Amaal Mallik on song failures: 'Bigger factors than me are at play'
Synopsis
Amaal Mallik's take on creative failure is refreshingly unsentimental — he gives himself 10-15 days, then moves on, trusting that some songs are simply ahead of their time. His reference to 'Sooraj Dooba Hain' finding its audience years late is a quiet reminder that in the streaming age, a song's shelf life outlasts its release week by a long margin.
Key Takeaways
Amaal Mallik composed 'Yeh Awarapan' for 'Awarapan 2' , starring Emraan Hashmi .
Mallik says he limits post-failure reflection to 10-15 days , believing 'bigger factors' than the composer determine a song's success.
He cited 'Sooraj Dooba Hain' as a track that underperformed at release but found its audience when the electronic genre gained mainstream traction two years later .
The original 'Awarapan' (2007) was a box-office flop that later attained cult status, mirroring Mallik's long-view philosophy. 'Awarapan 2' is currently running in cinemas.
Music composer Amaal Mallik has opened up about his philosophy on failure, revealing that he consciously avoids overthinking when a song fails to connect with audiences. The composer, who has scored 'Yeh Awarapan' for the Emraan Hashmi-starrer 'Awarapan 2', shared these reflections during the film's promotional events in the BKC area of Mumbai on 23 August.
On Letting Go of Failure
When asked whether he spirals into self-doubt after an underperforming track, Mallik was candid. 'No, because I have realised that there are bigger factors than me, in running a song. When my music video comes on my face, and if it doesn't work, then I get into an understanding, that maybe I will think more, or I need to fix something,' he said.
Rather than prolonged anxiety, Mallik described a measured, time-bound process of reflection. 'I take 10-15 days and think, that maybe I have done something new, something experimental. Maybe people don't want to listen to it or maybe it was a song ahead of its time,' he explained.
The 'Sooraj Dooba Hain' Lesson
Mallik pointed to his own track record as evidence that timing, not talent alone, determines a song's commercial fate. He cited 'Sooraj Dooba Hain' as a defining example — a track he said featured an electronic soundscape that failed to gain traction at release, only for the genre to explode in popularity two years later.
'Times keep changing. Every two weeks, a new song can come, which can become bigger than a film song,' he added, underscoring the unpredictability of audience taste in the streaming era.
The Awarapan Parallel
The timing of these reflections is notable. 'Awarapan 2' is a sequel to the 2007 film 'Awarapan', which was initially dismissed as a box-office disappointment. Over the years, however, the original built a devoted following, eventually attaining cult status — driven largely by its music and Emraan Hashmi's performance as Shivam Pandit, a role he reprises in the sequel. The trajectory of the original film mirrors precisely the artistic patience Mallik describes in his own career.
What This Signals for Indian Film Music
Mallik's perspective arrives at a moment when the Hindi film music industry is grappling with the dominance of independent and social-media-driven tracks. His observation that a non-film song can eclipse a film soundtrack 'every two weeks' reflects a structural shift in how music is discovered and consumed. For composers tied to big-screen releases, the pressure to deliver instant chartbusters has never been higher — making Mallik's measured, long-view approach all the more distinctive.
'Awarapan 2' is currently playing in cinemas.
Point of View
But it also sidesteps a harder question: in an era where algorithms, playlist placements, and social media virality do more for a song than the composition itself, is the composer's role shrinking? His 'Sooraj Dooba Hain' anecdote is instructive — the song didn't suddenly get better, the market caught up. That's a validation of patience, but also a signal that distribution and timing now outweigh artistry in determining commercial outcomes. The industry would do well to interrogate that dynamic more openly rather than framing delayed success purely as artistic vindication.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What song has Amaal Mallik composed for Awarapan 2?
Amaal Mallik has composed 'Yeh Awarapan' for 'Awarapan 2', the sequel to the 2007 Emraan Hashmi film. The film is currently running in cinemas.
How does Amaal Mallik deal with a song that fails commercially?
Mallik says he avoids prolonged overthinking, instead taking 10-15 days to reflect on whether he tried something too experimental or ahead of its time. He believes larger external factors — beyond the composer's control — ultimately determine whether a song connects with audiences.
What is 'Sooraj Dooba Hain' and why does Amaal Mallik reference it?
'Sooraj Dooba Hain' is a song composed by Amaal Mallik that initially failed to make an impact due to its electronic soundscape. He cites it as an example of a track that was ahead of its time — the genre became mainstream roughly two years after the song's release.
What is Awarapan 2 about?
'Awarapan 2' is a sequel to the 2007 film 'Awarapan', with Emraan Hashmi reprising his role as Shivam Pandit. The original film, though a box-office disappointment at release, later gained cult status for its music and performances.
Who is Amaal Mallik?
Amaal Mallik is a Mumbai-based Bollywood music composer known for scoring several Hindi film soundtracks. He is currently associated with 'Awarapan 2', for which he composed the track 'Yeh Awarapan'.
