After delivering three superhit albums this year — De De Pyaar De, Badla and Kabir Singh, Amaal Mallik has added another feather to his cap as he become the second Indian composer to perform with the world-famous Melbourne Symphony Orchestra after AR Rahman. Says Amaal, “It feels really good. This is a prestigious moment for me and my family. It’s like a dream come true to perform with such great musicians, so it feels incredible.” About being the second Indian composer to perform with the band he states, “When I heard about this, it was unbelievable. It feels amazing as I started my journey about five years ago and now, I’m in Melbourne with my music representing India. My parents, especially my dad is really proud because in his family no one has ever performed at this scale.”

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Excerpts from the chat

While composing songs for movies, does the star factor ever affect you?

In India, films are considered big if there are big actors but nowadays, people are not really keen on that as sometimes movies featuring big stars do not do well. Obviously, it’s fun to compose for big stars, but so far in my career, I have done songs for the younger heroes only. I never choose films because of its starcast, the director and the story are the most important factors for me. I’ve worked with big stars like Akshay Kumar, Sushant Singh Rajput, Salman Khan who had good directors like Raja Krishna Menon, Neeraj Pandey or Sujoy Ghosh. Their films have done really well on-screen. So for me, it’s always the script, if I think the story is good I jump on the project.

Having worked with Armaan Malik quite often, is it an easy or a difficult process for you?

I think it’s very easy as I’m the elder one so I get to boss him. It’s also fun as he is a very talented and hard-working singer. But everyone needs to know that Armaan and I have a very special combination. Whenever we have collaborated it has been a magnificent hit, so the pressure rises every time we work together. We both work even harder, as each time we have to give a better song than the previous one. Together we work very well even though we almost kill each other during the process, but it’s fun (laughs).

Amaal Mallik

What are your thoughts about the trend of remix in Bollywood?

It has always been there, but now it’s been overdone. It used to be done even in the ,90s, but they were non-filmi and that was a fun way of paying a tribute, but now makers are too dependent on remixes. For Kabir Singh, an entirely original album had to be done and that’s how music should be made, but unfortunately that does not happen as the labels and the producers are more interested in fast food music. They do not have the time and patience to sit and create good music, but according to me, this trend will stay for two-three years more as it has reached a point where people are getting slightly irritated. Even I have done few remixes, but I did it respectfully. I do not do a remix without crediting the original makers. For me, that is what is most important. So, if I’m working on a remix, I never promote the song as my song, I always say it’s a tribute to the original makers. Ghar Se Nikalte Hi was a tribute to Rajesh Roshan, Javed Akhtar, and Udit Narayan. I’m very clear about that and I do not enjoy doing a remix, but if I can add a good element to the song from my side, that’s the only time I pick it up.

What is the one thing about Indian music industry that you would like to change?

I think the work process­ — composers do not get enough time to make a good song. That’s the one thing which needs to be changed.

What is tough, singing or composing?

I think both come naturally to me, but composing comes with a little ease as I think I was born to do this. Writing music and thinking on the music section, instruments and melody comes easily to me but luckily I’m not that bad at singing, so it works (laughs).

What’s next?

I have been in Bollywood for five years and now it is time for me to do something new in music for my audience. They have always wanted to see me in music videos, so I’m working towards that now, more towards non-filmi music. And in films, I’m reading few stories, I’m happy that this year I did three really big films — De De Pyaar De, Badla and Kabir Singh. I’m just a year away from thirty and I do not want to reach there without enjoying my life. In the past four to five years, I have given a lot to the film music industry and now I want to do more non-filmi things where people get to see me and enjoy more of my music.