Latest news with #Mithoon
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Composer Mithoon discusses his new album ‘Master of Melody', a film with YRF, and Mohit Suri
There is a reason Mithoon is called the master of melody. For nearly 20 years, he has created the soundtrack of modern love in Bollywood — from the 2013 hit Aashiqui 2 with 'Tum Hi Ho' to Sanam Re and 'Tujhe Kitna Chahein Aur Hum' (Kabir Singh). His songs have become favourites for those in love or dealing with heartbreak. Despite the fame, Mithoon remains grounded. 'I am just a seeker,' he says over the phone. 'Anyone true to their art knows it is a gift from above.' Now, with his first independent album Master of Melody, he is stepping outside the film format to offer listeners a more personal collection. 'The idea came from T Series' Bhushan Kumar,' he shares. 'My music has a certain fabric. Melody has always played a central role in my connection with listeners. Bhushan felt we should create something that celebrates that very fabric, unapologetically.' Comprising six songs, the album is less about experimentation and more about immersion. 'I wouldn't call it an experiment,' he clarifies. 'It is more of an indulgence. Without the constraints of cinematic narrative, I could just be myself.' Wearing legacy lightly Music runs deep in Mithoon's blood. As the son of composer Naresh Sharma and nephew of Pyarelal (of the legendary Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo), he inherited more than just musical genes, he inherited a rich legacy. 'It gave me discipline and solid training, both in Hindustani classical and Western notation systems,' he says. 'But legacy cannot give you your message. Every generation has its own story to tell.' He did tell the stories as a composer and as a lyricist. The dual role adds emotional depth to his songs, making them feel less like compositions and more like conversations. 'Music is a feeling, not just sound,' he says. 'Sometimes the melody comes first, sometimes the words. Writing my own lyrics helps me finish the song faster, it is a complete expression.' A big part of Mithoon's journey is tied to filmmaker Mohit Suri, who he credits with encouraging his songwriting. Their creative bond continues with the forthcoming film Saiyaara, a project that marks Suri's first collaboration with Yash Raj Films. 'The music will be out next week,' Mithoon reveals. 'It is quintessential us, not in sound, but in emotion.' Launching Arijit Then there's Arijit Singh, whose career is inseparable from Mithoon's early vision. 'When I first heard Arijit, I did not want someone to impress me, I wanted someone to express emotion. He did that. No filters, just raw honesty.' But he refuses to take credit for the singer's meteoric rise. 'I just do my job — match the right voice to the right song.' Many of Mithoon's compositions carry a spiritual weight that listeners connect with on an emotional level. Asked where that comes from, he pauses before answering. 'I believe spirituality is not removed from everyday life. The honesty in love, in service, in work — that too is spiritual. Anything that comes from a clean heart is spiritual.' This belief seeps into his music, which blends Indian classical elements with modern sounds — without ever diluting the soul. 'I'm not a purist,' he admits. 'But I go by feeling. Whether merging a raga with Western harmonies or choosing silence over sound, it is all about impulse.' Life beyond studio Though he lives and breathes music, Mithoon reveals that his home life, especially with singer-wife Palak Muchhal, is refreshingly grounded. 'People assume we are always discussing music. But at home, we talk about history, travel, languages; music is only one facet of life, and we try to keep it that way.' Music was never just a career option for Mithoon, it was a calling shaped by legacy and early inspiration. When asked if he ever considered another path, he answers without hesitation. 'No, not really. It was something I inherited from my father. I always wanted to be like him,' he says. 'From a young age, I wanted to be a musician.' Master of Melody is just the beginning. Mithoon has a series of concerts this year to bring these non-film songs to the stage. With Saiyaara, he is set to return to the big screen with another emotion-heavy score.
