Composer Amaal Mallik talks about making his debut as a singer with O Khuda from Hero
Kasmin Fernandes (BOMBAY TIMES; September 4, 2015)
How did O Khuda happen?
O Khuda was the first song I recorded for Hero, though I had composed and played Main Hoon Hero Tera to (producer) Salman (Khan) sir. I asked director Nikhil (Advani) sir to keep me in mind for any situation in the film as I really wanted to be a part of this project. He told me he wasn't sure how to fit in the title song, so he gave me a situation for another song which was to play in the climax and the toughest to crack, which is O Khuda. It is my special song as it gave me my entry into the project, after which Main Hoon Hero Tera came into the soundtrack.
You're debuting as a singer with O Khuda.
Initially, during the song sitting with Kumaar (lyricist), Nikhil sir heard my voice and said I should sing the scratch as 'I'm liking the way you are singing' and since there was very little time, I recorded a scratch version (for the shoot), and sent it. That's when Nikhil sir called me and said my voice is sounding really young and fresh. After the shoot, the marketing team and others suggested working with some big names. We got about 8 or 9 people to sing it, recorded with them. Nikhil sir and I shortlisted the voices, but he was convinced that my voice was good. We sent the final recordings to Salman sir, and he said none worked. He asked Nikhil sir who'd sung the scratch and got to know it was mine. He was surprised it was me as he had only heard me sing for him in sittings, but this was the first time he heard me behind the mike. He told me dub again and add a dash of Heroism. It was on my insistence that Salman sir agreed to sing the title track Main Hoon Hero Tera. However, for O Khuda, it was he who convinced me to sing. Nikhil had the belief since Day 1. It was on my birthday, on June 16, that Salman sir called to wish me and said, 'Your voice is approved and this is your birthday gift from me.' I asked him if he was sure and he laughed, saying, 'My bodyguards, my worker boys, the driver, the guy who gets me the pen drive from Nikhil Advani's office everyone heard the different versions and everyone said yes to your voice. So if your voice can touch their hearts, I believe we should go with your vocals.' I gave it my best and eventually, it was my version that made it to the album.
Your brother Armaan Malik has sung one version of the title song. What was it like to have him sing your tune?
The original version of Main Hoon Hero Tera is in Armaan's voice. The first time I composed it and sent it as a demo, it was in Armaan's voice and Salman was completely blown by it. I choose my singers very carefully, my song chooses my singer, in fact. This song was tailormade for Armaan, the minute he hit the first note Aankhon Ke Panno Pe, I knew this voice is indispensable. Armaan has sung this song with so much heart and soul, with a certain Heroism and a certain shyness that is Sooraj's personality as well. It's very important for your singer to know the Hero, his ways to be, his voice. And Armaan is a very malleable singer, you can turn him into anyone's voice. I feel after my grandfather, if there is any one who knows so much about Hindustani classical music in our family, it is Armaan. I'm never partial to him. Whoever fits the bill will sing the song.
You made your debut as a composer with Salman's Jai Ho and now you've made your singing debut with another film produced by him. How is it to work with him?
It was in 2014 that Salman sir saw potential in me and gave me my break as a music composer. It was a big deal because after many years, Salman Khan launched a music composer. He is a very musical person, and knows his music to the T. English, Hindi, French, Spanish, Farsi, Latin you name it. I was very silent and shy and couldn't do music sittings at one point of time. It was bhai who taught me to break my inhibitions. He'd say, 'Sing with all your might, reject hi hoga na gaana ek aur ban jayega.' I learnt how to face instant rejection, as he can say a song is good within a minute or less. It was sweet of him to give me a chance as composer and now, as a singer.
O Khuda was the first song I recorded for Hero, though I had composed and played Main Hoon Hero Tera to (producer) Salman (Khan) sir. I asked director Nikhil (Advani) sir to keep me in mind for any situation in the film as I really wanted to be a part of this project. He told me he wasn't sure how to fit in the title song, so he gave me a situation for another song which was to play in the climax and the toughest to crack, which is O Khuda. It is my special song as it gave me my entry into the project, after which Main Hoon Hero Tera came into the soundtrack.
You're debuting as a singer with O Khuda.
Initially, during the song sitting with Kumaar (lyricist), Nikhil sir heard my voice and said I should sing the scratch as 'I'm liking the way you are singing' and since there was very little time, I recorded a scratch version (for the shoot), and sent it. That's when Nikhil sir called me and said my voice is sounding really young and fresh. After the shoot, the marketing team and others suggested working with some big names. We got about 8 or 9 people to sing it, recorded with them. Nikhil sir and I shortlisted the voices, but he was convinced that my voice was good. We sent the final recordings to Salman sir, and he said none worked. He asked Nikhil sir who'd sung the scratch and got to know it was mine. He was surprised it was me as he had only heard me sing for him in sittings, but this was the first time he heard me behind the mike. He told me dub again and add a dash of Heroism. It was on my insistence that Salman sir agreed to sing the title track Main Hoon Hero Tera. However, for O Khuda, it was he who convinced me to sing. Nikhil had the belief since Day 1. It was on my birthday, on June 16, that Salman sir called to wish me and said, 'Your voice is approved and this is your birthday gift from me.' I asked him if he was sure and he laughed, saying, 'My bodyguards, my worker boys, the driver, the guy who gets me the pen drive from Nikhil Advani's office everyone heard the different versions and everyone said yes to your voice. So if your voice can touch their hearts, I believe we should go with your vocals.' I gave it my best and eventually, it was my version that made it to the album.
Your brother Armaan Malik has sung one version of the title song. What was it like to have him sing your tune?
The original version of Main Hoon Hero Tera is in Armaan's voice. The first time I composed it and sent it as a demo, it was in Armaan's voice and Salman was completely blown by it. I choose my singers very carefully, my song chooses my singer, in fact. This song was tailormade for Armaan, the minute he hit the first note Aankhon Ke Panno Pe, I knew this voice is indispensable. Armaan has sung this song with so much heart and soul, with a certain Heroism and a certain shyness that is Sooraj's personality as well. It's very important for your singer to know the Hero, his ways to be, his voice. And Armaan is a very malleable singer, you can turn him into anyone's voice. I feel after my grandfather, if there is any one who knows so much about Hindustani classical music in our family, it is Armaan. I'm never partial to him. Whoever fits the bill will sing the song.
You made your debut as a composer with Salman's Jai Ho and now you've made your singing debut with another film produced by him. How is it to work with him?
It was in 2014 that Salman sir saw potential in me and gave me my break as a music composer. It was a big deal because after many years, Salman Khan launched a music composer. He is a very musical person, and knows his music to the T. English, Hindi, French, Spanish, Farsi, Latin you name it. I was very silent and shy and couldn't do music sittings at one point of time. It was bhai who taught me to break my inhibitions. He'd say, 'Sing with all your might, reject hi hoga na gaana ek aur ban jayega.' I learnt how to face instant rejection, as he can say a song is good within a minute or less. It was sweet of him to give me a chance as composer and now, as a singer.