Anu Malik – Top 10 Bollywood Musical Albums

Anu Malik is one of the prominent musical directors of Bollywood since early 1990s, who had a peak year between 1992 and 2007, with countless chartbusters to his credit. He has experimented with different genres of popular music – from romantic tunes to peppy as well as classical tunes. Though he has been accused for lifting or copying tunes and musical bits from western musical pieces, his music has only gained popularity over the years. Anu Malik is quite successful for incorporating western tunes to Bollywood music, and has also exhibited his talents as a singer.

Though he debut in Bollywood in year 1980, he came to prominence in the mid-1990s only with some of the popular works like Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi, Baazigar and Mein Khiladi Tu Anari. He had a glorious phase between 1995 and 2005. He is an expert of incorporating tabla in Bollywood songs. He frequently worked with film director J. P. Dutta, lyricists – Javed Akhtar and Sameer, and playback singers – Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan and Sonu Nigam. Through this column I shall list 10 of the best musical albums of Anu Malik, which I love most.

1. Refugee (2000)

No doubt, Refugee is the masterpiece work of Anu Malik as a composer, for which he won his single National film award, and also a special mention at Filmfare. The movie marked the screen debut of Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan, and Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam were predominantly used to record their songs. All the compositions, especially – Mere Humsafar, Chand Ke Hatheli Par, Taal Pe Jab, Aisa Lagta Hai and Panchi Nadiyan are magical. The composer is known for his association with J. P. Dutta films and has also composed music for Border, LOC: Kargil, Paltan and Umrao Jaan. After Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Anu Malik is the only composer to work with J. P. Dutta. Border is the first and only commercial hit film of this association

The extremely popular Mere Humsafar song’s mukda was loosely inspired from Main Tumhari Ragini Tum Geet Ho from Roop Sundari composed by his father Sardar Malik. Javed Akhtar penned the lyrics of all its tracks.

2. Baazigar (1993)

After Refugee, Baazigar is the finest work of Anu Malik, for which he earned his first Filmfare award. It was the movie which established the careers of Anu Malik, Shah Rukh, Kajol and of course its directors – Abbas-Mustan. Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein, Baazigar O Baazigar and Chupana Bhi Nahi Aata are the top songs of the album, followed by Kitabein Bahut Se and E Mere Humsafar. It was one of the rare works of his early days where he worked with multiple lyricists. Songs were written by Nawab Arzoo, Dev Kohli, Zafar Gorakhpuri and Rani Malik. After the success of Baazigar, the composer never looked back and he went on to become one of the most sought music composers of second half of 1990s and early 2000s.

3. Main Hoon Na (2003)

After Baazigar, Main Hoon Na is the only movie for which Anu Malik earned Filmfare honours. Interestingly both movies starred Shah Rukh Khan in lead role, and both movies were commercial hits. Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal were the main singers. The title track, Tumse Milke and Tumhe Jo Meine Dekha are the top tracks, followed by Chali Jaisi Hawayein and Gori Gori. The movie starred Shah Rukh Khan, Zayed Khan, Sushmita Sen and Amrita Rao in lead roles. All songs were authored by Javed Akhtar.

4. Border (1997)

The movie marked the beginning of the successful association of Anu Malik with J. P. Dutta, best known for making patriotic movies. The iconic patriotic song, Sandese Aate Hain sung by Roop Kumar rathod and Sonu Nigam is a true tribute to Indian soldiers, on the occasion of golden jubilee year of Independence Day celebrations. The movie starred Sunny Deol, Sunil Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Pooja Bhatt and Akshaye Khanna in lead roles. Hamein Tumse Mohabbat and E Jaate Hue Lamhon are other popular tracks. Anu Malik earned Filmfare award nomination for its compositions. Javed Akhtar wrote its lyrics, and won National award for Sandese Aate Hain. Hariharan won it for the rendition of Mere Dushman.

5. Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995)

Songs of Akele Hum Akele Tum can’t be claimed to be original. Yet the songs played a magnificent role in establishing the career of Anu Malik as a composer and he earned Filmfare award nomination for its compositions. Each and every track filmed on Aamir Khan and Manisha Koirala were accepted by musical fans. Raja Ko Rani Se was the top track, followed by Dil Mera Churaya, Dil Kehta Hai and Aisa Zakhm Diya. The title track – Tu Mera Dil was the first duet of Udit Narayan and his son Aditya Narayan for any Indian movie, perhaps the first Hindi song sung by real father and son for screen father and his son. Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote lyrics.

6. Soldier (1998)

Songs of the movie were bit different and the composer bagged Filmfare nominations too. He used Alka Yagnik’s voice to record all the romantic tracks filmed on Preity Zinta except Sona Sona, which was sung by Hema Sardesai. He also recorded a Punjabi dance song in the voices of Jaspinder Narula and Sonu Nigam – “Tera Rang Balle Balle“. Kumar Sanu’s voice was used as the ghost voice of Bobby Deol to record the romantic duets. Soldier Soldier, Mehfil Mein Baar Baar, Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye, Meri Saanson Mein Samaye and Mere Dil Jigar Se are other popular tracks. Sameer penned its songs. After Baazigar, it was the next hit movie of Abbas-Mustan & Anu Malik combo.

7. Josh (2000)

Though the composer had drawn inspirations to tune the songs – Haye Mera Dil and Haare Haare, this album is best regarded as an original one. Year 2000 was the peak year of Anu Malik, with a series of chartbuster hits, mostly original tunes. Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika, Apun Bola and Hum Bhi Hai Josh Mein are other tracks. Anu Malik received Filmfare nominations for Josh. Sameer penned its songs. It was his second association with Mansoor Khan after the musical – Akele Hum Akele Tum. It was for the first time Shah Rukh Khan recorded a film song in his voice.

8. Fiza (2000)

Yet another top album of year 2000, Fiza is the third Anu Malik album of the year to be featured in the list. All these three movies earned Filmfare nominations for the year, though Rajesh Roshan walked away with the trophy for the songs of Kaho Na Pyar Hai. The movie starred Hrithik Roshan, Karishma Kapoor, Neha and Vikram Saluja, and songs were filmed on these actors. Most of the songs belong to romantic genre. Aaja Mahiya, Mehboob Mere, Mein Nachoo Bin Payal and Mein Hawa Hoon are the top tracks. A. R. Rahman also appeared as a guest composer of the movie, composing ‘Haji Ali’. Gulzar, Sameer and Tejpal Kaur penned lyrics for Anu Malik tunes. The movie was directed by film critic Khalid Mohammed.

9. Kareeb (1998)

The music composer gifted a new female voice to Bollywood music – Sanjeevani through the film. Though the movie starring Bobby Deol and Neha flopped at box office, not its music. Songs sung by Kumar Sanu and Sanjeevani found place in top songs list of the year. Chori Chori Jab, Haan Judai Se and Dil Mera Churalo are the top songs of the album. The romantic movie was directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

10. Yaadein (2001)

The final movie to be featured in this list is Yaadein starring Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. The songs were instant chartbusters. But the movie directed by Subhash Ghai was a box office failure. The title track, Eli Re Eli, Jab Dil Mili, Chanda Tare, Aye Dil Dil Ki Duniya and Chamakti Shaam Ha are the top tracks of the album. The album was a unique blend of romantic, nostalgic and peppy tunes. Lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi.

Conclusion – There are many more hit albums of Anu Malik which remained top sellers of the year. Songs of David Dhawan’s Judwaa, Biwi No: 1 and Haseena Maan Jayege can be listed in this category. Most of the songs belonging to this album were fast tracks.

As a music composer, some of his best musical albums include – Asoka, Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Ajnabee, Mein Khiladi Tu Anari, Baazi, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, Virasat, Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi, Murder, Kambakkht Ishq, Ishq, Mein Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Jaanam Samja Karo, Diljale, Takkar etc. Many of its tracks did exceptional well when got released.

Note: All the movie posters have been taken from Wikipedia pages and attributed to the original photographer. 

Please visit Anu Malik page here, to read a few more articles about the composer.