Anu Malik In Conversation With Rotarians

You began composing at the age of 14; can you share a glimpse?
My father, Shri Sardar Malik Sahab, who is no more with us, but a certain generation may remember his iconic song: ‘Saranga teri yaad mein’. Daddy had no work; he was immensely talented but no work. I realised that when I was only seven. We had a neighbour who had parties which certain people used to attend. I remember asking my dad, ‘How come people don’t come to our house?’ He would just smile. To quote the legendary director Mahesh Bhatt, who said, ‘I have never seen a man take failure on his face with such a smile’.

My father was talented, and whenever I sit on such a stage, the first thing I remember is Shri Krishna who I follow because, in my darkest times, he has pulled me through. I always say Jai Shri Krishna. At the age of 7, I told my father, ‘Daddy, I want to be like you. You do something on the harmonium, what do you do?’ He would smile and say that it was not my cup of tea because it is a weird profession. When I was 11, my teacher had asked me to memorise a poem called ‘Ye re ye re pavsa’. I was trying to read it at home, and I started humming a tune to it. My father heard me and asked what I was doing? When I said I was just learning a poem by humming it, he said, ‘This is going to be famous someday, you just composed it.’ He gave me a piece of paper with some words and said, ‘Make some tune out of it right now.’ I read the words and started composing a tune. When I started composing three melodies, he hugged me; I can never forget that hug. He said, ‘You are my Mozart. You made a tune in front of me without even learning music.’

I am a natural musician. At 14, I started taking my harmonium out. I met people and told them that I am a composer. At that time there were three great composers – Laxmikanth Pyarelal, RD Burman and Kalyanji Anandji. You could not enter the studio because they were not only doing a great work, they were the best. That time I started meeting people and I remember my first song, there was a film called ‘Hunterwali 77’. Mohan Chaudhary sahab said, ‘Anu Malik should sing, he is a talented boy.’ I will never forget that I ran to Ashaji and said, ‘I have made a tune, please sing a song for me?’ She said, ‘What are you singing? What will I do?’ I insisted that she should listen, she said that she was not feeling well, and she was not sure if she would come. On the day of the recording, she showed up and the first song of my life was sung by Asha Bhosale.

I feel specially honoured about all this because we recently lost Lataji but I literally grew up in Lataji and Ashaji’s home. I know Ashaji’s children. We all grew up together. Just three days back, Ashaji was on a call with me, and she was singing, ‘Chura ke dil mera’ on the phone and I asked her what happened. She laughingly said, ‘Why didn’t you give me this song?’ I took it as a compliment. Nandu told me a few days back that Drew Barrymore was dancing on that song. I take it as a compliment because I am not only a composer but I am from India and India is everywhere. I would also like to add that I started my journey on that day and I am still working.

I read that you were in an accident with your family, and you broke the glass of the car to get out. Can you share that incident?
It was most traumatic. In 2003, Anmol, Ada, Anju and me were on the highway of Ajmer Shareef, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The car banged into a truck called Sita Travels and all hell broke loose. The entire car was on fire. We were gone; I just remember saying Jai Shri Krishna because the car was locked. My wife said, ‘Anu, get us out of the car.’ Those were the last words I heard, I broke the glass with my hand, thanks to Krishna bhagwan and scrambled out. My entire body was torn due to the shreds because of the glass, my shirt was gone, but I pulled out my wife and my daughters. It is a miracle. I would only thank Lord Krishna and no one else.

