25 years of Judwaa: Anu Malik says “Salman was the real game changer”

With iconic songs like Oonchi Hai Building, Tan Tana Tan and Duniya Mein Aaye, Judwaa’s soundtrack keeps on being adored by Bollywood fans even following 25 years of the film’s release And singer-composer Anu Malik credits actor Salman Khan for inspiring him and motivating him to push his boundaries.

“I remember looking at Salman and seeing that masti in his eyes. That became the point of inspiration for me. I was like, ‘I better give songs that would suit him to the T’. I have always believed that the star makes the song,” says Malik.

Malik continues, “Salman was the real game changer. I remember meeting him outside a dance hall in Juhu, and saying, ‘Ek dum kuch alag karte hain’. That was a beautiful motivational pep talk by him, with me thinking he expects me to really step up.”

In fact, Salman was likewise an inspiration for the music, as Malik puts, “He has a very different style. I observed him as an actor and a person, and the music was born, which would stand the test of time. I am lucky that it has stood the test of time.”

“You can see it on the screen. He is not very vocal when it comes to praising, but you guess with the way he smiles to the tunes, eyes twinkle and enquires about shooting. That is his stamp of approval to the song,” says Malik, praising Salman for his “tremendous music sense and can pick a good and bad song”.

Talking about the process, the 61-year-old shares, “Till date, people as well as composers call me to ask how I managed to record those songs and get the sound right. At that time, I was planning to do something very futuristic in terms of the music of the era, and get out of the typical zone. I remember humming these songs and expecting a rejection”

For Malik, his legacy lives on through these songs. “These set a trend, which people love till date globally. This recall value is my legacy. It is a great feeling,” he ends.