Daboo Malik backs son Amaal amid Awarapan 2 row, says negativity was spread

Daboo Malik has publicly backed son Amaal Mallik after the controversy over Yeh Awarapan from Awarapan 2. His post follows online criticism, Amaal's paid PR claim and his decision to take a temporary break from film music.Daboo Malik (L) backs son Amaal (R) after criticism over Awarapan 2 musicDaboo Malik has publicly backed his son, music composer Amaal Mallik, amid the criticism surrounding the music of Awarapan 2. Celebrating the film's box-office performance and soundtrack, Daboo called himself a "proud father" and reflected on the negativity that accompanied the project.His post came amid the ongoing conversation around Yeh Awarapan, the Arijit Singh-sung track composed by Amaal for the film. The song received mixed reactions online, with several listeners comparing it with the music of the 2007 original. Amaal, meanwhile, has alleged that a coordinated campaign was mounted against his work.Sharing his thoughts on Instagram, Daboo wrote, "Messages were sent, calls were made, negativity was spread, judgements were passed, But sometimes the magic happens against all odds (sic)."Daboo also highlighted the personal significance of Yeh Awarapan for him. Amaal had previously dedicated the song and the project to his father's musical journey during an Instagram Live session. Referring to that gesture, Daboo wrote, "A proud father. A son who dedicated YEH AWARAPAN to his father's journey (sic)." See his post here:Daboo shared the post shortly after Amaal addressed the criticism surrounding the song. Following its release, Yeh Awarapan became a talking point on social media, with comparisons drawn between the Awarapan 2 soundtrack and the music of the original film. Amaal later alleged that a "paid PR campaign" had been organised within the music industry to undermine his work. In a recent Instagram Stories post, he reshared a message about the controversy and wrote, "Criticism is different from manufactured hate."Amid the backlash, Amaal also announced that he was taking a temporary break from film music, saying he needed time to heal his "mind, body and soul".Amaal Mallik's musical journeyAmaal is the son of composer Daboo Malik and nephew of music director Anu Malik. He made his Bollywood debut in 2014 with Jai Ho, for which he composed three songs.His journey has also included periods of personal strain. In March 2025, Amaal shared an emotional statement on social media in which he said he was cutting personal ties with his parents and would keep their interactions strictly professional. He spoke about the emotional distance that had developed between him and his brother, Armaan Malik, and discussed his experience with clinical depression, family comparisons and feeling unappreciated despite years of work.Amaal later deleted the post and was seen with his family during the wedding celebrations of his brother Armaan Malik and Aashna Shroff.He also participated in Bigg Boss 19, where he finished as the fourth runner-up.- EndsPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 07:14 IST