NEVER FEEL I HAVE ARRIVED: ANU

Music composer Anu Malik, who was in Chandigarh, says that he isn’t against the remix culture; adds that he feels his music remains relevant to the times

It’s always entertaining when Anu Malik is in the room. The celebrated Bollywood composer has the gift of the gab and for those who haven’t met him off screen, we are happy to report he’s exactly how he is on screen – unabashedly candid. His anecdotes flow one after the other and he flits through moments in time with ease. For someone who entered the music industry at the age of 14 and reined the ‘90s music scene, Malik has a lot to say. That he speaks his mind was amply clear as he arrived in Chandigarh this Thursday to formally announce the details of the sixth season of the Big Chandigarh marathon. Here are some excerpts from the conversation:

A SONG ON THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

Always strumming his fingers on the table, Malik admits he’s always composing songs in his mind. “My wife should be given an award for tolerating a husband like me. I rarely sleep and I am always getting up at odd hours recording a composition on my phone lest I lose it. I wake up and even write words I remember. I compose songs in my dreams too,” said Malik as he put together a song on Chandigarh on a whim during this conversation.

‘CHANDIGARH WILL ALWAYS BE SPECIAL’

Incidentally, Malik frequented Chandigarh a lot as a child. “My father was born in Kapurthala and we would visit Punjab often while growing up. I continued to visit Chandigarh over the years. Rock Garden was a must visit and each time I come I feel happy to see that the city has maintained its clean and green stature.”

“I love this city and it will always be special to me,” said the music composer also reminiscing about meals had at Hotel Mountview.

SCOPE FOR MORE

“I feel like the industry hasn’t exploited me enough. I can compose 200 songs without leaving this room,” Malik tells us. But he’s quick to add that he’s not arrogant about his skill. “I am blessed by Ma Saraswati and I owe all this to her,” he remarked, his baritone unmistakable. For someone who has composed chart topping numbers consistently over the years, Malik says he never feels he has arrived. “I am always learning. For me every day is a new day, a new challenge. As a composer my biggest compliment is that my songs are relevant even today,” says Malik who credits his national award winning song, ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’ from the film, ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ as his comeback.

NOT AGAINST REMIXES

With his tracks making a comeback in recent films as remixes, Malik feels it’s the way ahead. “A lot of youngsters haven’t heard these chart toppers from a decade ago. So if they are presented all over again, where’s the harm,” he says. Incidentally, he’s doing a radio show that looks at the hits of the ‘90s and the stories behind them.

“I see ‘90s as renaissance of music in Bollywood. I have a lot of trivia and behind the scenes stories to share not just about my songs but other composers too,” says Malik who is working on three films for the year.

HT PHOTO Anu Malik says he frequented Chandigarh a lot as a child.