Ehsaan Noorani is an Indian guitarist, music composer, and music producer, best known as one-third of the composer trio Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, alongside Shankar Mahadevan and Loy Mendonsa. The trio has scored music for a wide range of Hindi films since the late 1990s and is regarded as one of the most influential composer collectives in contemporary Indian film music.
| Full name | Ehsaan Noorani |
|---|---|
| Profession | Music composer, guitarist, producer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Based in | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Associated act | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy |
| Primary instrument | Guitar |
| Genres | Film score, Hindi film songs, fusion, rock, pop |
| Active since | 1980s (as session musician); 1996 onwards as a film composer with the trio |
Ehsaan Noorani trained as a guitarist and built his early career in Mumbai's session and jingles circuit, performing on advertising music and film recordings. He developed a particular reputation for acoustic and electric guitar work in Hindi film music, and over time became known for his arrangement skills as well as his playing.
Through Mumbai's advertising and live music scene, he came into contact with the keyboardist and arranger Loy Mendonsa and the singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan. The three musicians began collaborating on jingles and eventually formed a composing partnership.
The trio's first feature film score was for Dus (the unreleased 1997 project), followed by their breakthrough with Mission Kashmir (2000), directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Subsequent successes established them as leading composers in Hindi cinema.
Notable film scores composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy include:
Within the trio, Ehsaan is generally associated with guitar-led arrangements, rock textures, and instrumental layering. His playing forms a recognisable element across the trio's catalogue, particularly on rock-oriented soundtracks such as Rock On!!.
Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy regularly tour as a live act in India and abroad, performing songs from their film catalogue with a full band. Ehsaan handles lead and rhythm guitar duties in these concerts.
Beyond film, Ehsaan has worked as a session guitarist, arranger, and producer for advertising jingles, non-film albums, and collaborations with other Indian artists. He has also been associated with music education and mentorship initiatives in India aimed at training young guitarists and producers.
As part of Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Ehsaan Noorani has received multiple Filmfare Awards for Best Music Director and several National Film Award nominations and wins for the trio's film scores. The group has also won Screen Awards, IIFA Awards, and Mirchi Music Awards across various years for soundtracks including Kal Ho Naa Ho, Taare Zameen Par, and Rock On!!.
Ehsaan is widely credited within the Indian film industry with bringing a contemporary, guitar-driven sensibility into mainstream Hindi film music. Along with his partners, he helped popularise hybrid arrangements that combine Indian melodic structures with rock, pop, jazz, and orchestral idioms. The trio's work on Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On!! in particular is often cited as a turning point in the sound of urban Hindi cinema.
Ehsaan Noorani is based in Mumbai. He generally maintains a relatively low public profile compared to his collaborators, with most of his public appearances connected to concerts, music releases, and industry events.