I am an ardent fan of Indian Idol. But there is news that the contestant won different awards in different shows, so for the audience who is kind of invested in the show feels a little let down. So, why is this happening in the industry when the participants are so strong?
I have been a judge of Indian Idol since the inception. I was called in 2004, and I think I am the only judge who has done all the seasons. The last season was again very painful, and tough. When you talk about the backstory of the children, the struggle is real. You say you feel let down by the story of them having won other awards; if you were in my place and seen the amount of pain that I have seen, they, too, come from dark corners, what must their world be? But I identified that it is almost the same as my world because I have struggled to come here. It is said about me that ‘Anu Malik ne toh patthar se paani nikala hai’. And I am not ashamed to say it. It is a tough world and to go forward in life is the only way to go. Karma! You should focus on your talent. I’ll give you a small example of a boy. They say that I can do shayari anywhere, so, how do I do that? There was this boy whose back story was not told to me: a boy came to me and I remember us three judges being there. After he sang, the other judges said that you are not bad, you can learn something and come back. I looked at the boy and my heart said, I don’t think he has the money and infrastructure to learn. It was easy for us to say learn and come. So, I asked him, what do you do? He started crying. I said, ‘tumhare aawaj mein damm nahi aa raha hai magar tum surr mein ho’. He said, ‘Sir, I am a painter.’ He paints walls. I told him that I would take him to Mumbai. I made a shayari which goes like this:

‘bhuk lage toh chaand bhi ek roti nazar aata hai,
‘bhuk lage toh chaand bhi ek roti nazar aata hai,
Aag hai zamana phir bhi bhuk peeche peeche.
Saari duniya ki baatein do rotiyon ke neeche.

So, the good part of Sony, is, whoever wins travel the world more than you and me. I have seen their passports. It is amazing to see them in London, US, America and the number of shows, fame and love they get. I get a sense of pride that I could do something. There is this thing that sometimes they win some game and reach to this level, and the viewers get let down. Sony makes sure that this doesn’t happen. We always try to get new singers; I, as a judge, also encourage them to do so and, there is tremendous talent in this incredible country. I am surprised to see new singers and composers; I didn’t have the platform to showcase my talent. I had to literally knock-on doors and I used to run after producers.

One of my stories that is famous is that I got a film in a bathroom. I ran after the producer Umesh Mehra who was making a film called Sohni Mahiwal; Laxmilal Pyarelal was signed for the film. He was refusing to meet me because he was busy in his own work. One day, I came to know that he was in a particular studio. I went there, and I thought, no matter how big a personality someone is, he will use the bathroom at least once. So, I stood outside the loo, and when he was in, I started singing a song, ‘Soni meri soni, soni aur nahi koi meri honi rab se jyada tera naam leta hu’. He turned, washed his hands, came out and told me to wait right there. He went into the studio and told the composer, ‘Bappi da, keep on recording, I want to talk to this guy.’ He held my hand and took me to Anand Bakshi’s house which is in Bandra and said, ‘Sir, I have got a boy who would like to sing a song.’ And, I sung in front of Anand Bakshi. I am in awe of that guy, I started singing, he wrote that line and asked what next? I just hummed the tune of the next and Anandji wrote the words, ‘Rab mujhe maaf kare mera insaaf kare’. And said, ‘Anu Malik, you are signed.’ This is how I got films. Today, the Indian Idol singers get a platform, they get judges, they are lucky. They are at the right place at the right time and right channel.

So, I had argued with my wife when she asked me why I was allowing Indian Idol to play with my emotions when I know that all these back stories are hidden. My answer to her was that Neha, we are all being influenced by somebody or the other, so, I have Indian Idol trying to influence my emotions and on the other I have our news channel. I am happy if Indian Idol influences my emotions and makes a better human out of me.

Nicely said. When I see the stories, I see their homes and I personally start forgiving them. Even if you have lied, but from where you started, look at the girl that has reached here. In the last season, season 12, covid was at the peak. There was a story of this ambulance driver, he was driving covid patients and his daughter was singing. Before this, Indian Idol on April 14th last year, I got a call and my wife’s friend’s son expired from Covid.

