Anu with father Sardar Malik

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 1, 2019)

Not many will recall a 1961 film titled Saranga but its song, “Saranga teri yaad mein”, filled with the pathos of a broken heart, ranks amongst Mukesh’s best. Anu Malik, son of its composer Sardar Malik, recalls his dad telling him that after bowling Mukesh over with Bharat Vyas’s poetry and his melody, he confided in the singer that some of his detractors were calling him “kansura” and he wanted to shut them up with this song. “But I’ll need to rehearse it with you every day,” Malik Saab insisted.

Mukesh ji would dash down to his Juhu residence every day and despite the summer heat, they’d switch off the fan and he’d rehearse in his vest. “By the end of the session, both would be drenched in sweat,” recalls Anu. By the time of the recording, Mukesh ji knew every word and note. “Like me, he sang with the harmonium and the song flowed in perfect sur,” says Anu believing that if it had been picturised on Raj Kapoor rather than Sudesh Kumar (right), it might have been a bigger hit. “Stars carry forward your songs, that’s why I’ve fought for an Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman Khan for my songs,” he reasons.

Salman’s father, Salim Khan played the lead in Bachpan. A Sardar Malik composition, sung by Mohd. Rafi, “Mujhe tumse mohabbat hai magar main keh nahin sakta” was filmed on him.“My first song for Poonam, 'Mohabbat rang layegi janaab ahista ahista', at the age of 17, was also sung by Rafi Saab. After the recording, he called me, ‘True son of a true father,’” Anu beams proudly.

He also remembers approaching Shammi Kapoor (left) for his blessing only to be told he didn’t need to introduce himself. “You are Sardar Malik’s son,” Shammi ji smiled and when Anu wondered how he knew his father so well, he informed him, “I was launched with Sardar Malik’s music in the 1953 film Laila Majnu .” Despite several screen adaptations and Malik saab sharing the credits with another composer, Ghulam Mohammed, he left his imprint on the film with songs like “Baharon Ki Duniya” and “Dekh Li Aye Ishq Teri Meherbani.”

Malik saab also scored for Shammi Kapoor’s Chor Bazar which boasts of Lata Mangeshkar’s “Hui Yeh Humse Nadaani”and Shammi’s favourite “Tere Dar Pe Aaya Hoon Fariyad Lekar”. Then, there was Thokar unforgettable for Talat Mehmood’s ghazal “Ae-gham-e-dil kya karoon”with lyrics by Javed Akhtar uncle’s Majaz. It also had a female version by Asha Bhosle. “Asha ma adored daddy’s compositions as did her late husband Bhosle Saab. He loved and trusted daddy and told her this was one family she could stay with for as long as she wanted. I grew up playing in her arms,” Anu smiles, humming “Hum Apne Gham Ko Saja Ke” from Madan Manjari. Other Asha-Sardar Malik gems include “Tum Salamat Raho Hazar Baras” (Aulad).

Sardar Malik was a musician ahead of his times as reiterated by Saranga’s “Haan Deewana Hoon Main” composed on a minor key much before Bobby’s “Main Shayar To Nahi” was born. But despite this and songs like “Main Garibon Ka Dil Hoon Watan Ki Zubaan” (Abe-Hayat) he disappeared in a string of B-grade films with lesser known actors much before his demise on January 27, 2006. “Yes, his films didn’t do well and makers stopped coming,” admits Anu, pointing out that his simple, quiet father was too proud to ask for work. “He’d say they know the work I’m doing and if they need me they know where I live. With three children—Anu, Daboo and Abu—to bring up, he accepted what he got.” In these difficult times, Anu, at 12, picked up his harmonium and went looking for work. “People made fun of me saying I’d make songs on car bonnets and in the bathroom. They didn’t see the insecurity that made me run after people humming tunes, begging for a chance,” he says.

His dad smiled at Judwaa’s funky “Tan Tana Tan” and kissed him for Border’s “Aye Jaate Hue Lamhon”. “He was upset Asoka’s 'Roshni Se Bhare Bhare', 'Raat Ka Nasha Abhi' didn’t win me a National Award. When I won for Refugee , he raved, ‘Anu, you have combined Raag Yaman with Shudh Bihar.’” Anu had done it unknowingly but Malik Saab had studied music under Ustad Allauddin Khan and dance under Uday Shankar. “I told him his one 'Haan Deewana Hoon Main' was equal to my 200 films and he reiterated that he was proud I was a fighter who wouldn’t let go.”

Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; March 4, 2016)

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."