Amaal Mallik: Yeh Awarapan Tribute to Classic Tracks

Mumbai, Aug 5 — Music composer Amaal Mallik, who has scored the song Yeh Awarapan for the upcoming Emraan Hashmi-starrer Awarapan 2, has spoken about the challenges of composing for the sequel to the cult classic.

During promotional interactions in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, Mallik revisited his association with the original film. He told IANS: “Yeh Awarapan was made with the feeling of the character of Awarapan. I had seen that movie 3-4 times in the theater. Later, I watched it on TV and streamed it a lot. So, the music was made keeping that in mind the character of Emraan Hashmi. Obviously, with little tweaking to this story. But, I would say, this song is a tribute to something like Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta, which were in the first part. Those two songs have kept this character alive for 20 years.”

He added: “I hope I can take that forward. And in this song, there is a meeting of old Shivam and new Shivam. It is the mixing and the meeting of Awarapan and Awarapan 2. And I have kept a relatability somewhere. The melody is simple. The story is very deep. And it defines everyone’s life somewhere. Everyone has seen the journey of Awarapan in their own life apart from the movie. So, those who have lived such a life, they relate a lot to this song.”

The original Awarapan, directed by Mohit Suri, evolved from a commercial underperformer into a cult favourite, sustained by its emotional storytelling, haunting music and Hashmi’s brooding lead performance. The film found a wider audience over the years through television broadcasts and streaming platforms.

Awarapan 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on August 14, 2026.

Mallik’s approach seeks to honour the musical legacy of the first film while bridging the emotional continuity between the two instalments through a simple yet resonant melody.