It was afternoon and everyone was asleep and I got a call from Sony saying ‘Sir, we need you bad’. They said Maharashtra government was not allowing the shooting but the show must go on. So, I thought there will be a shoot in Film City for a day or two but they said that the problem is that our judges walked off. All the judges didn’t want to come because of the fear. I asked where is the show going on? They said, ‘Daman, sir please come.’ I didn’t ask my wife’s permission, they sent a guy to my house to get my Covid test done and in 1.5 hours, you will get the result. If it is positive then you just return home and if not then please cross the border. And it was a James Bond moment, I didn’t wait for my wife to wake up, and I just packed my bags. It was in my heart; I wanted the show to go on. I got the negative report, took me 5 hours to reach Daman. At 7.30 in Delton hotel, there is no one, it is dark but there is this one small girl who suddenly screamed, ‘Anu sir is here, Indian Idol is on’. I think that was the best compliment in my life. I had tears in my eyes and lights went on and all the singers came running. I called Manoj, we sat and discussed and the show aired. The TRP shot through the roof and the number of blessings I got; people hugged me. Those were the blissful moments.

You have gone through many controversial moments and, although you are supremely talented, there were reports like ‘bartan girenge toh bhi Anu Malik copy karlenge, unke saamne aawaj nahin honi chahiye.’ How did you get to where you are?
It is a very nice question; in this I would like to compliment a song called ‘sandese aate hai’, I was doing a movie with JP Dutta and I remember this controversy and one of the composers started writing the name of songs where the people were inspired. There was a song in the movie Najayaz, ‘Tujhe pyaar karte karte teri neend tak uda du, aau jo apni jid par tujhe kya se kya bana du. “I gave you these words and you made a song, if you can do this, you can do anything. If people talk ill about you, remember, there is no one more original; the only original person in the world is God,” said Mahesh Bhatt. “Everybody is inspired by everybody but if you can make a song like this, to me you are the best.” He continued. So, you need people to believe in you. JP Dutta Sahab said that Javed Akhtar has written a song that you must start writing, when I started the song, it said ‘Sandese aate hai, hume tadapate hain jo chitti aati hai, woh puche jaati hai ki ghar kab aaoge’. So, I said to Javed Sahab that this is not proofed, it is not poetry it is just colloquial words like we write, so, where is the song? I got scared and he said, we want this only. Suddenly, he said we might take a month to compose it. I was shocked that such a long song, it is the longest song in Bollywood, 11-minute song and while I was writing it JP Sahab said, ‘Let’s leave now’. And I was humming ‘Aye guzar ne wali hawa bata, mera itna kaam karegi kya, mere gaaon mein jaa, mere doston ko salam de’. Suddenly Javed Sahab got up, he got a cassette and said please sign here that you have finished making the song in 7 and half minutes. The song was composed. So, when you hear these controversies, you have to believe in yourself, there are people who see good things and bad things but you have to believe in your talent, you will be way ahead in life.

Do you also compose words or only tunes?
Chura ke dil mera, Ye kaali kaali aakhein, the mukhada was written by me. My first big film, Baazigar with Abbas-Mustan, Shah Rukh Khan and I wanted to give my best. When the song came out, this song got me my first Filmfare Award.

I love that film and I love this song Kaali kaali aakhein. How many years later did you receive success and recognition? You have determination, belief, and faith in god; how did you reach it?
Somehow, I don’t know how many people believe in this but I am a firm believer in destiny, in God and in Saraswati maa. When I am given a situation for a song, I just know I have to deliver. I feel that God directs me and guides me. But yes, the pain of my father was the catalyst here and somehow that was the biggest catalyst force that I come from a family that knows it’s worth and I could not see the pain of my father. Till today I remember him, I miss him and throughout my life I have always struggled and worked hard to see that my dad should know that he gave birth to a son who could take his family name forward.

I believe and I am big fan of Dhirubhai Ambani Sahab because many many years ago I was called to a party, and was lucky enough to shake hands with Dhirubhai. He loved Kaali kaali aankhein. I get inspired by great people, I drive myself to help people in the world. someone also asked me why do you make music and shows all-around? I said, the auto-driver who is very tired after a day of driving from one end to another and then finally relaxes at home? I think I am born to entertain people, to make them happy, I think that is my driving force. Apart from the greatness of the people I mentioned, I somehow feel that the man on street should be happy. I just want to make people happy, I am always as excited as a kid, I refuse to grow up. I am going to be like this my whole life. That is the way it is. Many people ask me, how do you make songs? So, I don’t know what is in your mind, you give me words, I will be Anu Malik and make songs. I am Anu Malik because of Saraswati Maa, the talent is given because of I am god’s child and I am proud of it, I will never take credit for it. I will say it comes from there. So, all of you start giving me words.

