Happy Birthday to Anu Malik! Post your favorite songs :)

Happy birthday Anu Malik: The music director turns 57 today.

Subhash Ghai once said that Anu Malik is the only composer in the country who can create tunes for a song in 40 seconds. In a long career of four decades, Anu Malik redefined the way we listened to music. He was the reigning king of melody in the 90s, and his songs from every genre found place in our playlists. Anu Malik has been at the extreme ends of both appreciation and allegations. And the most known one being that of plagiarism. But that can be seen as a minuscule part of the story, for his body of work is so huge and noteworthy, that even today his blockbuster songs are remixed by producers to add zing to their average looking films.

When Anu Malik picks his harmonium, humming a melody, it indeed becomes a melody, something even the millennials miss hearing these days, amid the crowd of rap and rock songs. Take for instance, "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" from Dum Laga Ke Haisha. The echo of romance through the vocals of Papon and Monali Thakur wouldn't hit like a cupid's arrow in our hearts if it weren't for the innocence of Anu Malik's signature tunes.

Anu Malik has collaborated to a large extent with singers Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik.

Judwaa 2 is one of the biggest grossers of 2017. But point to note is the way its makers hard sold the film relying heavily on its two songs "Chalti Hai Kya 9 Se 12" and "Oonchi Hai Building 2.0", both rehashed versions of the original Anu Malik compositions.

The only black mark in this maestro's career remains the various accusations of copying tunes from the West. There are several searches on the internet giving us an entire list of songs which were apparently "inspired" from either Hollywood or any corner of the world. But haven't legends like RD Burman and AR Rahman, and the new age Pritam used several foreign tunes in their compositions too?

Anu Malik won a National Award for Best Music Director for Refugee.

We can forgive Anu Malik for his shortcomings because he redefined music with his staple and revolutionary use of tabla, giving us numerous musical gems which are still a part of our playlists. Hop on any dance floor at a party, wedding or discotheque and even the DJs know how to bring the house down play an Anu Malik number and the nostalgic 90s generation gets stuck right there.

As Anu Malik turns 57 today, we list down few of his best songs that were totally original and assured us that he is indeed the best the 90s could give us.

Sandese Aate Hain

Taare Hain Baraati

Tumse Milke

Panchi Nadiya

Oonchi Hai Building

Yaadein

Chamma Chamma

Bheegey Hont Tere

Moh Moh Ke Dhage

Anu Malik's best albums remain Refugee, Border, Baazigar, Murder, Yaadein and Fiza. Infact, his song "Chamma Chamma" from China Gate was used in Hollywood film Moulin Rouge which starred Nicole Kidman. Even Biwi No. 1 track "Chunari Chunari" became a part of Monsoon Wedding.

His songs "Tere Dar Par Sanam", "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein" and "Neend Churayi Meri" still remain etched in our hearts.

Anu Malik with his Indian Idol co-hosts Farah Khan and Sonu Nigam.

Anu Malik won a National Award for Best Music Direction for Refugee. He is also a seven-time winner of the Best Music Director award. He has been nominated 42 times, including 14 nominations for the Filmfare Award alone.

Here's wishing this icon, a very happy birthday!

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