BENGALURU: Somewhere around 2008 when Armaan Malik, a teenager then, visited Bengaluru and got into a cab, a melodious Kannada song that was being played struck him. When he enquired with the cab driver, he handed him over a CD of blockbuster album Mungaaru Male. Years later, when Armaan got an opportunity to sing for Mungaru Male-2, his joy had no bounds! “I was more than happy to be a part of it.
I look up to Sonu Nigam as an icon and when I got an opportunity to step into his shoes, I was more than happy,” says Armaan Malik, who was in the city to attend an event hosted by Presidency College.
“I am very scared of Bengaluru traffic,” he laughs. “I love this city and I have got a lot of love from the fans here; not just for my Bollywood songs but also for Kannada songs. I am great full to all of them,” he says.
The Buddhu sa mann crooner has a huge fan base across the country; not just Bollywood, he has performed many songs in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Urdu, Bengali among others.
His latest Kannada song Ondu Malebillu from Chakravarthy has created waves here. He has also crooned for two songs in an upcoming movie Taarak. “I consider myself to be blessed that I have been able to sing in the languages I can’t speak. But the more you sing, the more perfect your diction becomes, and that’s the mantra,” he says.
Armaan has sung close to 100 songs already. “Earlier I would take up any song that used to come my way. Now, I’ve become a bit choosy; well, that’s what the learning process teaches you,” he says.
Armaan comes from a family of musicians – his father Daboo Malik is a music director and his elder brother Amaal Malik too is a singer and composer. Armaan, at the age of 9, decided to become a singer and then there was no looking back. “There was no plan-B for me. It was always singing,” he says.
Armaan is trained in classical Hindustani music. His passion for music is comes from his urge to attain perfection in every song he sings.
Armaan, through his music, wants to create awareness among the youth, his major admirers, about bullying. “As a kid I was bullied in my High School to an extent that I had even thought of quitting singing. But my parents were always there for me. There constant support is what has made me today. But not every child is as blessed as I am. Bullying, especially by own classmates, can take a toll on child’s mental health. And parents too won’t understand the stress a kid is going through. Hence, I want to create an awareness about bullying and will come up with a plan soon,” he says.
The handsome Armaan has got several opportunities to make his acting debut as well. “If acting pulls me towards it, then I will see about it. As of now, I haven’t finalized anything. I want to concentrate on singing,” he signs off.