Amaal Mallik: The AI in my mind knows which singer's song it is
Mumbai, Aug 9
Music composer Amaal Mallik has shared that his mind has an impeccable clarity of thought about the type of singer that he would cast for playback in a song.
Amaal, who has composed the song 'Yeh Awarapan' from the upcoming Emraan Hashmi-starrer 'Awarapan 2', spoke with IANS during the promotions of the film in the BKC area of Mumbai, and shared his opinion on the larger industry practise of music composers replacing scratch singer with AI.
He told IANS, "When I have worked with singers, I have kept clarity with them. I tell them, 'Sir, maybe this voice won't go'. But, I have never done that I cast Sonu Nigam, Arijit Singh, KK, and then said we will choose now. I have been very sure. I think the AI in my mind knows which singer's song it is".
However, he didn't completely quash the practice of using AI as it saves the composer from the hassle of convincing a senior singer that their voice wasn't picked by the producers.
"I think it is better to use an AI voice than hurt anyone. Whether he is a senior, new, or anyone. Either you have courage, like I say with clarity that you are new and we are trying your voice. And I don't call any senior to sing until I am sure. So, I keep it very clear. I tell the producer that this is my vision. Once he sings, then it is my job to get the best out of that singer", he added.
Meanwhile, 'Awarapan 2' is a sequel to 'Awarapan', and sees Emraan Hashmi reprising his role of Shivam Pandit. While 'Awarapan' was dubbed a flop upon its release, the film gained a significant loyal following in later years, eventually attaining the cult-status owing to its music, and Emraan Hashmi's performance.
'Awarapan 2' is set to release on August 14, 2026.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting take. But I feel like this is also a bit of a cop-out. Instead of having tough conversations with senior singers, composers are now hiding behind AI. Where's the accountability? As a listener, I can always tell when it's AI - the emotion is missing. Amaal's "AI in my mind" is a catchy phrase, but let's be honest, human intuition and experience is what made legends like RD Burman and AR Rahman great.
Great to see Amaal being so candid! The Bollywood music industry needs more honesty like this. Respect to him for having clear communication with singers - that's rare. And yaar, 'Awarapan' getting a sequel after 18 years? That's nostalgia hitting different. Emraan Hashmi's comeback is going to be massive. Music first, though - 'Yeh Awarapan' sounds promising already! 🔥
Honestly, AI in music is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it saves producers time and money. On the other, we're losing the soul of our music. There's no way AI can replicate the raw emotion of KK singing 'Tadap Tadap Ke' or Sonu's 'Sandese Aate Hain'. Amaal's approach of being upfront with singers is good, but I worry about the younger generation of composers who might just default to AI without even trying to work with real artists.
My only question is - if AI becomes the norm, what happens to our legendary singers? They've spent decades honing their craft. The industry should be protecting them, not replacing them with machines. Amaal's point about not hurting anyone is valid, but sometimes you need to have those hard conversations with seniors. It's part of the creative process. Just my 2 paise. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.