Bekhudi – aawargi – khushiyaan , so, now I make songs [he makes a tune adds beetein na tere bin ye din, ye ratiyaan, aaj karle chori sang sang pyaari pyaari batiyaan. Bekhudi, aawargi khushiyaan]

So, people have tried to hurt me, but they have inspired me. I don’t have a revengeful side, or mentality. I love people. I made my songs.

You have done largest number of singles with Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik; what is your relationship with them?
I think I come from a time when these singers were also coming up in life, in 90s, when music was exploding. I was not the only composer, there were many and 90s we really wanted the music to be hit. I want to create music that will force people to hum to the tunes, and film that really got this was Phir teri kahani yaad aayee, if you remember the song from this, ‘tere darr par sanam chale aaye, tu na aaya toh hum chale aaye’. There was a competition between the composers and someone said that the writer will not work with you. Mahesh Bhatt said, “Now no one wants to work with you and you don’t have work, there is a writer called Qateel Shifai, he is here.” I met him, he gave me the words and I was nowhere, it was a Zee TV film, they said this is such a song. Qateel sir thought this is a struggling man, so, he needs me. To impress Mahesh sir, he started to sing and I thought that this guy will have changed my life if I record this song. Mahesh sir appreciated it but I said, no, this is not me, I don’t want to take this song. They said why? This is a good mukhada. But I said I wanted to compose it my way. So, I sang and there were no singers around and Sanu came, and Alka was out of town so we called Sadhana Sargam. Mahesh sir said we have no money, his usual dialogue. So, I said how do we do it? I called a Spanish guitar, there was a piano, and I played it. I said to Sanu sir, I’ll tell you the words, you go on recording. In 9 instruments, the song was recorded. Then Alka came and she sang her part. This was a great song, plays till now. We were singing, then Sonu Nigam came, Vinod Rathore and then we became a team, created a rapport, we were delivering. In 90s it was a magical period. Unchi hai building, Garam chai ki pyaali, even I don’t remember what all have I worked for.

Khuda kuch hi bando ko itne jatan je jadta hai,
Khuda kuch hi bando ko itne jatan je jadta hai,
Shayad isliye kisi haseen hasti ki Rachna karta hai.
Hai khush naseeb hamari ki aap hamari Rotary ki mehfil mein aaye,
Kuch gungunaya, kuch sunaya aur hum sab ka behad pyaar se dil nibhaaya.

Swati ji, this song for you. It is a song when I had no work, in 2015 Aditya Chopra called me and asked what am I doing? I go there, he said I am making a movie called Dum Laga ke Haisha, a boy who has a cassette shop and is a fan of Kumar Sanu, and then marries a girl against his wishes. So, can you do a contemporary song? Sharad ji, the director came to me and he said let’s give you a situation and let’s see. The situation was that the boy was upset with the wife, he goes and wife had prepared his favourite food, but the boy says no, father has told you to pick you up, so, let’s go. She sits on the scooter and while in the galli, in the night, first time she puts her hand on his shoulder and he says I am hungry. She says that you should have eaten when I was insisting. So, it was the first interaction of husband and wife. They said Haridwar will be the location, I had Banaras in my head for some reason. I sat in the studio at night and I started humming this song, with a shehnai. And this note stuck in my head. I was humming, and Sharad Kataria and Aditya Chopra walk in, they said there is a new boy Varun Grover, talented, if he writes something will you make something? So, Varun said the tune is very lovely, and he wrote Moh moh ke dhaage. And he said I loved the word girah can you put that word? and I did, the rest is history.