It’s been a while since music in Bollywood has changed. It has been crap for a while now. Lyrics mostly don’t matter anymore. It’s the same line on repeat 2/3 times in the song. If a song becomes a chart topper, then you will hear the singer in hundreds of other songs in the same genre. It doesn’t matter which film, what actors, that singer will be used as bait to get viewers to click on their songs on youtube. So much has changed with technology, but unfortunately Anu Malik’s singing voice still sounds like an animal stuck in a long and deep drain/well. He tried singing a couple of times in his own composition, but then stopped. He saw Himesh Reshammiya make it as both a singer and composer, so he decided to try his luck again. Still, people weren’t responsive. His most famous song is ‘Ek Garam Chai’ from ‘Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega’. That rendition itself was so bad that Salman Khan had to wear the stickiest of clothes and strip to his tiny jeans and shorts to make the song more appealing onscreen. Anu Malik has been earning his living these days by working as a judge on reality TV shows. He recently gave an interview where he talked about a lot of things. He spoke about how singers from the 90s made the most money while composers were left with only their platinum discs. The reason is because singers make money singing the hit songs composed by music directors at events and concerts. Music directors are not hired to play anything anywhere. He also talks about how much work is needed these days to alter a singer’s voice. There was this blind item once on how he didn’t help his brother when he was a successful music director. Now his brother’s sons are the ones, who are successful. You might know them as Armaan Malik and Amaal Mallik, sons of Daboo Malik. Anyways, check out the interesting things that Anu Malik had to say. Speaking of Anu Malik, people have made fun of him for years for wearing a wig or a toupee. Wonder if he still wears one these days?

Anu Malik Interview

Anu on singers and composers in the past

We created the hits but it’s the singers who laughed all the way to the bank. Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik or Udit Narayan grew rich singing hit songs composed by us on stage shows. Hell, they are still banking on those hits. But we’re left with just our platinum discs. Ours is a constant struggle. I’m happy that I have not given up and still capable of giving hits. But the point is that I don’t have a choice. I have to motivate myself to give my best each day in order to survive.

Anu on singers today

The other reason is that there are so less genuine singers left. You work on a singer’s voice, you help alter it with different software and then the singer goes on stage and says, “Main aapko apna naya gaana sunata hoon,” (I’ll be singing my new song). Okay, agreed you’ve sung the song but add that it’s composed by so-and-so person. Yesteryears’ singers had that courtesy but today’s crop lacks that grace.

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Anu on why composers are in a hurry today

The successful composers of today know this. That’s why they are in a hurry to sign everything under the sun. We had cassette sales to go by in our time but there is no measuring bar for them. They rely on Facebook likes and Twitter buzz, but can that ever be the true measure of success? Today’s youngsters can never match our kind of success. My songs from Border or Baazigar are still played today. I was a brand name then and I’ll be a brand 20 years down the line as well. But I don’t think today’s top composers would have listeners rooting for them two decades down the line.