Shyamal-Saumil

1980–1984: Formation and debut

In 1980, the two gave their debut organized solo performance, titled, "Morpichch", a sold-out show. The show launched their careers and gave them credibility and fame. The shows were repeated in Kolkata and Mumbai as well, and over the course of the first 5 years, they gave 20 shows in 3 cities.

1984-2000: Performances, Meghdhanoosh, and Acclaim

In 1995, Shyamal-Saumil released Meghdhanoosh, initially in cassette form, dedicated entirely to kids. The album comprised 45 songs on different morals and themes, and was largely sung by kids themselves. To this date, Meghdhanoosh remains the duo's best-selling album, selling over 25,000 copies.

2000-2002: Further Success and Swarsetu

Having earned fame and success, Shyamal-Saumil, in late 2000, launched "Swarsetu", a listeners forum, to promote "Sugam Sangeet" and "Kavya Sangeet", as well as to introduce new and upcoming artists while staying true to the culture. Since 2000, Shyamal-Saumil have organized over 90 performances, each with a different theme and message. Swarsetu also allows children and adolescents to showcase their talents and imbibe roots and foundations into them.

2002-2005: Hastakshar and Critical Reception

in 2002, Shyamal-Saumil released the biggest collaborative project of their career, a 6-album project called, "Hastakshar", with each album containing songs by a different illustrious poet and lyricist. These poets were Tushar Shukla, Raman Patel, Ramesh Parekh, Suresh Dalal, and Umashankar Joshi, and for their songs, Shyamal-Saumil brought together 30 artists to create the project. The title song was sung by Jagjit Singh, and other famous Bollywood singers also gave their voices for the songs. These included Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shankar Mahadevan, Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargam,Bhupendar Singh, and Shubha Joshi. Shreya Goshal sang her first Gujarati song on the album's track, "Aaj Maaru Mann". The album was extolled for its versatility and its richness in quality.

2005-Present: Anushthaan, Swarsetu, and Legacy

In 2012, the Swarsetu News Digest was launched by Shyamal-Saumil, a monthly magazine, which showcased art, literature, music, poetry, and drama in Gujarat. The magazine also invited famous authors and poets to write columns, and was catered for all ages.^[1] Since then, the magazine has also launched several competitions and literature fests, and workshops are organized in several schools to help propagate Gujarati culture.^[2]

Aapnu Amdavad Surilu Amdavad was a project released in 2011 to celebrate the heritage of the city of Ahmedabad. All the songs in the album were accompanied with videos, making the album one of the first music video albums in Gujarati music. The videos had notable appearances by the then-Mayor of Ahmedabad, Asit Vora, and Indian cricketer, Parthiv Patel, and also featured songs dedicated to the festival of kites, Uttarayan, and to Manekchowk, a prominent city square in Ahmedabad.

In 2014, Shyamal-Saumil organized a 3-day music festival called Anushthaan, an event which the Times of India called a "spectacle for music-lovers."^[3] The event featured artists from all around Gujarat, including Parthiv Gohil, Aishwariya Majmudar, Hema Desai, Dipali Somaiyya, and nearly 50 other musicians and artists. In 2015 and 2016, the event was repeated with further critical acclaim and success, and featured a plethora of artists, a lineup which included Maati Baani, Bhoomi Trivedi, Osman Mir, Aalap Desai, Aashit Desai, the Tabla Taalim Sanstha, Rhythm Pulze, and nearly 80 other artists. The events also included dance performances by Chandan and Nirali Thakore, Maulik and Ishira Shah. Being an ensemble of the arts, Anushthaan also included several poets, stand-up comedians, and actors, who gave talks, speeches, and performances. Renowned artists like Sairam Dave, Jay Vasavda, RJ Dhvanit, Tushar Shukla, Darshan Jariwala, Harsh Brahmbhatt, Archan Trivedi, and Abhishek Jain were among the celebrities present. In 2015, the event featured Gujarat's first LED floor, and in 2016, the very first Gujarati a cappella performance was presented. New techniques like projection mapping and optical illusion dances were also performed.