Zeher - A Love Story Music Review

"Only Sex and Shahrukh sells" and who better than the Bhatt's, can testify this statement (at least for the "sex" part of it). It actually began with Jism followed by Murder and other such sexually outfitted movies to make a quick buck at the box-office and the Bhatt faction still remains loyal to the subject of extra marital affairs and consequently, churns out yet another low star value - cost-effective quickie - Zeher a love story. The quintessential Bhatt prodigies Emraan Hashmi and Udita Goswami, play the two forbidden lovers while Shamita Shetty portrays the betrayed better half.

Directed by Mohit Suri, Zeher is a Mukesh Bhatt presentation with tunes set by the singer turned music director - "Roop Kumar Rathod", but most of the tracks have the music re-created by Anu Malik or others (now, whatever that is supposed to be!).

Shreya Ghoshal renders an absolutely average and humbly melodious number "Agar Tum Mil Jao" that is good as long as it lasts. A track that will ascend to a decent position in the music countdowns for a few weeks during the release of the movie and safely fade out after the release. Musically re-created by Anu Malik and strongly worded by Sayeed Quadri, the quality of the track is a barometer of the expectations one can afford to have for the other compositions.

Singer Atif displays his passionate singing potentials with "Woh Lamhe Woh Baatein". Again the music has been re-created here, but this time by Mithun and Naresh Sharma. An intense track that comes little close to the M.M. Kreem compositions but is not just as good. Singer Atif is a good piece of discovery to harmonize talents with the likes of K.K and Kunal Ganjawala. Check out his infinite stretch with an extremely high pitch that concludes the track.

The one authentic Roop Kumar Rathod composition that does not dish out credits for music re-creation is "Jaane Ja Jaane Ja". A fervent romantic duet by Udit Narayan and Shreya Ghoshal with an ascetic tune and superior orchestration is an appreciable sincere effort by the music team, including the lyricist Shakeel Azmi.

The Udit Narayan version of "Agar Tum Mil Jao" is the last one on Side A and Side B as well and somehow sounds better and a tad pleasant than the female version.

Still not getting enough of "Agar Tum Mil Jao", the makers slot in the instrumental to open up Side B of the tape. Opulent with Piano, Guitar and other aptly used musical instruments, the instrumental turns out to be even better than the voiced versions.

Appending the list of not so happening and solemn tracks "Aye Bekhabar" comes next. But surprisingly, the track has a tune better than most others, including the oh-so great "Agar Tum Mil Jao". The track not only sounds good but also has a spry crispy tune to convey an intense thought of a distressed lover and is lush with the vocals of K.K and Shakeel Azmi's lyrics and not to forget Roop Kumar's music direction.

The album concludes with Lamhe - DJ Mix that is remixed by the hot 'n' happening DJ Suketu. Following Musafir, it won't be surprising if every movie has such cliche DJ mixes that eventually would stop doing any value additions - or has it already started...?

Post Murder, the Bhatts have been striving desperately to recreate the musical and the visual hysteria, but it just does not seem to work out. It did not work out with Tumsa Nahi Dekha nor did it work with Rog and with the kind of music and look, odds of Zeher seem far less than many.