Daboo Malik has publicly rallied behind his son, composer and singer Amaal Mallik, in the wake of the controversy surrounding the music of Awarapan 2. He was emotional as he said on social media he was a proud father of his son and proud of the film and its soundtrack.
The statement comes at a time when Amaal’s song Yeh Awarapan has become a major topic of discussion online. The track has attracted attention from viewers but comparisons between the music of Awarapan 2 and the soundtrack of the original Awarapan have attracted debate among fans and social media users.
On Instagram, Daboo Malik posted a selfie and a heartfelt note. He didn’t name those who criticized his son but he referred to messages, calls, negativity and judgements that had surrounded Amaal. He then thanked the team behind Awarapan 2, including Vishesh Bhatt, Nitin Kakkar, Vishesh Films and actor Emraan Hashmi.
Daboo’s post had personal significance as well. Amaal had dedicated Yeh Awarapan to his dad’s journey, so the song was very meaningful to their family, he said. Daboo ended his message with a tender note and described himself as a proud father and said he was “flying” after watching the film.
The post came shortly after Amaal himself had addressed the criticism around Yeh Awarapan. The composer distinguished between genuine criticism and what he described as deliberately generated negativity. In an Instagram post, Amaal wrote, “Criticism is different from manufactured hate,” and expressed his disappointment at what he called the nature of some of the backlash.
Amaal said that a “paid PR campaign” had been set up in the music industry to hurt or sabotage his work and what’s more, what seemed to be a music discussion turned into a wider discussion about professional rivalry, social media criticism and the pressures on artists in the entertainment industry.
Amaal announced that he would take a break from film music following the controversy and that he would step down from it. The composer said he had to take time away from the industry to concentrate on his mental, physical and emotional well-being. His decision was greatly debated by fans, many of whom were vocal in support of him online.
The Yeh Awarapan controversy has also emphasized the special expectations of a sequel such as Awarapan 2. The original film, starring Emraan Hashmi, has built its own following and its music has become a part of the franchise’s history. Thus the soundtrack of the sequel was always going to be compared with the songs that fans were already familiar with.
For Amaal, the project is another step in a career that has already featured a series of Bollywood hit songs. Salman Khan directed his first Hindi film in 2014 with Jai Ho and he composed three songs for the film. He has since worked on Khoobsurat, Roy, Hero, Airlift, Kapoor & Sons, Azhar, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.
Amaal comes from a musical family. He is the son of Daboo Malik and the nephew of the music director Anu Malik. He has established his own identity in the Hindi film music industry with his music and collaboration.
His public profile was extended in 2025 in Bigg Boss Season 19. He was also able to make the show even more aware of his celebrity status with the show and he ended up one of the top five contestants, as the fourth runner-up.
Daboo Malik’s message has added even more family support to the whole conversation on Awarapan 2. And even though listener debates over music and creative choices will persist, Daboo Malik’s statement is clearly that he stands with his son in his early work at the end.
As Amaal has to take time away from film music, attention will be on how this controversy develops and if the Yeh Awarapan discussion will move away from the online criticism toward a wider appreciation of the song and a new musical direction of Awarapan 2.
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