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Composer Battles for Singer Choice in Bollywood
3 Feb
Summary
- Composer Amaal Mallik faced resistance selecting singers for a new song.
- Industry teams pushed for Arijit Singh over Sonu Nigam for a track.
- Mallik highlighted low composer pay despite a song's massive label earnings.
Composer Amaal Mallik has revealed significant hurdles he faced when recomposing "Mere Dholna 3.0" for "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3". Mallik disclosed that the Hindi music industry often restricts composers' authority in choosing singers. He specifically wanted Sonu Nigam for the track but encountered resistance from management and marketing teams who favored Arijit Singh.
Mallik explained that production teams and music labels can influence composer decisions, sometimes even leading to a composer's replacement. While Bhushan Kumar, ANR, and the director agreed with Mallik's choice, other stakeholders suggested Arijit Singh or Vishal Mishra. Mallik insisted on Sonu Nigam, considering him the pinnacle of classical music in India.
Despite initial opposition, Sonu Nigam ultimately sang the song, recording it in an impressive 45 minutes. Mallik praised Nigam's professionalism and vocal prowess, particularly on a challenging sargam section. This incident highlights ongoing discussions about internal politics in Bollywood's music sector.
Furthermore, Mallik raised concerns about composer remuneration. He cited the example of "Sooraj Dooba Hain," a massive hit for the label that earned 60-70 crore but provided him only negligible publishing rights, falling far short of his expectations.
