi language, Punjabi culture, Punjabi traditions, and folk.

• Satinder Sartaaj is well-versed in playing various musical instruments like harmonium, chimta, piano, and Saaz-e-Sartaaj (his self-created musical instrument).

  

• Sartaaj has a small recording studio named ‘Nazm Gaah’ at his home.

  

• In 2017, Arun K Grover, the then vice-chancellor of Panjab University, declared Sartaaj as the brand ambassador of Panjab University.

  

• In the same year, he founded the Sartaaj Foundation, a non-government organisation aimed at helping talented youth in the fields of arts, culture, education and sports.

  

• An active philanthropist, Sartaaj donated Rs. 11 lakhs to the flood victims in Punjab on his birthday in 2019. ^[11]The Times of India

• Once, while Sartaaj was performing on the stage at Panjab University, he shared that the University played a crucial role in his success as many of his songs were inspired by day-to-day incidents at Panjab University. Further, talking about his song Kudi Roya Na Karo, Sartaaj shared that he penned the song after he saw a girl crying in the market of Panjab University.

• In one of his interviews, Sartaaj revealed that while he was studying at Panjab University, someone stole his Yamaha bike.

• In an interview, Sartaaj, while talking about his love for music said,
  

  Yes, music definitely makes me happy. It makes me relax, physically. My happiest moments are when I am performing in front of an audience. That’s what I was born for. I think I’m gifted in the fields of poetry and music. During my childhood, I always used to sing, I would sing at school; on Saturdays, I’d have singing sessions. Even when I wasn’t technically learning music, I used to sing. I think it was in my blood.”

• Sartaaj has collaborated with the United Nations for a fundraising event for the UN’s fight against human trafficking. On the project, he worked with the cultural royalties A. R. Rahman, Sonu Nigam, Quincy Jones, and Jimmy Carter.

• Satinder Pal Singh Saini adopted his Takhallus (Pen name) ‘Sartaaj’ while he was studying at Panjab University. In an interview, while sharing the story behind the same, he said that once while he was in the PU hostel, he woke up at 3 am and found it difficult to sleep again. At the time, he took up his diary and pen and started writing a song whose last line was
  

  Tere Sir Taareyan Da Taj Ve.”

  From there he came up with the idea of adding ‘Sartaaj’ to his stage name.