More controversially, "Malik Hindi" refers to the historical tug-of-war over who owns Hindi. Is it the Sanskrit scholars of Varanasi? The Persianized poets of Delhi? The Bollywood screenwriters of Mumbai?
In the context of , the word functions differently than its synonyms. Compare:
: Sardar Malik's influence is still felt today through his sons and grandsons, who are household names in modern Hindi music: