This is my first review on MouthShut. So here goes?.
Background
Anu is the son of yesteryears music director Sardar Malik. He also has a distinguished uncle, lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri. When Anu was born, none other than Asha Bhonsole named him Annu. In fact Anu was Annu Mallik till the early 1990s and then he changed it to Anu Malik. He completed his M.A and then stepped into the field of music.
Beginnings
Anu Malik started his career with a song he recorded for Hunterwali in 1977. His first full fledged film was Poonam in 1981. It had a nice duet Mohabbat rang layegi ahista ahista. Among his first few notable films during that period were Ek Jaan hai hum featuring songs like Dil dil hai to seesha hai to nahin, Aasman pe likh doon.
In 1984 he was signed to compose for Sohni Mahiwal. There?s an interesting incident on how he bagged this film. The Director, Umesh Mehra had decided that LP would score the film. Anu Malik went to meet Umesh Mehra and asked him to consider him for the film. Mehra tried to put him off and finally Anu Malik cornered him in the toilet and hummed a few lines on his harmonium. Mehra gave in and we got to hear a haunting rustic score: Sohni mere sohni, Sohni chenab de being the standouts.
Early Struggle
The 80s music scene predominantly centered around action films. The reigning czars of the music scene were LP, Bappi Lahiri and R.D Burman and Anu was just one of the wannabes with very few good assignments. He had intermittent hits during this phase like Mard, Love Marriage and Ganga Jamuna Saraswati. His other notable songs included Jo Muskerahat Muje de rahe from Dadagiri, Julie Julie from Jeete Hain Shan Se, Sajan mere us par hai from Ganga Jamuna Saraswati.
The late 80s to early 90s were a bad phase for him as he had only a few assignments. He was desperate for work to make both ends meet. During this period he collaborated with Alisha Chinnai for her debut pop album Jadoo which was a success. The emergence of Nadeem Shravan in 1990 with romance based melodies changed the music scene. They were the new favourites alongwith LP and Anand-Milind.
Turning the corner
Anu?s perseverance finally paid off. In 1992 he was signed for Kirti Kumar?s Radha Ka Sangam. The film was a huge flop but Anu gave some memorable melodies. Oh Radha tere bina., Do bol kehke, Radha ka Sangam Then in 1993 he hit the big time with Baazigar. Both the film and the music was a huge hit and bagged Anu his first Filmfare award.
After that there was no looking back. He followed Baazigar with Sir, Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Ayi, Vijaypath, Imtihaan, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Ishq, Kareeb, Miss 420 et al.
During this phase he had a fallout with singer Alisha Chinnai and only recently have they made up with each other. Anu also had a spat with Javed Akhtar, but wiser counsel prevailed and both of them started working together again.
Big Time
By the latter half of the 90s he was one of the top composers in the industry. In 1997 he silenced his detractors with his score in Border with Ghar kab Aoage, Hai Jate huan Lamhon. In 2000 he won the National award for Refugee. His career had turned a full circle.
Anu had become a prolific and successful music director by now. He churned out hits after hits. Asoka, Josh, Ishq, Jaanam Samjha Karo, Baadshah, Fiza, Ajnabee, Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, Ishq-Vishk, Main Hoon Na et al
He was in great demand and worked with almost all the big time directors Subhash Ghai, Abbas-Mustan, Mansoor Khan, Sooraj Barjatya, J.P Dutta, David Dhawan, Mahesh Bhatt among others.
Anu’s music
Anu?s strong point has been his versatality. His output encompasses the whole spectrum of musical composition. His folk based scores for Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Ayee, Sir, Mumbai se Aya Meri Dost, Refugee to melody based scores like Asoka, Fiza, Kareeb. He has composed songs for the masses like Biwi No 1, Aaja Meri Gaadi Me, Lal Duppata, Jaanam Samjha Karo to patriotic scores in Border, Refugee, LOC
In my opinion, Anu has scored big on title songs too. Check out Mard, Sohni Mahiwal, Main Khilad Tu Anari, Hero Hindusthani, Fiza, Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, Baazigar, Jaanam Samjha Karo, Filhaal, Yaadein, Main Hoon Na. . As soon as you listen to these songs you are hooked.
Another thing to be noted about Anu is that some of his best works with the best directors have not earned the accolades it deserved, because of the fact that the film didn?t do well. Take the instance of Kareeb, Ashoka, Yadeein, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon.
Anu has been accused of lifting tunes and rightly so. But when you consider the number of songs he has composed over the years there is bound to be some direct inspiration. Some of them has come at the express request of his directors. Anu will be the first to admit that he has compromised on his music. Anu had to struggle to reach the top and he realized that he had to cater to the needs of the people to survive in the industry.
In my opinion every major music director have copied be it LP, R.D Burman, Jatin-Lalit, Nadeem-Shravan et al. But it doesn?t detract from the rest of their works. Likewise with Anu. Artistes who get nominated for the Grammies bring out one album in a whole year. They have more time to be creative. Not so with our Indian composers who have to have an assortment of tunes ready for any situation. Anu has proved that he stands alone in this regard. For every inspired song he has given us scores of soulful melodies. Anu didn?t enter the industry with a bang rather his journey has been a struggle to reach the top. In retrospect, film music would have been that much poorer without Anu Malik.
In 2004, he ventured into Hollywood territory with Bride and Prejudice. Although there was not much scope for him in this situational film, I hope that he gets more opportunities to showcase his talent on the international scene. Credit has to be given to Anu for lasting more than 25 years in the industry. You don?t do that by just copying songs. You need to have talent to survive for so long. Period. He knows what the listener wants. Lets give him credit for that.
Main Hoon Na has already bagged him awards this year. Here?s to Anu. Hoping that his best is yet to come.
Hope to read some comments.
Sunny?