Apeiruss: Bangladesh’s musical gift to Bollywood

In 2015, a group of young boys formed a band out of a hobby. They made a demo tape, and the band's manager, Tanzil Rahman, randomly decided to send the tapes to musicians they idolize. 

As luck would have it, someone beyond the borders decided to hear the tape. That someone was Indian music director, composer Amaal Mallik. He reached out to the band and offered them to work with him in famous Bollywood Singer Atif Aslam's next song.  

Even though it sounds like a fairytale, this how Apeiruss started. Apeiruss is a Bangladeshi EDM music group, which is not only popular in our county but has also been appreciated in the Indian music scene. What started off as five-member boy band now comprises of only the sibling duo - Sheikh Saami Mahmud and Sheikh Shafi Mahmud. 

Sheikh Saami Mahmud and Sheikh Shafi Mahmud from Apeiruss. Photo: Courtesy

"At first we actually thought it was a joke but soon realised that it was really happening. After that, music was no longer a hobby for us. It was the dream we wanted to live," said Saami. 

It was talent and a little bit of luck that made Apeiruss the new music sensation of Bollywood. This talented brother duo started their

Bollywood journey Atif Aslam's "Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main" from Dhaka in 2016. 

Some of the famous Bollywood songs they have worked for are "Hum Nahi" from the movie "Golmaal Again," "Buddhu Sa Mann" from "Kapoor and Sons," "Saw Asmaan" from "Barbar Dekho." Also, in the middle of 2018, they created the music for the trailer of Zee Cine Award. 

Apeiruss teamed up with Mika Singh in 2019 and did "Ishqam" and "Dil Ki Masti."  "Ishqam" which was sang by Mika Singh and Afghan singer Ali Quli Mirza, created quite a buzz after its release. 

Recently in 2020, Apeiruss produced a song named "Mareez E Ishq (reloaded)" composed and sang by Shaarib Sabri and it was released by Sony Music India.

Sheikh Saami Mahmud and Sheikh Shafi Mahmud from Apeiruss. Photo: Courtesy

Even though their family was very supportive and their father is the one who encouraged them to pursue music, education was still the first priority. 

"Until our graduation we couldn't do music fulltime. That is why we worked for Bollywood from our home till 2017," said Saami. 

After completing graduation, the duo in 2019 took the big step by shifting to Mumbai and built a little place near the film city. 

The brothers are of course not the first Bangladeshis to work in Bollywood.

 "Everyone in Bollywood knows our Runa Laila, James and Ayub Bachchu and have immense respect for them," said Shafi. 

Apeiruss's talent has been shining bright in Bangladesh too.

In 2016, Apeiruss composed the music of Tahsan's "Bhalobeshe Niruddesh" and "Chalo Na Harai." They also made music for the band Shunno and the singer Naomi. 

They have further worked with artists like Balam, Elita, Sabbir Nasir and others. 

"Both music industries have their pros and cons. So, I cannot choose one of them, I love working for both." 

Saami added "The Bangladeshi music industry is not well structured and administrated. We don't have any music copyright law in our country."

"The music industry in India is way too much competitive. It is a very dynamic industry and you always have to bring something new to the audience to impress; if you can't, you are out of the race." 

Growing up, Shafi and Saami listened to Linkin Park and Michal Jackson. 

Recently, they released a brand new single with Indian musicians Sonu Kakkar and Rahul Jain Called "Paas Aao Na," there's a single called

"Bin Tere" with Shaarib Toshi, and there are couple of projects with Mika Singh, all of them lined up for release in following months. 

"We focus more on collaboration as we think that will make us learn new techniques to make our music better are globally acceptable," said Saami.    

Saami added, "Apeiruss's goal is to make global music; we want to secure a spot in the global chart. If K-pop can rule the world, why can't Bangladeshi music become global too?"