Exclusive - Mithoon on AI in music: 'I feel the human element in music composition is very important'

Mithoon exclusive interview with Moneycontrol

Mithoon is a name that connotes depth, emotion, and melody. From the classic Tum Hi Ho to heartfelt tunes like Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahunga and Tujhe Kitna Chahein Aur, he has contributed some of Indian cinema's most memorable songs over the years.

Mithoon has made a name for himself as one of the most significant and well-respected music composers of his generation with his distinctive style, which combines lyrical honesty with ethereally lovely compositions.

In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, he opens up about the role of music in cinema, his creative partnership with filmmaker Mohit Suri, the cultural impact of Aashiqui 2, and his thoughts on technology’s growing role in music composition.

In addition, Mithoon gives us a unique look into his personal life, including how his faith informs his work, how love has altered his outlook, and what to anticipate from his next projects, which include Saiyara, Border 2, and an EP with T-Series that isn't a movie.

Experts from the Interview:

Q: Recently, I read a report about you by Hindustan Times that said you were being paid ₹25 crores for one album, making you the highest-paid musician in India. How do you feel about it—if it’s true, of course?

Mithoon: See, the thing is, as you know, traditionally I really don’t want to discuss numbers or commit to any number at this point of time. But I can definitely tell you this—I personally believe that music adds a lot of value to our cinema.

I feel Hindi and overall Indian cinema is really driven by music, based on our traditions and our culture, and how music is a part of our very upbringing. Over the years, many times, the music fraternity or the contribution of music has not got its due in terms of filmmaking.

It’s a known scientific fact that a good soundtrack will always give you a better opening. Any sensible person would agree to this.

So, I’m just glad—and I personally believe this—that it’s not just about me, but composers definitely deserve this. I feel the fraternity is opening up a lot more to the idea.

And with the amount of revenue being generated globally through Indian music, I feel it’s very important that creators are given the due and the kind of reward that they actually merit. So that’s my stance—for me and for the entire fraternity.

Q: We’ve been hearing that you’re working on a collaboration for Ahaan Pandey’s debut with Mohit Suri. Whenever you and Mohit Suri come together, the storytelling and music blend effortlessly and give us the best songs. What makes this collaboration unique? Can we expect something different this time?

Mithoon: I’m not sure if “different” is the right word in that sense. I mean, I feel that every film is different, every story is different in its own way. But I can definitely say this—when it comes to Mohit and me, there is a certain brand of music that we believe in, there’s a brand of cinema that we believe in.

Whether it is Zeher, Murder 2, Aashiqui 2, or so many more albums that we’ve done together—Mohit believes a lot in his melodies, he believes in the purity and the sanctity of Indian music.

Whenever our albums have come out, they’ve always connected with people on a deeper emotional level, which is beyond the science and beyond the trends.

So, I feel that is definitely going to be there in the Saiyara album as well. It’s one of the most powerful stories I’ve heard. In fact, it is the story of a musician. It’s one of the most powerful stories I’ve ever worked on.

And I definitely feel that this album is going to have the honesty of a Mithoon and Mohit Suri album.

Q: Tum Hi Ho became a cultural phenomenon. Did you anticipate its impact while composing it?

Mithoon: No, that’s something that never happens in a studio. When we’re working on a song, we just give our best to it. We just feel the emotion of every song.

In fact, sometimes we don’t even realize how big a song can become. Tum Hi Ho was my song when I was working on it.

I was just trying to be true to the story, true to the characters, true to the emotion. I never thought about the outcome. And I think that’s also very important—to not think about the outcome during the creative process.

Q: With AI and tech entering music creation, how do you see the future of music composition?

Mithoon: There are multiple opinions on this. I personally feel the human element in music composition is very, very important—and I don’t think that can ever be replaced, no matter how much technology comes in.

While I’m all for technology, I feel we should adapt and use these tools. But I think it should definitely be used to serve our human purpose in a bigger way.

I would never want AI or any such tool to compromise the human fabric of our art.

The human fabric of our art is what makes it bigger. When there’s emotion in a piece of art, when there’s a human side to it—that’s when a song or a piece of art becomes big.

I would only hope that AI or other such tools are used to amplify the human element of art, and not compromise it. That’s the way I would want to use it, and that’s how I would see it going forward.

Q: Do you have a specific ritual or routine when you’re creating music?

Mithoon: Not really. Prayer is an important part of my day. I’m a firm believer in the Almighty, and I do feel that being connected to Him is something that really inspires and empowers me every day.

It’s something I like to do daily, but not as a ritual. I feel that a relationship with God is very, very important for me.

I always try to seek that, as human beings we are all vulnerable. I feel it’s very important to know that we’re dependent on someone mightier than us. That feeling—that He’s got my back—really inspires me.

That’s something I do every day, and it really motivates me in my work as well.

Q: Has your perspective on music changed after you met or married Palak?

Mithoon: I would not say that. My connection with Palak is beyond music, beyond lifetime. It’s something that’s beyond my calling in life.

My commitment to music has been so deeply integrated into my system that I’ve always seen it as the foundation and very purpose of my life.

Palak coming into my life has definitely changed the way I see the world. I see the world in so many different, more beautiful colors now because of what she has brought into my life.

Maybe that indirectly affects the way I approach music. But I’ve always given my all to my music, and it’s always been the center of my life.

Now with Palak, I definitely see the world differently—and that probably redirects my music in different ways.

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Q: Could you tell us about some of your upcoming projects?

Mithoon: Sure. Apart from Mohit Suri’s next film Saiyara, I’m doing the music scope of Border 2.

I’m also working on my EP—it’s a non-film project I’m doing with T-Series this year.

And I’m working on Anil Sharma ji’s next soundtrack—he’s the one I did Gadar 2 with.