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Viju Shah Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth5 June 1959

Age65 Years

BirthplaceMumbai, Maharashtra

ProfessionMusic Composer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSunanda Shah

FamilyFather - Kalyanji Virji Shah; Mother - Sakarben Kalyanji Shah; Daughter - Priyal Shah; Brothers - Rajesh K Shah, Dinesh Shah, Chandrakant Shah, Ramesh Shah; Wife - Sunanda Shah

Viju Shah Biography

Viju Shah is an Indian film music composer known for his electronic synth-driven scores. The son of veteran composer Kalyanji Virji Shah, Viju rose to fame

Early life and background
Vijay Kalyanji Shah, known professionally as Viju Shah, was born on 5 June 1959 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He grew up in a musical household: his father was Kalyanji Virji Shah of the celebrated composer duo Kalyanji–Anandji. Shah began formal music lessons very young and started practising the harmonium at around four or five years of age, an early foundation that would later shape his work as a composer.

Career
Viju Shah began his professional life working as an arranger for Kalyanji–Anandji, assisting on film projects while developing his own voice. The arrival of synthesizers and electronic instruments in film music coincided with Shah’s move away from traditional acoustic arrangements. He embraced electronic sound design, seeking to create large, dynamic textures with synths in a way he likened to what earlier composers had achieved with acoustic orchestration.

His first major opportunity as a credited composer came with the film Tridev (1989), where he collaborated with director Rajiv Rai and contributed songs that became popular with audiences. The soundtrack’s success helped establish Shah as a distinctive new presence in Hindi film music. One of his early notable contributions to mainstream Bollywood pop culture was the 1992 release of the song “Saat Samundar Paar,” which became a lasting hit.

Shah’s breakthrough as a top-tier composer arrived with the blockbuster Mohra (1994). The soundtrack produced several enduring songs, including “Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast” and “Tip Tip Barsa Pani,” and the album was one of the year’s best-selling releases. His work on film scores and background music earned industry recognition; he received a Filmfare Award for Best Background Score for Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997).

Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, Shah became associated with distinctive electronic textures and instrumental soundtracks, a reputation that earned him comparisons to contemporary film score makers for his command of synth-driven arrangements. In 2020 he extended his work to streaming platforms by composing the music for the Netflix film Class of ’83, marking his entry into the OTT space.

Public profile
Viju Shah is often identified by listeners and commentators for his skill with synthesized sounds, and he has been referred to in media accounts using monikers that reflect that aspect of his work. He has also been involved in public discussions about musical borrowing in the film industry; at times those conversations have included allegations of copying, and Shah has addressed such topics in interviews by explaining how directors’ templates and creative processes influence the final music used in films.

Personal life
Shah has been married to Sunanda Shah since 21 May 1983. The couple’s daughter, Priyal Shah, is the founder and director of Svara Music Studio. His family includes his mother, Sakarben Kalyanji Shah, and four brothers: Rajesh K Shah, Dinesh Shah, Chandrakant Shah, and Ramesh Shah.

Latest updates
In recent years, several of Shah’s older compositions have reappeared in contemporary contexts: a 2018 rendition of his 1996 song “Aankh Marey” reached chart success in a new film version. His own recent work includes composing for the 2020 Netflix film Class of ’83, bringing his signature electronic approach to an OTT release.

Physical profile
Publicly available details note Shah’s height as approximately 173 cm (about 5 feet 6 inches). His eye colour is listed as black and his hair is described as grey.

Legacy
As a composer who rose to prominence during the transition from acoustic to electronic scoring in Hindi films, Viju Shah is recognized for popularizing synthesized sounds in mainstream Bollywood music. His successful soundtracks from the 1990s and continuing work into the streaming era have ensured his music remains part of the industry conversation.
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Recent Work

Class of '83

Composed music for the Netflix film, marking his OTT debut.

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut as credited film music composer: Tridev (1989)
  2. Breakthrough soundtrack: Mohra (1994) with hit songs like "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast" and "Tip Tip Barsa Pani"
  3. Filmfare Award for Best Background Score for Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Viju Shah born?

5 June 1959

What is Viju Shah known for?

Music Composer

What is Viju Shah’s marital status?

Married

Who is Viju Shah married to?

Sunanda Shah