Atif Afzal
Backgroundperson
Birth placeMumbai, India
GenrePop music, film scores
OccupationSinger-songwriter, composer
EducationNew York University
Years active2013–present
Websitea-zal.com

Atif Afzal, also known by his stage name A-Zal, is an India-born, London-raised, New York–based singer-songwriter and composer. He is known for his music compositions for the American television series Ms. Marvel (miniseries), Loki (TV series), NCIS: Los Angeles and The Twilight Zone and for the films Resort to Love, Prague, Pune 52, Monsoon Shootout, and Baji.

Early life and education

Atif Afzal was born in Mumbai, India, but grew up in Hounslow, in London, England. He attended Hounslow Heath School.[1]

He studied engineering at the K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering and then worked at KPMG before starting a career in music.[2] He trained under an alumnus from the Royal College of Music.[3]

Career

Afzal is known by his stage name A-Zal.[4][5]

Afzal began his music career in 2013 by composing the film scores and soundtracks of Prague,[6] Pune 52[7] and Baji.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

He has also worked on international films, including a German film, Gift,[14] a European film, Then a Hero Comes Along,[15][16] a New York short film, The Alternative,[17] and Bachelor Girls.[17] In 2017, he scored the background music for Monsoon Shootout, which was produced by Anurag Kashyap and DAR Motion Pictures.[18][19][20] He also composed music for the Marathi film Charandas Chor.[21]

Afzal's film albums have been released on major record labels including Universal Music Group, Times Music, Zee Music Company and Saregama. He has also sung the songs 'Shravan Shravan' in the film Baji and 'Chor Chor Saare' in the film Charandas Chor.[2]

Afzal moved to New York in 2018[22][23] and studied music at New York University.[24][25] In 2020, he composed soundtracks for the American television series NCIS: Los Angeles and The Twilight Zone.[26][27]

In 2021, A-Zal composed soundtracks for Loki (TV series) and Alicia Keys produced Netflix film, Resort to Love.[28][29]

In 2022, A-Zal composed two soundtracks for Marvel Cinematic Studios' Ms. Marvel (miniseries).[30]

In 2023, the artist released his single "Lonely Town". The music video for the single received nominations at the 2023 Montreal Independent Film Festival and the 2024 American Documentary and Animation Film Festival.[31]

Filmography

Films

Television series

Discography

Singles

  • "Movie Script"[39]
  • "Lonely Town"
  • "Autopilot"
  • "Phonebook"
  • "Fa Fa Fa"[40]

References

  1. ^ "A-Zal. From Mumbai to Hollywood Soundtracks". www.famemagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
  2. ^ Shetty, Anjali (November 26, 2017). "When I entered the industry, I knew nobody". Hindustan Times. p. 22.
  3. ^ Kagdi, Safaque (24 July 2023). "A-Zal Unveils New Infectious, Funky, Feel-Good Summer Pop Single “Movie Script”". WPRI.com. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  4. ^ Njoka, Eric (June 25, 2022). "Musician Atif Afzal speaks to WION: All about A-Zal's 'Marvel'ous journey". WION
  5. ^ Chopra, Swati (25 June 2022). "'The Benchmark Is Very High With Marvel': Ms Marvel's Music Composer A-Zal". The Quint
  6. ^ Rafat. "Prague Music Review" (in en-IN). Yahoo! News. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  7. ^ Times News Network. "Shalmali Kholgade is music director Atif Afzal's lucky mascot". The Times of India. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "'Baji' Music Director Atif Afzal". Dailymotion
  9. ^ "I had the liberty to compose". Absolute India. January 15, 2015.
  10. ^ Rajani, Kanika (February 6, 2015). "A Grand Score!". Screen. p. 35.
  11. ^ "Shreyas Talpade goes gaga over 'Baji' music director Atif Afzal | Marathi Movie News - Times of India". The Times of India. January 24, 2015.
  12. ^ "Atif Afzal: Felt bad when my movie with Salman Khan got shelved". The Times of India. PTI. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  13. ^ Service, Tribune News (January 28, 2015). "Third time lucky". The Tribune
  14. ^ "Adgully Exclusive: "My inspiration is A.R. Rahman"- Composer and Singer Atif Afzal". www.adgully.com
  15. ^ "Composing music for global films is exciting: Atif Afzal". Business Standard India. IANS. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  16. ^ Bhattacharjee, Rupanwita. "It was a bumpy ride: Atif Afzal". The Statesman. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  17. ^ Singh, Arpita (November 24, 2017). "Monsoon Shootout composer used Skype to record music". India TV
  18. ^ Press Trust of India. "Atif Afzal: Felt bad when my movie with Salman Khan got shelved". The Times of India. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  19. ^ Staff (December 15, 2014). "Atif Afzal lends his vocals for first Marathi track". radioandmusic.com
  20. ^ "Abhijeet Sawant joins hands with Bollywood music director Atif Afzal for Baji". Urban Asian. February 5, 2015.
  21. ^ "'Monsoon Shootout' composer used Skype to record music". The Statesman. IANS. November 24, 2017.
  22. ^ Tagat, Anurag (12 October 2020). "New York-Based Music Director Atif Afzal Talks Metal Roots, Making It in the Composing Space -". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  23. ^ "New York based Indian Singer-Songwriter Atif Afzal has released new mellow single". Radio and Music
  24. ^ Staff (April 9, 2021). "Atif Afzal (aka A-Zal) talks about his upcoming pop music album". Los Angeles Life and Style
  25. ^ De Souza, Noel (August 17, 2021). "Meet A-Zal, The Indian Musician Who Composed Music for Marvel's Loki". Zee Zest
  26. ^ Rajpal, Rocktim (21 September 2020). "Remix culture killing originality, says music composer Atif Afzal". Deccan Herald
  27. ^ Khatoon, Farah (30 July 2021). "Composer Atif Afzal creates a surreal world for Loki's finale". Indulge Express
  28. ^ Lulla, Sonia (26 July 2021). "A journey worth marvelling". Mid-Day
  29. ^ Sen, Debarati (August 13, 2021). "Musician A-Zal: Anywhere you go in the world, you will always hear Bollywood beats being played - Times of India". The Times of India
  30. ^ Roy, Priyanka (June 28, 2022). "A-Zal chats with The Telegraph on what it takes to break into Hollywood". The Telegraph (India)
  31. ^ Argentina, Billboard (3 June 2024). "A-Zal: De tocar en el metro de Nueva York a cantante pop" (in Spanish). Billboard Argentina
  32. ^ Tikare, Sachin. "Atif Afzal's score in Monsoon Shootout gets applause". The Free Press Journal. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  33. ^ Sadhwani, Garima (8 August 2021). "A-Zal becomes a part of the 'Marvel'ous cinematic universe". National Herald
  34. ^ Today, Telangana (14 August 2021). "Indian-American singer A-Zal composes Alicia Keys". Telangana Today
  35. ^ Chandar, Bhuvanesh (12 July 2022). "Music composer A-Zal on working in 'Ms Marvel'" (in en-IN). The Hindu
  36. ^ Tagat, Anurag (8 August 2022). "Composer A-Zal Talks 'Ms. Marvel' Music and Finally Telling His Own Story". Rolling Stone
  37. ^ Pereira, Karen (July 1, 2022). "Atif Afzal reveals secret Marvel film on the cards after composing music for 'Ms Marvel' and 'Loki'". The Times of India
  38. ^ PTI (4 July 2022). "Ms Marvel track was originally for a Salman Khan film". Mint
  39. ^ Tagat, Anurag (19 October 2023). "A-Zal Seeks Belonging in the Big Apple in 'Lonely Town' Video". Rolling Stone India
  40. ^ Tagat, Anurag (27 June 2024). "A-Zal's Frenzied 'Fa Fa Fa' is His Way of Addressing Racism". Rolling Stone India