Big idea 8212; Anu Malik

Unlike most of his contemporaries who have, at some point or the other, expressed an intention to set up their own music studios, Anu Mali...

Unlike most of his contemporaries who have, at some point or the other, expressed an intention to set up their own music studios, Anu Malik says he wants to get back to learning soon. quot;For the next five to seven years I see myself doing good, select work. And then cut down my assignments to two or three films a year,quot; the music-maker reveals, adding that he wouldlove to study technology to keep abreast with new sounds and music.

With Subhash Ghai having signed him up to score the music for his next film, Yaadein, Malik says he has finally found a respectable place. quot;The competition has always been stiff. Today, there are so many more composers, but that8217;s the fun 8212; trying to be better than the best,quot; he says, believing that churning out good music is not as difficult now. quot;Today, everyone is capable and you have to work doubly harder than ever before.quot; He wonders whether it was perhaps his flamboyant image that people earlier got carried away with. quot;I8217;ve never done bad work, but wasn8217;t given much credit.quot;

Insisting that he is a good judge of music, Malik says he can figure out instinctively what will work. quot;I believe that Refugee is path-breaking music, while Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega is more of a blockbuster.quot; Almost in the same breath, he says he8217;s looking forward to working with younger film-makers like Sooraj Barjatya, Aditya Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Karan Johar, who he feels, will help him bring out his best.

Having realised that music now plays an important role in the success of a film, Malik rues that often producers and music companies don8217;t pay music directors what they deserve. quot;We don8217;t even receive a fraction of what producers make when they sell music rights.quot; Surprisingly, he was paid handsomely by Ghai, who8217;s known to be stingy where his technicians are concerned. quot;I8217;d have been happy with less, because I was the one who approached him. But he has been more than fair,quot; the composer says.

For the moment, Malik says he has little to complain about. He8217;s looking forward to doing quality work only, but realises it8217;s going to take some time before he manages that. But he knows it8217;s going to happen. And that keeps him going.

8212; RAJEEV MASAND