Armaan Malik: Recreations can be a dangerous space

Armaan Malik talks about giving his voice to the recreation of 'Tumhe apna banane ka' for Hate Story 3...
How did 'Tumhe apna banane' from Hate Story 3 happen?
Bhushan Kumar ji wanted to recreate a song for Hate Story 3 because there was a recreation for Hate Story 2 — 'Aaj phir tumpe pyaar aaya'. He wanted to continue the tradition because it clicked with the audience.He asked Amaal to recreate the track. Since it is a 1991 song, neither he nor I had heard the song before. For me, this was the only version of the song. I heard it for the first time during the recording. It was natural for me to render it in my own style. I didn’t want to be very influenced by the original. It is a great track added to my kitty.
READ: ​Amaal Mallik: Love in today’s time has changed
Your voice is so different from Kumar Sanu’s (the singer of the original). Was there a brief to either replicate him or sound different?
There was no brief but of course, the original had a different mood. This one is more sensual and better synced with the movie. I was just asked to keep it natural. The music induces a certain feel to every song. This number has a lounge feel to it. I preferred to get my fresh style to the song. Kumar Sanu is a legend, but the composition is such that they can’t be compared. I have given this one a unique twist which will make the song stand apart.
What is your take on the trend of old songs being remade?
Recreations can be a dangerous space. They need to be treated the right way. You always run the risk of offending those who like the original. You can’t disappoint fans. There should also be a clear demarcation between the two versions yet you have retain the most striking tune for recall value. Listeners shouldn’t get the feeling that the new song is out of a different universe. You have to achieve the right mix of old and new for the recreation to fit right. I am totally for redoing old songs. Why shouldn’t you make the younger generation listen to hummable numbers from the past.
Do you feel that your brother Amaal Mallik brings out the best in you?
Amaal and I have some sort of magnetic connection. I am my brother’s first assistant. So I have sung the scratch versions of all his songs. We make music at home, jam every day. He always uses my voice when he presents my songs to people. That has worked in my favour because anyone who has heard the song has loved it as it is and has decided on retaining my voice. That is what happened with 'Main hoon hero tera' too. Amaal’s music is such that it demands a singer. If he feels that his tunes are asking for my voice, he will use it. Remaking songs is a great way to connect to old tunes.
Listen to songs of Hate Story 3 on Gaana.com
Do you feel Salman Khan is your godfather?
Yes, he is our Bhai. He has guided us so much. We are always ready for him. Even if we are in the middle of a recording, when Bhai calls we dash. For Salman bhai, we work louder, faster, stronger. He is a taskmaster. And he is so inspirational. He made me work out, dance and lose weight. I wasn’t fat but my chubbiness had to go.
How do you perceive competition?
When you have your own identity as a singer, you don’t have competition. I am just starting. If you look at Arijit Singh, Divya Kumar and Benny Dayal, they aren’t competing with each other. They have their individual standing and distinct space of work. I want to create that kind of niche for myself.
What genres of music do you prefer?
My calling is pop and R&B (rhythm and blues) and I wish to incorporate more of these into Bollywood music. My training has been in Hindustani classical and I have done a six-week course in English vocals at Berklee. The holistic learning has helped me a lot.
What plans do you have for the future?
My new single 'Main rahoon ya na rahoon' has an old melody and features Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta in the music video. I am thankful to Bhushanji for it. In future, I want to set up my own label and bring fresh talent to the industry.
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WATCH: Tumhe Apna Banane Ka VIDEO Song | Hate Story 3 | Zareen Khan, Sharman Joshi | T-Series