Satinder Sartaaj is an Indian singer, songwriter, poet, and actor, who works in the Punjabi film & music industry. He came into the limelight with his song Sai from the music album Sartaaj (2010). A Sufi maestro and a doctorate in Sufi music, Sartaaj is known to be a rare singer who is highly qualified.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Satinder Sartaaj was born as Satinder Pal Singh Saini on Tuesday, 31 August 1982 (age 41 years; as of 2023) [1]Instagram – Satinder Sartaaj in the village of Bajrawar, Hoshiarpur, Punjab. His zodiac sign is Virgo. Sartaaj did his initial schooling at Government Primary School (GPS), Bajrawar, Hoshiarpur. He also attended government schools in the villages of Chabewal and Patti in Hoshiarpur. He was inclined towards music from a young age and started performing at the Baal-Sabhas while he was in class 3. Sartaaj graduated in Music with Honours from Government College Hoshiarpur, Punjab. Alongside, he also did a five years Diploma in Classical Music at Sangeet Vishard in Jalandhar.
Thereafter, Sartaaj enrolled himself at Panjab University, Chandigarh, where he pursued a Master of Philosophy (M. Phil.) in Music followed by a PhD with a specialization in Sufi Poetry.
To deeply understand the concept of Sufi Poetry, Sartaaj further did a certificate course and diploma in the Persian language. [2]Satinder Sartaaj’s Official Website Before venturing into the music industry, Sartaaj taught in the Music Department at Panjab University for 6 years.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Satinder Sartaaj belongs to a middle-class family of farmers.
Parents & Siblings
Sartaaj’s father, Balwinder Singh, is a farmer. He has a brother.
Wife & Children
Satinder Sartaaj got married to his longtime girlfriend Gauri on 9 December 2010 in a private ceremony at the Taj Hotel in Chandigarh.
Apparently, Satinder met Gauri at Panjab University, Chandigarh, where they both were pursuing their PhDs. Soon, they fell in love and started dating each other.
Religion
Satinder Sartaaj follows Sikhism. [3]The Economic Times [4]Instagram – Satinder Sartaaj
Caste
Satinder Sartaaj belongs to a Saini family. [5]Facebook – Sikh Saini
Autograph
Address
House No. 45-C, Phase- 3b1, Sector-60, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Punjab
Career
Singing
Satinder Sartaaj started his career as a singer in 2009 with the music album Tere Qurbaan. However, the album failed to impress the audience. In 2010, he came into the limelight with his song Sai from the album Sartaaj. The album also included the tracks Nikki Jehi Kuri and Filhaal Hawavan, which became quite popular. Subsequently, he released the Punjabi music album Cheerey Wala Sartaaj (2011), which included songs like Motia Chameli, Dil Sabh De Vakhre, Cheere Waleya, and Adhi Kick Ch Start Mera Yamaha. Some of his other popular songs include Zikr Tera (2014), Sajjan Raazi (2016), Hazaarey Wala Munda (2016), Masoomiat (2017), Udaarian (2018), and Titli (2022).
Acting
Satinder Sartaaj made his acting debut in 2017 with the American film The Black Prince in which he played the role of Maharaja Duleep Singh.
He made his Punjabi film debut with the 2020 film Ikko Mikke as Nihaal, a sculptor.
In 2023, Sartaaj featured opposite Neeru Bajwa in the Punjabi film Kali Jotta.
Live Performances
Sartaaj has performed live at many stage shows and music events in Indian cities like Mumbai, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur, Jammu, and Amritsar.
He has also held several music tours abroad in countries like Canada, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.
Other Work
- Sartaaj once appeared in the singing reality show Zee TV Antakshari hosted by Annu Kapoor. He performed in the folk category on the show and won appreciation.
In 2003, he featured in a documentary on the Life of Sayyad Waris Shah on Zee Punjabi.
His big performance break was in 2008 when he got booked for a gig in Toronto, Ontario. The show’s organizers had heard him singing on YouTube and wanted him to perform for the Punjabi-Canadian audience
Awards & Honours
- Received the Best Sufi Singer Award at Dubai International Cultural Festival
- Received the Youth Icon Award from Rotaract Club Chandigarh
- Won the title for Punjab Heritage Foundation, Patiala
- Won Best International Act at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards (BAMA) in 2011
- Received Best Songwriter Award at Brit Asia TV Music Awards (BAMA) in 2017
- Won Music Video of the Year Award at BAMA for Udaarian in 2018
- Received the International Punjabi Cinema Debut Icon Award (2018) for The Black Prince
- Honoured with Punjab Gaurav Award in 2018 by the then Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh
- Mirchi Music Award for Album of the Year for the Music Album Mohabbat De Mausam in 2019
- Honoured for his music album Gurmukhi Da Beta at Press Club, Jalandhar, Punjab, in 2019
Note: Sartaaj has received many awards and honours from various institutions & organizations like Panjab University Chandigarh, Punjabi University Patiala, Army Head Quarters Chandigarh, Indian Microelectronics Society, Global Punjab Organization Delhi, OSHO World Delhi & Panchkula, Deputy Commissioner Mansa, and DAV Group of Institutions.
Car Collection
Satinder Sartaaj owns many luxury rides which include:
- Two Land Rover Defenders (Sartaaj is the first person in India to own a Land Rover Defender) [6]News18
- Two Range Rovers
- A Volvo
Favourites
- Actor: Brad Pitt
- Beverage: Tea
- Colour: White
Facts/Trivia
- Satinder Sartaaj loves writing and playing snooker in his leisure time.
- In an interview, Sartaaj revealed that he was inspired by the Persian Muslim poets Rumi and Shams Tabrizi.
- According to Sartaaj, Sufi music was a medium for him to connect with God.
- Sartaaj is considered as the saviour of the Gurmukhi language, Punjabi culture, Punjabi traditions, and folk.
- Satinder Sartaaj is good at playing various musical instruments including harmonium, chimta, piano, and Saaz-e-Sartaaj (his self-created musical instrument).
- Sartaaj has created a small recording studio at his home and has named it ‘Nazm Gaah.’
- In 2017, Sartaaj became the brand ambassador of Panjab University, Chandigarh.
- Once, during a concert at Panjab University, Chandigarh, Sartaaj revealed that the University has a huge role in his success as many of his songs were inspired by the incidents in PU. He further revealed that once he noticed a girl crying in the market of the university and penned the song Kudi Roya Na Karo. Later, he included the song in one of his music albums.
- In an interview, Sartaaj revealed that he lost his Yamaha bike when he was studying at Panjab University. Sartaaj further shared that he was still in search of the bike but could not get any clue.
- In an interview, when asked if music was his first love, Sartaaj replied,
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.”
- Satinder Sartaaj founded the Sartaaj Foundation, a non-government organisation focused to help talented youth in the fields of arts, culture, education and sports, in 2017.
- Sartaaj, once collaborated with the United Nations to help raise funds for their fight against human trafficking. For the cause, he worked along with cultural royalty like A. R. Rahman, Sonu Nigam, Quincy Jones, and Jimmy Carter.
- In an interview, Sartaaj revealed that while he was studying at Panjab University and living in a hostel, he experienced a sleepless night and woke up at 3 am. Irrespective of trying too hard, when he couldn’t fall back to sleep, Sartaaj started writing a song, whose last line was
Tere Sir Taareyan Da Taj Ve
Inspired by the line, he adopted his Takhallus (Pen name) ‘Sartaaj.’
- While studying at Panjab University, Sartaaj took part in various Punjab Heritage Foundation Competitions and won many of them. He was the first runner-up in the 24th All-India Light Vocal Festival.