#RSEssentials: Armaan Malik’s Top Songs
From pop to star collabs to movie hits, check out our picks
Mumbai singer-songwriter Armaan Malik. Photo: Prashin Jagger
“Pehla Pyaar”
Taken from the movie Kabir Singh, Malik is likely going into the history books of Bollywood music for “Pehla Pyaar,” composed by Vishal Mishra and featuring lyrics written by Irshad Kamil. Driven by well-measured electronic and rock elements, Malik was the perfect one to deliver on this track and deliver he did.
“Echo” w/ Eric Nam, KSHMR
This worlds-collide level collaboration was described as “the first K-pop meets I-pop collaboration built around a meticulously crafted EDM soundscape” when it released. As time has passed, it stands the test of time for being a soulful yet rock-solid song that has global relevance.
“Jab Tak”
There was something undeniably special about the soundtrack to sports biopic M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story. It was largely shaped by composer Amaal Mallik and featured his brother, Armaan Malik, on four songs (if you include the redux version of “Jab Tak.”) Clearly, the brothers have a connection that goes far in the studio and “Jab Tak” was a great example, mingling rock composing with evergreen Hindi pop delivery.
“Buttabomma”
A breezy tune that has all the makings of a playful love song became Armaan Malik’s biggest South Indian hit, with the stomping energy of “Buttabomma” following him for the years to come. Composed by Thaman S. and featuring lyrics by Ramajogayya Sastry, the song was taken from Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.
“Besabriyaan”
Amaal Mallik and Armaan Malik had plenty in the barrel when it came to M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story. “Besabriyaan” remains one of their most demanded songs to date. And rightly so, because it builds on a typical Bollywood ballad structure but gives the vocalist room to add his distinctive touches.
“Control”
The world hadn’t seen a lot of Armaan Malik the pop star and “Control” was his way of telling the world he’d arrived. The English song employed a higher, R&B-informed pitch go over funky pop in the vein of Michael Jackson, so Malik was speaking the pop parlance effortlessly.
“Wajah Tum Ho”
In a classic case of a song driving a movie’s popularity, Hate Story 3 gave us “Wajah Tum Ho,” with Malik chalking up another timeless love song in his repertoire. The song starts off in a slow-burn fashion but builds up to pendulously, with the vocals perfectly fitting the emo mood.
