Amaal Mallik’s work comprises the hit music in popular films such as Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Kapoor & Sons, among many others. Mallik began the conversation by speaking about the making and success of his pop debut, “Tu Mera Nahi”. Shot in exquisite locations in Dubai, the song is a pop number on the theme of heartbreak, and has been a chartbuster ever since its release.
“This is a very difficult move and I want to thank Sony Music India for supporting me and my vision. We shot this video in the most difficult situation during the lockdown. This was my 80th song as a composer and it still felt like the first because this time, it was me in the video and I had to go all out, taking everything on me. But everything has been very positive and I’ve been welcomed,” he shared.
“My fans had wanted it for three years but there are people who messaged me saying that this was my first song they heard. And that is a very big feeling, of having a newer audience. It is also very important for an artist because, if it doesn’t happen, we don’t feel alive. So, I’m very happy with the love and success it has received on the charts and all over,” the singer added.
Talking about filming the music video, Mallik said, “I have to give full credit to Arif Khan for directing it so beautifully. He wasted almost a year, just spending time with me daily to get to know me better. I wanted to not play any character but be myself, show how I am in my own music and life, my relationships and friends. It’s just me, visually and musically, showing to my fans and the world that this is how this person is. I have not shied away from who I am. And I’m glad that we could do this even in such a difficult time.”
He continued, saying, “I feel this leap of faith came from the label, production house and my parents who started a production house with me. I can’t thank them enough. This was a 15-year-old dream which a 30-year-old completed.”
The singer-composer also gave a peek into the process of how he conceives of his songs and how he maintains a special connection with his fans. “Most of my songs come from my life. I follow a script but the melodies and words hit me, so I keep my eyes and ears open. But for a song like this, I also had to keep my heart open. My experiences, my friends and how they have faced life, everything happening around me—I bring all that to my music. That is why a lot of people connect with me on a different level. It’s not just about charts. A lot of young people tell me things such as ‘we got married to your song’ and such things feel really special,” Amaal said.
He also shared a touching story about a special fan he met recently. “At the airport, I met a young kid with Down syndrome. He was on a wheelchair, but got up and hugged me. His nani told me that he plays “Tu Mera Nahi” all day and if anyone changes the song, he gets really upset. So I realized I’m indirectly managing to heal people’s hearts,” Mallik said before belting out a few lines of his song.
About the turning point in his career and life, Amaal said, “I would give that credit to (the song) “Suraj Dooba Hai”. I had done something new there, but it had been too early for electronic dance music then. It took a year more for that and I could then gauge how long a particular trend takes to come from a foreign market. Fortunately, and unfortunately, we look to the West for a lot of music. So, if certain things are working today, they will probably come here in about one and a half or two years, I have realised.”
On a concluding note, Amaal shared, “I have had my share of recreations, but I am glad that I made a dent in people’s hearts with original good music. And now, slowly, the time for that is coming back, especially in the way independent music is almost superseding film music. It’s a great time. I think I’ve ventured into this at the right time, and because of this growth, I think film music will make that change too.”