Showing posts with label Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee. Show all posts
An artiste on the brink of extinction is the most creative-Mahesh Bhatt
8:10 AM
As Anu Malik returns to Bollywood with Tu Meri Poori Kahani seven years after he was called out in #MeToo movement, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt thinks new composers cannot match his passion
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 3, 2025)
"It’s not comeback music, it’s a hit-back music,” says Mahesh Bhatt, referring to composer Anu Malik returning to Bollywood with the former’s film, Tu Meri Poori Kahani. After Malik was accused of sexual harassment by several singers in the #MeToo movement in 2018, work offers dried up and the musician stepped away from the limelight. Seven years on, as he returns with the love story’s album, the filmmaker says it was producer Vikram Bhatt’s idea to rope him in.
“I didn’t want six different songs from different music composers. I wanted somebody with a unified vision. So, Vikram suggested Anu Malik’s name and that was it. Anu and I go a long way. We did Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee [1993]. The album is remembered even now,” shares the senior filmmaker.
Tu Meri Poori Kahani, which sees him serve as the creator, stars newcomers Arhaan Patel and Hirranya N Ojha, and is directed by his protégé Suhrita Das. Having been with the album since its inception, the creator believes he was right in choosing Malik for the job. “I wish the younger lot of music composers matched his passion. An artiste on the brink of extinction is the most creative. The survival mechanism kicks in as an artiste, who is almost a fame-junkie, suffers from withdrawals and wants to rebirth himself.”
In the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, it seemed to be the end of the road — and many would say fittingly so — for Malik. But the veteran filmmaker says the reason for the composer fading into oblivion was the entry of the new-age musicians. “The generation changes, and every music director is an expression of his times. Few can deconstruct themselves, and retain their wisdom. But Anu was not a fluke. He took the break in his stride and came back rich with his creations, despite the winter he went through.”
However, Bhatt had one condition before he signed Malik on — that he should remain true to his sound. “I told him he must not piggyback on the trends, thinking that he needs to cater to Gen Z’s musical taste. I told him to keep his late father, Sardar Malik saab in mind, while composing.”
I've seen Anmol take rejection very well and she hasn't cried once-Anu Malik
8:36 AM
Father-daughter duo Anu and Anmol Malik on silencing critics and the curse of a surname
Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 30, 2015)
Twenty three-year-old Anmol Malik started her musical career as her father Anu's personal voice recorder. "When she was barely four or five, we had gone on a holiday to Goa. I was walking along the beach, when I came up with the tune for Chunnari Chunnari. I hummed it to Anmol, who continued to do so throughout the trip. When we returned to Mumbai, David Dhawan called me for an update but I forgot the tune," laughs Anu. He finally had to fall back on his daughter's memory. "My dad came to pick me up from school and asked me to repeat the tune he had taught me in Goa. He then went ahead and composed it," smiles Anmol, a former student of Jamnabai Narsee School. The film in question, Biwi No 1, is also special to the Maliks as Anmol made her debut as singer with the song Mujhe Maaf Karna. Her payment included a huge bar of chocolate, Anmol reminices.
Anu recognised his daughter's musical streak even before that trip to Goa. "I have always played my songs to my wife before release as I trust her judgment. When I had composed Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen for Baazigar, I took my wife and Anmol, who was just two-and-a-half years old then, for a drive and made them listen to it. Within a few minutes, I noticed Anmol singing the 'tu ru ru...tu ru ru' chorus, which she did in complete sur and taal. I remember thinking that she'd make a singer some day," says the proud father. His instinct proved prophetic. Today, Anmol is excited about her latest song Time Lagaye Kaiko from the upcoming film Welcome Back, which is unlike her previous hits Old School Girl (Tanu Weds Manu Returns) and Talli (Ugly Aur Pagli).
She played the hit song Old School Girl for Anu for the first time in her father's trademark style — by taking him out for a drive. "He liked it but didn't know that I had sung it. He said, 'It's a cute voice, who is it?'," laughs the 23-year-old, who is a trained pianist. Anmol was also active in the UK jazz scene, while at university. She credits her dad for exposing her to various genres of music. "I thank him for introducing me to The Beatles early in life," adds the young singer, who grew up listening to Celine Dion and Mariah Carrey.
However, in spite of having a father who composed for over 350 films, Anmol admits that her surname didn't magically open doors for her in the industry. "And it shouldn't," she asserts. "Your talent should opens doors for you," agrees Anu. "I've seen her take rejection very well and she hasn't cried once. I've always told her that I'll be there for you, not because I am your father but because I like your voice," adds the 53-year-old composer.
Anu himself is no stranger to struggles. "I would travel from one producer to another, lugging my harmonium along. When I'd mention my father's name (composer Sardar Malik), they'd offer me a cup of tea but that's about it," he remembers. Anu says breaking into the industry at a time when composers like R D Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal and Kalyanji Anandji ruled was a big challenge.
Till date, the composer performs his melodies on a harmonium while pitching songs to a filmmaker. "I too don't shy away from expressing my interest to work with a particular filmmaker. I'd been asking Aditya Chopra for 15 years before he gave me Dum Laga Ke Haisha," he laughs.
Malik calls himself lucky for having had the opportunity to compose for the first films of top directors such as Anurag Basu (Murder), Farah Khan (Main Hoon Na) and Rajkumar Hirani (Munnabhai MBBS). "Rajkumar Hirani struck me as a very sharp filmmaker just by the way he explained the situation of the song. He said, 'Jimmy Sheirgill has a day to live and he has to enjoy his entire life in that one song'," remembers Anu, who composed the raunchy Dekh Le for the album.
His career went through a slump when critics questioned the authenticity of his tunes. This is when filmmakers like Mahesh Bhatt and J P Dutta encouraged him to silence his critics with his work. "Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayi was a huge hit and Refugee fetched me a National Award. This gives me the right to say that I'm the most original composer in the industry," he says.
Anu, however, regrets that most people only associate him with songs like Ek Garam Chai Ki Pyali Ho, Dekho Barish Ho Rahi Hain. "I've composed for Asoka, Border, Virasat, Main Hoon Na, Duplicate, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Fiza, Josh etc. But people only remember those two songs. I don't know whether to laugh or cry." Anmol agrees, adding, "Most don't know that the song Bheegey Hont Tere is composed by my dad." But that doesn't perturb the Maliks. For, the practise of deriving satisfaction from their work runs in the family. "Besides," adds the composer gravely, "I have so many fans that it doesn't bother me."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)