Every Love Song Today Sounds Like ‘Aashiqui 2’: Amaal Mallik

Amaal Mallik opens up about how difficult it is to make creative and original music in Bollywood today.

Amaal Mallik on stage with Armaan Mallik. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/AmalSingh)

Amaal Mallik, nephew of Bollywood music director Anu Malik, has spoken out against the state of the music industry in a recent post on social media. The composer of hits like Sooraj Dooba Hai and Kar Gayi Chull ranted about how singers and their music are often brushed aside because some people decide it is not ‘commercial’ enough.

According to Mallik, because songs like Chittiyan Kalaiyaan, Chaar Baj Gaye or Subah Hone Na De, worked commercially, now producers want every song to sound just like these. He also mentioned some exceptions like the music of Badlapur, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Kapoor & Sons, Fitoor, Udta Punjab, Baar Baar Dekho, Sultan & Banjo, which stand out among the staccato tunes that audiences are being sold. All these films have, mind you, been among box office hits.

He even admitted that he himself has been caught in the web of Youtube views and iTunes downloads being a yardstick to measure the success of a song.

Mallik also stressed that Bollywood music should be in sync with the story line. While his statements are an important message for Bollywood, he contradicts himself with what he calls ‘good albums’ coming out of the music industry.

The composer has been part of many successes since he began his career with Salman Khan’s Jai Ho. In fact, the films that he’s composed songs for have been with Bollywood’s A-list directors and actors. So what gives, Mr Mallik?

Mallik has composed the entire album of upcoming film, MS Dhoni The Untold Story and Sau Aasmaan from Baar Baar Dekho.

Read his post here:

The vicious cycle of our music industry - Music that is promoted heavily tends to become a ear-worm and eventually becomes a hit... More people request for it on the radio, as they dunno any better. <i>Jo Dikhta Hain Woh Bikta Hain</i>, and <i>Jo Bikta Hain Woh Aur Dikhta hain</i> and the cycle continues..... And we all think <i>Yeh Hain Naya Hit Gaana</i>... Sorry but YouTube Views, iTunes downloads and Radio play is not the only yardstick. Even I keep putting posts saying 1M 2M views but that’s because we all are stuck in the new social trappings, which we can’t do much about, but we can at least work towards making newer music. Listening to my own music and what Bollywood is churning out since 2 years now, sparing a few good albums like - <i>Badlapur, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Kapoor &amp; Sons, Fitoor, Uḍta Punjab, Baar Baar Dekho, Sultan &amp; Banjo</i> recently... Every love song today sounds like <i>Aashiqui 2</i>, every wedding song a <i>Chittiyaṅ Kalaiyaan</i>, every club song a <i>Chaar Baj Gaye</i> or <i>Subah Hone Na De,</i> or a<i> Sooraj Dooba Hain </i>or a <i>Chull</i>..... There is so much of music within me, and all of us as composers that is dying to come out but it’s not commercial enough for the labels or the producers. We have all forgotten our own inner voice because of others... Others who decide whether we will compose for a certain film or will be humiliated and thrown out of it... Directors have lost their voice and are going to labels and begging for a hit song... This is not how things were, where is the confidence of the captain of the ship ? If labels are deciding the music of films (almost all), where the music needs to be a chart-buster and the story doesn’t matter it’s okay, but what about a soundtrack that has to be honest to the script? I think the director, music composer, lyricist and the label guys should create something special for a film instead of putting stock music... All of them should be jamming together, which is next to impossible to achieve, but that’s what will change it... That’s how we will achieve a score that will work with the film &amp; in time become a radio hit too. Not trying to hurt anybody, I’m sure many lyricists and composers will agree with me... Just need to plan a way forward... Happy Ganesh Chaturthi... Peace! &nbsp;

Amaal Mallik (Post on Facebook)

You can read the post here: