Sardar Malik was a prominent Indian music composer known for his contributions to the Hindi film industry. He was born on January 13, 1930, in Kapurthala, Punjab. Sardar Malik began his musical journey with a passion for creating soulful compositions.
He was passionate about dance and culture that’s why he joined Uday Shankar’s India Cultural Centre in Almora, Uttarakhand to learn dancing and singing. Here noted filmmaker and actor Guru Dutt also learnt dance. Guru Dutt and Sardar Malik shared the room in Cultural Centre. Sardar became a trained choreographer in Manipuri, Kathakali and Bharatnatyam there. Here he also learned music from Ustad Allauddin Khan who also teaching at the centre.
Sardar Malik got acquainted with another dancer Mohan Sehgal. They both decided to work as a choreographer in films. After passing out from Uday Shankar’s academy, Guru Dutt joined the Prabhat Film Company in Puna (now Pune) as a choreographer and later became a director and acted in several classic films. Sardar Malik and Mohan Sehgal also got a film as choreographers and were given a handsome prize. But things didn’t go well for him and he unknowingly became the victim of a controversy. Both of them decided not to become choreographers in future. Mohan Sehgal directed the films and Sardar Malik started his career in singing and music direction.
Sardar Malik got his first break as a music composer in the 1947 film ‘Renuka’ produced by Jayant Desai. He wrote two songs with Zohra, sang two solos and a duet. He gave a break to filmmaker Raj Khosla who came to Bombay from Ludhiana to become a singer. Sardar Malik was a brilliant music director.
His next film was Raaz (1949) which also starred Mohan Sehgal. Sardar composed many heart touching songs. He came in contact with the famous Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant who used to visit Uday Shankar’s cultural center once a week and teach poetry appreciation. Malik had the privilege of composing the poems of progressive poetess Meera ji. Nahi Bhaye Beech Ki Baat Sajnawa (Amirbai Karnataka), Samay Ka Chakkar Sau Bal Khaye (Rafi), Kahe Kuch Kare Kuch (Shamshad Begum) were some of Meera ji’s songs which he recorded in his film Raaz.
A small dispute ruined his career and he became out of work. He threw all of his work in the sea out of frustration despite having friends like Hasrat Jaipuri, Sahir Ludhianvi, Mohammad Rafi and Geeta Dutt. He never asked any favors from them. In 1977, actor Premnath was making a film Gyanji and he approached Sardar Malik for film’s music. Heartbroken Sardar Malik gave the music. Film’s music could not have much impact. And since then, he has never seen any public gathering and any filmi function.
Sardar Malik’s career in the music industry spanned several decades, and he is recognized for his work in composing melodies that left a lasting impact on Bollywood. He gave music in films like; Chalis Karod (1946) as a dance choreographer, Raaz (1949), Laila Majnu (1953), Thokar (1953), Aulad (1954), Ab-E-Hayat (1955), Chamak Chandni (1957), Taxi 555 (1958), Maan Ke Aansoo (1959), Maharani Padmini (1959), Mera Ghar Mere Bachche (1960), Saranga (1961), Bachpan (1963), Roop Sundari (1964), Jantar Mantar (1964), Paanch Ratan (1965) and Gyani Ji (1977, Punjabi Film).
His sons Anu Malik, Abu Malik and Daboo Malik also making significant contributions as music composers in the industry.
Sardar Malik died on 27 January 2006 after prolonged illness at age 76. His wife, Bilqis Bano, was the sister of lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri. His son Annu Malik Received several awards, he got National Award for best music in his film Refugee (2000).
His compositions were known for their depth, emotional resonance, and ability to enhance the narrative of the films they were a part of. Sardar Malik worked on a variety of films across genres, collaborating with different filmmakers and lyricists.