Sameer Rahat (SR) is a Bombay-based composer, lyricist and performer whose work sits at the intersection of cinema, poetry and performing arts. Over the last 17 years he has moved fluidly from indie singer-songwriter to acclaimed film composer and lyricist, while building a distinctive performance language that travels comfortably between intimate solo sets and full-band festival shows.

The son of legendary Urdu poets Anjum Rehbar and Rahat Indori, SR grew up immersed in language and performance, an upbringing he credits for his instinctive ear for lyric and cadence. This sensitivity makes him a valued collaborator for directors and editors working with dialogue-heavy or performance-led narratives: music that moves the story rather than merely accompanies it.

His recent screen credits include Faraaz, where he contributed music that brought a humane, tightly paced palette to a high-tension narrative, and the original score for an episode of Modern Love Mumbai. His discography spans projects for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Sony LIV and Disney, alongside contributions to international documentaries.

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Since 2014, he has composed and produced out of Baqsa Studios, the award-winning boutique writing and recording room he founded in Bombay. Baqsa’s slate includes advertising music for Google, Gemini, Uber and Vice News, with recognition at Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Spikes Asia, and Kyoorius. More than just a studio, Baqsa is a collaborative hub where directors, poets and instrumentalists meet for read-throughs, writing sessions and reflections on cinema.

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Parallel to his film work, SR sustains a performing practice he calls “Urdu-blues,” blending the cadences of Urdu verse with blues-inflected harmony and contemporary production. Widely profiled in the Indian press, it has become a signature of his concerts. His debut album Aamad, released in April 2020, rose to #1 on the iTunes India Pop chart and was acclaimed by critics and listeners. His upcoming second album, Puraana, continues that conversation, exploring a new sound of electronic Urdu dance music.

On stage, he moves fluidly between solo recitals and full-band sets, often weaving spoken verse into song. A performer for 20 years, in the past five he has appeared at prestigious cultural venues and major festivals across India, made his international debut at SJQ, London in 2024, and most recently completed a solo tour of Germany.

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Looking ahead, SR is working to shape a poetry-led sound that travels across borders, culturally inclusive and universally resonant, able to penetrate diverse cinematic contexts. This direction honours his poetic lineage by carrying forward the ethos of giving poetry back to the people, not as rarefied text but as a shared, collective force.