I still have to fight to stay relevant, says Anu Malik
Bollywood music composer Anu Malik has been creating melodies — and chartbusters — for nearly three decades now, but it hasn’t been an “easy ride” even for a veteran like him, as genres and popular taste in music keep evolving.
The 57-year-old had to “fight” to remain “relevant” in the music industry, which he feels changes every single day.
“It hasn’t been easy,” says Malik. “Yes, I’ve been lucky that I’m still able to do the thing that I love doing the most. But, I won’t lie — I had to fight. I still have to fight to stay relevant. What’s important is that the fight is more within me, than with others. The music industry changes every single day in terms of soundscape, and I’m still here composing music. I couldn’t be happier in my life right now.”
This year, Malik has composed music for three films, including the recently released Paltan, whose title track is a hit.
Speaking of what it takes to keep pace with the 21st century audience, Malik says, “You know, the Nineties were very different. [Now] you see youngsters, well aware of the technology and [all that] comes with it. I have no such luxury. I don’t belong to the millennial generation. I’m not that good with technology. I had to learn a lot of things. But I think that’s the trick. As a musician, you have to keep reinventing yourself.”
He adds that he considered the 2015 film Dum Laga Ke Haisha his “second coming” in the industry. “The film sort of gave the world a glimpse of the new Anu Malik. I don’t want to say that I did anything different, but yes I did have to unlearn everything, because I had to stay relevant, as I’ve said. [With] Dum Laga Ke Haisha, I was able to create the kind of music that not only I was happy with, but that was also loved by people. The fact that people loved that album sort of made it a second coming for me,” says the composer. “These days, I joke that no matter how new the sound, Anu Malik will still be around,” he signs off laughing.
I don’t belong to the millennial generation. I’m not that good with technology. I had to learn a lot of things. But I think that’s the trick. As a musician, you have to keep reinventing yourself.
ANU MALIK COMPOSER