Anu Malik on new composers: where is the melody?

So many recent Bollywood films tanked because they had no melody to offer, says the composer

Music composer Anu Malik (above) is best known for his classic songs in films such as Sohni Mahiwal (1984), Baazigar (1993), Judwaa (1997), Soldier (1998), Biwi No. 1 (1999), Munnabhai MBBS (2003), Murder (2004), Main Hoon Na (2004), and the more recent Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) and this year’s Indu Sarkar. With that experience, the Bollywood veteran is unimpressed when he looks at the current breed of composers — he feels that they “don’t go for melodies” anymore, and that’s the reason behind the trend of reinventing classic songs.

“Creating original tunes is a gift that one gets from God. I have that gift, of creating a mukhda, creating a melody, and that has been given to me by Saraswati Maa. I think that’s why [filmmakers] are going back to the composers who can compose a melody,” says Malik. He adds that these days, most composers arrange some beat and introduce rap in it. “Rap is not a melody. There is no melody in the songs these days,” says Malik, who has recreated his songs Unchi Hai Building and Tan Tana Tan (from Judwaa) in the upcoming sequel.

Malik also believes that poor choice of music is one of the main reasons why several films have flopped in 2017. “Why do you think so many films tanked at the box office? Seriously, where is the melody? You can’t take people for a ride. That’s why you see reused songs getting more popularity than the new ones today,” he says.

However, the 56-year-old composer is not entirely dismissive of the current crop. “There are four or five composers who work hard on creating some [original] tunes and I love their work,” says Malik. “In fact, after 20 years, to see my name [again] on the number one spot in music charts, amidst some of the best music composers today, is a huge honour.”

I have that gift, of creating a mukhda, creating a melody, and that has been given to me by Saraswati Maa ANU MALIK, MUSIC COMPOSER