Amaal Mallik Laments Industry Inequities, Says Speaking Against Unfair Practices Cost Him 45 Films

Mumbai:Music composer and singer Amaal Mallik has once again brought attention to what he describes as the systemic problems within the Hindi film music industry, revealing that his decision to speak up against unfair practices has come at a heavy professional cost.

In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Amaal disclosed that over the past five years, he was dropped from nearly 40 to 45 films after raising concerns about credit allocation, royalty structures, and singer selection. According to the composer, questioning the status quo often led to strained relationships with producers and music labels.

Citing the example of his popular track “Sooraj Dooba Hai” from the 2015 film Roy, Amaal said the song—produced on a modest budget of Rs 8–9 lakh—went on to generate an estimated Rs 60–70 crore for music labels. Despite its massive commercial success, he claimed he received no financial share beyond his initial fee.

“Labels earned crores from the song, but I got nothing,” Amaal said, pointing to what he believes is a deeply flawed compensation model that fails to reward composers proportionately to a song’s success.

The musician emphasized that his battle is not personal but about artist dignity and long-term reform, urging the industry to adopt transparent royalty systems similar to global music markets. His remarks have reignited discussions on creative ownership, fair pay, and the power imbalance between artists and music companies in Bollywood.

Amaal Mallik’s candid revelations have resonated with several young musicians, many of whom face similar challenges but choose silence to protect their careers—highlighting the very issue Amaal says needs urgent change.