Bollywood music director cum singer Anu Malik was in Kolkata recently for the Indian Idol 6 audition. Priyam Mallick caught up with him in between the auditions.

What makes you love Bengal?
I love Bengal through the words and eyes of my father. My father (Sardar Malek) was a dancer in Uday Shankar group and when I was small he told me lots of stories about Uday Shankar (the late legendary dancer).

And the first thing I learnt from him was the shadow dancing which became very famous in film 'Aradhana', then I came to know about Mamata Shankar, Amala Shankar and then Ananda Shankar, who was the first man to bring fusion in music.

Then I learnt Nazrulgeeti , a lot of Rabindranath Tagore songs. My father told me that when he was 10 years old he saw Rabindranath Tagore when he was sleeping. He worshiped Rabindranath Tagore. So I started loving Bengal. For me it is also like home-coming here.

Most of the famous singers are from Bengal. What do you say about it?
Yes, while growing up I discovered that major talents like Kishore Kumar, Manna De, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Sachin Dev Burman, R.D Burman are all from Bengal. For me I think Bengalis have huge talents. For all these I fall in love with Bengal and its culture. I connect Bengal with melody and people here understands music. Bengali worships music

Any memorable incident on the set of audition here?
A dadi came to me yesterday and said that she only came here to see Anu Malik. So it was very emotional for me because people love my music here and she mentioned my song in Baazigaar also. As I sang the song, it brought tears to her eyes.

What are your upcoming projects?
Recently I completed a film 'Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hain'. Music will be totally melody as I believe in M for music and M for melody. Apart from that I have sung Hera Pheri 4 as suddenly somebody woke up for Anu Malik and that is Feroz Nadiadwala who wants me back, to do the music for the film. Moreover there are two more films.

Last year you came to Kolkata to judge and this year too, so is there any difference you there noticing in the audition?
Last year when I came here for Indian Idol i was disappointed because I associate Bengal with dramatic talent which was missing then. But this year the table has turned.

In the two days of audition, we have discovered 15-18 singers from Kolkata with amazing voice. This time most of the participants are singing Lata Mangeshkar's song or classical based songs. So I am very happy that youngsters have gone back to the roots.

Any participant you want to mention specially?
There was a girl who came for the audition, who saw Anu Malik in 2004 in Indian Idol and she remembered each and every details of it and how Abhijet Sawant became the winner. She came and told me how I become angry very fast and she also love it as I tell the truth. She said Anu Malik is her favourite judge because he is very honest.

Is there any solo album you are planning to do?
I have not done a solo album for a long long time but people are wanting me now. I have never promoted myself. Actually I don't want to make an album but I want to make a song.

What type of song?
Ten days back a song struck me..it is a naughty, mad, typical Anu Malik song and it is totally from my heart. I wrote the lyrics of the mukhra (starting lines). I went to my wife with it and she freaked out by hearing the one line only. That song will be composed by me, written by me and will be sung by me. And I can garuntee you today that this song will make you totally mad.

Are you planning to give the newcomers a chance to sing in films?
Yes, very much I am. The best thing is that all the top singers in the industry today was given a chance by me. Like Sonu Nigam's life changed after he sang 'Sande se Aate Hain' from the film 'Border'. Sunidhi Chauhan sang "Mere Zindegi Mein Ajnabi Ka Intezar Hai" from the film 'Ajnaabi' and many others.

We know you daughter Anmol Malik is also into music. So say something about her.
Anmol is 21 years now and I am guiding and encouraging her. She sang ‘Main Talli Ho Gayi' from the film 'Ugly Aur Pagli' , then she sang "Suno Suno" with Mohit Chauhan from the film 'Gali Gali Chor Hai'. But I am happy that she is composing songs also along with singing and she also write her own stuffs in English and Hindi.

Which song has she composed?
The song she has composed is on YouTube, called 'Anmal Malik-The Graduation', and Aamir Khan has uploaded this song on his fan page.The song is about a girl graduating from University of London.

Are you making her sing for your own project?
Yes, she is singing a song for me for the film 'Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hain.'

Anything new this season on the set of Indian Idol for Anu Malik?
Basically I don't need to do anything as people love me the way I am. The USP of Anu Malik is shayeeri and it happens to me naturally and people told me that they love my shyaari.

Any plan of giving music to Bengali films?
I would love to make Bengali songs. I also did a Bangla song called 'Soilons Soilona' and people loved the melody.