Satinder Pal Singh, known worldwide as Satinder Sartaaj, is one of India's most celebrated Punjabi Sufi artists. Born in the village of Bajrawar in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, he has built a career spanning two decades that bridges classical Sufi music, literary poetry, cinema, and live performance.
A rare artist who holds a PhD in Sufi Singing from Panjab University, Chandigarh, Sartaaj brings an academic depth and spiritual authenticity to his music that sets him apart from every other performer in the industry. His pen name "Sartaaj" — meaning Crown — was bestowed upon him by his university peers and reflects the regal quality of his artistry.
Satinder Pal Singh was born in the village of Bajrawar in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. He attended the government elementary school in his village and showed an early love for music, beginning to perform in local Bal Sabhas from as early as the third standard.
He went on to complete his honours degree in music from Government College, Hoshiarpur. Driven by a deep passion for Sufi traditions, he pursued an MPhil in Sufi music singing at Panjab University, Chandigarh, followed by a full PhD in Sufi Singing (Gayan) from the same institution — making him one of the very few mainstream Indian artists to hold a Doctorate in Music.
During his university years, he also completed a Certificate and Diploma in the Persian language, allowing him to engage directly with classical Sufi texts in their original tongue. He taught music at Panjab University for six years. It was during college that he adopted his takhallus (poet's pen name), Sartaaj, meaning Crown — a name given to him by his peers.
Before his professional music career, Sartaaj has spoken openly about working as a farmer and having no intention of becoming a performer — making his rise to international stardom all the more remarkable.
His international breakthrough came in 2008 when concert organisers in Toronto, Ontario discovered him singing on YouTube and booked him to perform for the Punjabi-Canadian community — his first major international stage. The performance was a turning point.
In 2009 he released his debut album "Ibadat" under Finetone Cassette Industries, followed rapidly by his self-titled album "Sartaaj" in 2010 on Speed Records. His music — blending Sufi mysticism, classical Punjabi poetry, and contemporary production — found an audience not just in Punjab but across the Punjabi diaspora worldwide.
In 2011, Sartaaj won "Best International Act" at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards (BAMA) — one of the most prestigious honours in South Asian music. He returned to BAMA in 2017 to win "Best Songwriter" and in 2018 for "Music Video of the Year" for his song "Udaarian".
On 2 May 2014, Sartaaj performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London — one of the world's most iconic concert venues — to a sold-out audience of the Punjabi diaspora. The event was a landmark moment in the history of Punjabi music on the international stage.
Although accomplished as a composer, singer, and bhangra performer, Sartaaj has stated that shayari (poetry) is his first love. He has created his own musical instrument, the Saaz-e-Sartaaj, which he performs with at live shows.
Sartaaj performs across multiple instruments and has even created his own — the Saaz-e-Sartaaj. His live shows feature traditional classical instrumentation including tabla, sarangi, and harmonium alongside contemporary arrangements.
Sartaaj made his acting debut in 2017 in the American historical biopic The Black Prince, playing Maharaja Duleep Singh — the last ruler of the Sikh Empire. The film earned him widespread critical praise. He has since starred in multiple Punjabi films.
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