Music composer Amaal Mallik has opened up about the candid, trust-driven dynamic he shares with playback singers Arijit Singh and his brother Armaan Malik — a relationship he says allows him to push both artists without friction, even when it means telling one that the other will take the final recording.

The Creative Equation

Speaking during promotions of Awarapan 2 in the BKC area of Mumbai, Mallik — who composed 'Yeh Awarapan' for the Emraan Hashmi-starrer — described an unusually open arrangement with the two singers. 'With Armaan and Arijit, I have a relationship. I always tell both of them, 'Armaan or Arijit will sing this song. I want you also to try, and let's see who does the best job'. So, that relationship is there,' he said.

This kind of artistic transparency is rare in Bollywood's music ecosystem, where egos and hierarchies often dictate studio dynamics. Mallik's ability to navigate both singers with equal candour speaks to the depth of his personal and professional rapport with each of them.

Armaan Malik's Formative Journey

Mallik also shed light on Armaan Malik's lesser-known early career, noting that the singer honed his craft by assisting veterans in the recording booth. 'For Armaan, like Arijit will sing so many demos that he became Arijit Singh. Armaan has also assisted a lot in Sonu Nigam's recordings, KK's recordings. Armaan has also recorded Arijit in a lot of songs. So, a singer learns from all these things,' Mallik said.

The observation carries weight at a time when the rise of AI-generated scratch vocals is altering how young singers gain industry experience. Mallik acknowledged the concern directly, noting that newer artists may be 'not getting the experience to learn the ropes of the industry given composer use AI for scratch vocals.'

About Awarapan 2

Awarapan 2 is a sequel to the 2007 cult film Awarapan, with Emraan Hashmi reprising his role as Shivam Pandit. The original was considered a box-office disappointment on release but steadily built a loyal following over the years, eventually achieving cult status largely on the strength of its music and Hashmi's performance. The sequel is currently running in cinemas.

AI and the Shrinking Learning Curve

Mallik's remarks about AI scratch vocals touch on a broader industry anxiety: as composers increasingly rely on AI-generated demos instead of live singer run-throughs, emerging artists lose a critical apprenticeship channel. Historically, recording demos and assisting established singers was how voices like Arijit Singh and Armaan Malik developed their range and industry instincts. Whether the industry course-corrects on this front remains to be seen.