How Yami Gautam's father shaped Satinder Sartaaj's signature Sufi look

When Aditya Dhar approached Satinder Sartaaj for the song, their conversation went beyond music. The Sufi icon also brought up Yami Gautam's father during the interaction. He shared the anecdote while performing at a Sufi festival in Delhi.

In Short

• Satinder Sartaaj shared an anecdote at a Delhi Sufi festival
• Yami Gautam’s father Mukesh Gautam influenced Sartaaj’s signature attire
• Sartaaj first sported the look while shooting for Mukesh Gautam in 2003

Amid the buzz around Dhurandhar: The Revenge, if you can’t stop humming or replaying the haunting lines, “Saanu saariyaan visar gayiyaan rahaan ve kede paasse jaaiye sajana”, you’re not alone. Sung by Punjabi singer, writer, poet and actor Satinder Sartaaj, this single verse from “Jaiye Sajana” has struck a deep chord with the masses. This brief, heart-wrenching snippet has gone so viral that Sartaaj has now become a nationwide sensation.

However, when Aditya Dhar approached Sartaaj for the song, their conversation went beyond music. The Sufi icon also brought up Yami Gautam’s father (Dhar's father-in-law) while talking to the filmmaker.

“When I got a call to do a song for Dhurandhar, I told Aditya Dhar that your father-in-law, Mukesh Gautam, has played a very big role in shaping my libaas (attire). He (Dhar) was very happy to hear that,” Sartaaj told fans while performing at the Jahan-e-Khusrau World Sufi Music Festival against the majestic backdrop of Purana Quila in Delhi on March 29.

Wondering what’s the connection here? The story goes back to 2003, when Sartaaj was pursuing a doctorate in Sufism from Panjab University (PU).

Anyone who follows Satinder Sartaaj’s music would know he has a very distinctive style. He usually performs in ethnic kurtas and salwar, with his turban tied in a manner that his tresses cascade down to his shoulders.

But the first time he sported this look was in 2003, to shoot a docuseries led by Mukesh Gautam.

“Yami Gautam’s father, Mukesh Gautam sir, was the head of a television channel in Chandigarh at that time. He was making a 30-minute episode on Baba Waris Shah, and was looking for someone who could act as a narrator and also sing live,” Sartaaj shared.

“Someone told him about me, saying there was a boy at PU. I went there and said, ‘Yes sir, I can try.’ He (Mukesh Gautam) asked what I would wear. I told him I had a salwar kameez,” Sartaaj recalled.

He said the shoot was at Dara Studio in Mohali. When he went inside, he noticed the black studio curtains and shared, “Give me that.” He wrapped it around his head just as he had seen Sufi poet Waris Shah in the small black-and-white photo kept in his hostel room.

“When I came out, Mukesh sir said, ‘Amazing, you look very good.’”

So, this was the first time he sported the look that would go on to become a strong part of his musical legacy.

Here is a glimpse of Sartaaj from that docuseries:

For the uninitiated, Mukesh Gautam is a prominent personality in the Punjabi film and television industry. He also won a National Award for the Best Punjabi Film in 2024 for Baghi Di Dhee.

As for Satinder Sartaaj, he has been a familiar name among Punjabi music listeners for over 15 years. Sai, Ikko Mikke, Jalsa, Maasoomiyat, Udaarian, Rutba, Sajjan Raazi are a few of his widely-celebrated songs. He holds a PhD in Sufism from Panjab University and is known for blending Sufi philosophy with music. He is currently on a global concert tour, performing in cities across India, Australia, the US and New Zealand.

- Ends