Mint
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Meet India's highest-earning musician, earns ₹25 cr for one album at the age of 40, more than AR Rahman, Arijit, Diljit
India is bursting with talent, this artist has struck a chord so deep that his tunes have turned into millions, in the literal sense. Becoming India's highest-earning musician is one thing but defeating musicians like AR Rahman, Arijit Singh, Anirudh Ravichander and Diljit Dosanjh at just 40 is a remarkable feat. We are talking about music composer Mithoon. As per a report of Hindustan Times, Mithoon became the highest-paid musician recently. Reportedly, Mithoon has secured a record-breaking fee for composing the soundtrack of an upcoming untitled romantic drama. While details of the film are not out yet, industry insiders claimed that the composer will be paid over ₹ 25 crore for the complete film score, the highest sum in the Indian music industry. The film reunites Mithoon with a renowned director he has collaborated with in the past. Their musical bond spans nearly two decades, which reportedly prompted the producers' decision to make such a hefty investment. Currently, this is the highest fee for a composer in India for a single album. The previous record holder of the title was Anirudh Ravichander, the youngest of the lot. As per reports, he was paid ₹ 10 crore for composing music for Atlee's Jawan, starring superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara. However, his next projects, Leo and Jailer, fetched him ₹ 8 crore each. Besides Mithoon and Anirudh, AR Rahman ruled the music scene in India as the most sought-after and commercially successful music composer. Known for his iconic film scores and global recognition, Rahman reportedly charged somewhere around ₹ 8 crore per project and even more if he lends his voice to a song in the film, reported Hindustan Times. On the other hand, renowned music composers like Pritam, Vishal-Shekhar, MM Keeravani, and Yuvan Shankar Raja are said to charge under ₹ 5 crore per project. However, sadly the remunerations are even lower for Indian singers who are said to charge somewhere around ₹ 15-20 lakh for a song, excluding exceptions. Reportedly, Diljit charges around ₹ 4 crore for private events such as Anant Ambani's pre-wedding party while he takes home somewhere between ₹ 50 lakh to 1 crore for usual concerts. Mithoon Sharma, also known as Mithoon, began his career in the industry with the recreations of Woh Lamhe in Zeher and Aadat in Kalyug. In 2006, Mithoon had his first break when composed his first original song, Bas Ek Pal, sung by late singer KK. It was followed by the hit track, Tere Bin, sung by singer Atif Aslam, for the same film, Bas Ek Pal. Mithoon rose to fame with the song Tum Hi Ho from the 2013 film Aashiqui 2.
Mint
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Meet India's highest-earning musician, earns ₹25 cr for one album at the age of 40, more than AR Rahman, Arijit, Diljit
India is bursting with talent, this artist has struck a chord so deep that his tunes have turned into millions, in the literal sense. Becoming India's highest-earning musician is one thing but defeating musicians like AR Rahman, Arijit Singh, Anirudh Ravichander and Diljit Dosanjh at just 40 is a remarkable feat. We are talking about music composer Mithoon. As per a report of Hindustan Times, Mithoon became the highest-paid musician recently. Reportedly, Mithoon has secured a record-breaking fee for composing the soundtrack of an upcoming untitled romantic drama. While details of the film are not out yet, industry insiders claimed that the composer will be paid over ₹ 25 crore for the complete film score, the highest sum in the Indian music industry. The film reunites Mithoon with a renowned director he has collaborated with in the past. Their musical bond spans nearly two decades, which reportedly prompted the producers' decision to make such a hefty investment. Currently, this is the highest fee for a composer in India for a single album. The previous record holder of the title was Anirudh Ravichander, the youngest of the lot. As per reports, he was paid ₹ 10 crore for composing music for Atlee's Jawan, starring superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara. However, his next projects, Leo and Jailer, fetched him ₹ 8 crore each. Besides Mithoon and Anirudh, AR Rahman ruled the music scene in India as the most sought-after and commercially successful music composer. Known for his iconic film scores and global recognition, Rahman reportedly charged somewhere around ₹ 8 crore per project and even more if he lends his voice to a song in the film, reported Hindustan Times. On the other hand, renowned music composers like Pritam, Vishal-Shekhar, MM Keeravani, and Yuvan Shankar Raja are said to charge under ₹ 5 crore per project. However, sadly the remunerations are even lower for Indian singers who are said to charge somewhere around ₹ 15-20 lakh for a song, excluding exceptions. Reportedly, Diljit charges around ₹ 4 crore for private events such as Anant Ambani's pre-wedding party while he takes home somewhere between ₹ 50 lakh to 1 crore for usual concerts. Mithoon Sharma, also known as Mithoon, began his career in the industry with the recreations of Woh Lamhe in Zeher and Aadat in Kalyug. In 2006, Mithoon had his first break when composed his first original song, Bas Ek Pal, sung by late singer KK. It was followed by the hit track, Tere Bin, sung by singer Atif Aslam, for the same film, Bas Ek Pal. Mithoon rose to fame with the song Tum Hi Ho from the 2013 film Aashiqui 2. Mithoon's latest work as the composer and lyricist will be YRF's Saiyaara. It is not known yet if his ₹ 25 crore fee was for the YRF project or an unannounced film.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
India's highest-paid musician just earned ₹25 crore for one album; beat AR Rahman, Arijit Singh, Pritam, Diljit Dosanjh
The film industry has come a long way from the days when singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi had to fight to be paid more than ₹500 per song, while the top stars were earning lakhs per film. Today, the top musicians in India earn in lakhs per song and in excess of ₹1 crore for an album. But a recent development has seen a new composer take the top spot in the list of India's highest-paid musicians. Insiders tell HT that Mithoon, the composer, has managed to negotiate an unprecedented fee for his contributions to his next soundtrack for an untitled romantic drama. While the other details about the film are under wraps for now, sources tell us that Mithoon will be paid an astronomical sum, exceeding ₹25 crore, for his work on the complete score of the film. Sources tell us that Mithoon has collaborated with the director before, and their work gave chartbusters earlier. The celebrated director and Mithoon embarked on their collaborative journey almost two decades ago, which encouraged the producers to invest this much into Mithoon's work. This is the first time any music composer has managed to command such a price for work on just one album. A post shared by Mithoon (@mithoon11) Before Mithoon, Anirudh Ravichander held this record, when he charged over ₹10 crore for composing the score for Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan. Notably, Anirudh brought his fees down for his subsequent films. The Times of India reported that he charged ₹8 crore each for Leo and Jailer. Yet, he remained India's highest-paid composer till Mithoon dethroned him. Before him, for years, AR Rahman has been the most prominent and bankable music composer in the country. Rahman usually charges ₹8 crore per film, which can go higher if he is singing any track in the film, too. Other Indian music composers like Pritam, Vishal-Shekhar, MM Keeravani, and Yuvan Shankar Raja all charge under ₹5 crore per film. The amount is even lower for singers, as they charge ₹15-20 lakh per song, and it rarely reaches a crore for one film. For private albums, singers can rake in over a crore, as Diljit Dosanjh routinely does.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
My first major film album Anwar was deeply inspired by Lucknow's culture: Mithoon Sharma
Mithoon Sharma is a name synonymous with soulful Bollywood music . With hit tracks like Tum Hi Ho from , he has become the voice of countless love stories. Recently, the celebrated composer, lyricist, and singer visited the city to receive an award. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During our conversation, he reflected on his decades-old musical journey, from his first Bollywood film album Anwar , inspired by Lucknow's culture—to his views on the evolving music industry, AI's role in creativity, and how he remains unshaken by the stereotype of being a 'love song' composer. When asked about his connection to Lucknow, a city that has had a profound impact on his career, he reflects, 'The most important connection I have with Lucknow is that my almost first film Anwar was heavily inspired by the culture of Lucknow. The song Maula Mere Maula was inspired by the rhythm and fabric of the city, and that became the heartbeat of the song. When the director briefed me, he told me about the essence of Lucknow's tehzeeb. That song became very popular, and it still plays in my concerts. That gift of Lucknow is something I'll never forget.' With artificial intelligence (AI) taking over most aspects of our lives, including music, Mithoon sees it not as a threat, but as an opportunity. 'A true artist, who understands the discipline of music, can never be threatened by these things. These trends and fads are temporary things, but our history of music is more than 100 years old—it won't get affected.' For him, music is not just about trends or tools but about the emotional connection and the human spirit that it carries. 'We come from a culture where it's believed that when a raga is sung, the weather changes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If we undermine the human root of these things, we shouldn't even doubt it. AI should be used to improve art, but it should never replace the human essence and contribution.' Mithoon Sharma Throughout his career, the composer of songs like Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahunga, Sanam Re, Tujhe Kitna Chahne Lage, Woh Lamhe-Woh Baatein, when asked how he maintains his integrity when it comes to commercial music projects, he shares that his approach to music creation in the film industry is rooted in collaboration. 'When we talk about film music, it's a collaboration. There is no place for ego. It's a union of two people, like Raj Kapoor and Shankar-Jaikishan, AR Rahman and Mani Ratnam. I've had such experiences with too, like Zeher and Aashiqui 2. If there is anything in a song that is not acceptable to you, you either convince the other person or get convinced yourself. The decision should always be for the betterment of the song. I don't allow trends or figures in my studio. If a director tells me that a voice or line is not having an essence, I am open to working on it! However, if they want it to be changed for commercial reasons, that's something I stand against.' On the topic of stereotypes and he being dubbed a mostly love-song composer, Mithoon is refreshingly candid. 'I don't really pay much heed to these things. If people associate me with heartbreak songs, I don't mind. In fact, I celebrate it. Music is powerful and it can bring about a revolution, and can work as a cure in relationships. I know of a couple who were getting divorced but later gave their relationship another chance after listening to my song, Kuch Is Tarah. So I don't see it as a stigma, but as something powerful and beautiful.' Finally, when asked if there's a song that deeply connects to his own personal experience, he shares a heartwarming story behind one of his tracks. 'I see stories all around me. An artist can be born from anywhere. There are many songs that I have written looking at the lives of other people, and they were big hits. However, one song that comes to mind is Koi Mujhko Yu Mila Hai. I wrote it after observing a friend's life. When he got married, there was a beautiful thehraav in his life. I drew inspiration from that and wrote the song.' -Amina Ashraf
