Harmony in his DNA

Music is in Amaal Malik’s lineage. As the grandson of Sardar Malik, the son of Daboo Malik and the nephew of Anu Malik, music indeed is part of his DNA. Talking about his journey, the young composer who was launched by Salman Khan in 2014 with Jai Ho, says, “I have grown up in a family of musicians. So music was all around me. Since I was a child, I have seen musicians at home, with cassettes, CDs, keyboards, etc. everywhere. My grandfather, Sardar Malik, has been a major influence in my life and I learnt Hindustani classical music from him.

I was eight years old when my parents enrolled me for piano lessons. I composed my first song at the age of 15 and played it to my father. He saw the composer in me and wanted me to learn music production and master my art. Hence, I went to complete my degree at Trinity College of London, assisted music directors, composed for jingles and started making a bank of songs.”

The 24-year-old has composed many chart topping dance numbers like Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main, Sooraj Dooba Ha, Jai Jai Jai Jai Ho, etc. and recalling his breakthrough in Bollywood, he shares, “In 2014, my younger brother (Arman) met Salman sir (Khan) with his personal album. When he heard my song Love You Till The End, he liked it a lot and told me to make a romantic Hindi version of the song. I came back within a few days with new lyrics, and to my surprise, he told me that he’s taking the song for his next movie, Jai Ho. At the last minute, I was asked to compose the title song as well. That’s how my journey as a composer began. I am proud to say that I am the youngest composer ever launched by Salman sir.”

For his latest musical rendezvous, Amaal has tied up again with his idol Salman, who teased a clip of the romantic number Main Hoon Hero Tera (from Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty’s debut movie Hero) on Twitter. “The song was born during my Jai Ho days on a very random evening. I wrote down a few rough lyrics even though I was not part of that project. But Salman heard it and connected with it. Later on, when I became a part of Hero, I was given another song and not the one that I had previously written.

I went ahead and composed the O Khuda, which was to be used at the climax of the film. It has been by far, the toughest song of my career. Salman sir really wanted Main Hoon Hero Tera in the film but he didn’t want it to seem forced. We recorded the song in Armaan’s voice and kept it aside. When T Series bought the music rights for Hero, after listening to all the songs, Bhushan Kumarji felt the need for one more song. Salman sir suggested Main Hoon… and it finally made it to the album. At the same time, Salman sir had grown to love the song so much that he decided to lend his voice for the same,” Armaan tells us.

Up next for Amaal are the films All Is Well, Calendar Girls, Sanam Re and Junooniyat.