19 September,2026 05:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Amaal Mallik and Daboo Malik pic via Instagram
A song-credit dispute has now opened an older chapter in the Malik family's relationship with the Bollywood music industry. Composer Amaal Mallik says his father, veteran music director Daboo Malik, remained silent for around 15 years over issues regarding credit, choosing to protect professional relationships before eventually speaking up. The comments came amid Amaal's ongoing dispute over the credits for "Main Hoon Hero Tera," a song from Salman Khan's co-production Hero (2015) that was composed by him and written by Kumaar.
Amaal Mallik said he tried to resolve credit-related concerns privately for years by contacting labels, production houses, actors and others involved. According to him, those efforts did not bring the changes he was seeking, leading him to speak publicly. Explaining his father's decision to remain quiet, Amaal wrote that Daboo stayed silent "out of dignity, respect and consideration for his industry relationships." He added that his father came forward only after he felt "things went too far." The composer also recalled his own experience with M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, saying he had to fight for credit for songs he composed in 2016.
The latest issue surfaced after Salman Khan Films shared a post marking 11 years of Hero and featured Salman Khan performing "Main Hoon Hero Tera." Amaal questioned why the composer and lyricist were not credited in the post. The Indian Express reported that Amaal later clarified that his criticism was not directed personally at Salman Khan, but at what he described as recurring problems with acknowledging artists' contributions. Amaal has stressed that he does not view the matter simply as a controversy. Instead, he has described it as an issue of "due credit, authorship and accountability."
The dispute has also brought attention to the importance of properly identifying composers and lyricists when older songs are promoted online. Recently, Amaal's brother, singer Armaan Malik, publicly defended him during the initial dispute and urged people to allow Salman Khan to see the issue. For Amaal, the latest episode appears to be part of a much longer struggle over recognition. His comments about his father's 15-year silence have added another layer to the discussion, connecting his present dispute with experiences his family says date back years.
