Amaal Mallik has opened up about the challenges of protecting his creative vision in the Hindi film industry. The composer recently worked on ‘Yeh Awarapan’ for ‘Awarapan 2’.During a conversation with IANS at a promotional event in Mumbai’s BKC area, Amaal Mallik discussed how he approaches disagreements over music. He said he prefers to communicate his views rather than remain silent to secure a project. For the composer, creative differences are an expected part of working in the film industry. However, he does not believe an artist should abandon a creative position simply because it may cause disagreement.
Amaal Mallik says he stands by his music
Amaal Mallik explained that filmmakers can react differently when an artist refuses to change his approach. Some may decide to move on, while others may appreciate the willingness to defend a creative idea. “Yes, there are creative differences. I don’t back off. I don’t say, ‘This is wrong.’ It is the ability of the other person to make creative differences. Those who have a big ego remove me from the film. Those who have a good mind, work with me. Both ways are right. I don’t say, their film won’t run without me, and it’s not like it will make much of a difference for me if I miss their film. I am Amaal Malik without their films. Even if you don’t take Amal Malik, someone else can give you super hit music”.Amaal Mallik stressed that his identity as a composer does not depend entirely on the number of films he works on. He believes he can continue building his musical journey even when certain professional opportunities do not come his way.
‘There will be less work’, says Amaal Mallik
The composer also acknowledged that taking a strong stand can come with consequences. He accepts that his approach may result in fewer projects and strained professional relationships.”There is no iron clad rule. But I want to do it this way. That is my fight. There will be less work. There will be more enemies. People will say, “He takes risks. Why does he do this? Why does he do this?’ But, it is more important to make good music. People think I get privileges from the industry since I belong to the industry. They think insiders get a phone call easily. They get 3 movies in a night. 2-3 people call us and remove us from the movies as well. But, I want to stand with music”, he added.
Amaal Mallik addresses insider perceptions
Amaal Mallik comes from a film family. However, he believes that being connected to the industry does not guarantee that an artist will always have work. The composer pointed out that people from within the industry can also lose projects. Creative disagreements, he suggested, can affect professional relationships regardless of someone’s background. For Amaal Mallik, staying connected to his musical principles appears to be more important than accepting every available opportunity. He is willing to deal with professional setbacks if that allows him to remain honest about his creative choices.
Amaal Mallik’s ‘Yeh Awarapan’ in ‘Awarapan 2’
Amaal Mallik is part of the musical team behind ‘Awarapan 2’. The movie serves as a sequel to the 2007 film ‘Awarapan’ and brings Emraan Hashmi back as Shivam Pandit. Amaal Mallik composed ‘Yeh Awarapan’ for the new film. The song becomes part of the sequel’s musical identity.
ETimes reviews ‘Awarapan 2’
‘Awarapan 2’ has received mixed reactions from critics. ETimes highlighted its mass-oriented treatment while also pointing out limitations in its narrative.The ETimes exclusive review read, “The plot is fairly predictable and follows familiar action-drama territory, although a few twists add some momentum. What keeps the film moving is its unabashedly massy treatment. Awarapan 2 belongs to an older Bollywood school where heroes brood, villains make grand entrances, dialogues are designed to be cheered and every emotional beat comes with a background score. In an era of increasingly restrained storytelling, there is something almost refreshing about its lack of subtlety. However, the sequel doesn’t always justify its own existence, and its cliffhanger ending feels more like a setup for another instalment.”