Murder 2 (2011) Music Review

The first instalment of Murder rode high on its musical quotient. As director Mohit Suri brings us the film's second outing, Murder 2, with Emraan Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandes in the lead roles, all eyes, or ears, perhaps, are on the film's soundtrack, to see whether the film matches up to the original in anyway. With three sets of composers, Harshit Saxena, Sangeet and Siddharth Haldipur and Mithoon, making contributions to the album, it waits to be seen how this multi-pronged musical effort pans out.

The first track on the album is hale dil, which sees reality show vocalist Harshit Saxena moonlight as a composer. The track carries a straightforward pop sound, though built around a catchy melody. Overdosing on Saxena's autotuned vocals for the most part, the number moves ahead with a set of choral harmonies and bears a strong resemblance to the sound of the first Murder soundtrack, especially when Dominique Cerejo's background vocals kick in towards the end. The heavily synthesised original is upstaged by its later acoustic version though, which opens with some very appealing stringwork from Kalyan Barua. Though the track isn't really an acoustic edit, with some very audible electric guitar bits towards the middle, the version has a very interesting, alt-rock rock sound that gives it a captivating feel.

The second track on the album is probably the pick of the set, with Sunidhi Chauhan stepping up to the mic on aa zara. The number, composed and arranged by Sangeet and Siddharth Haldipur, has a menacing theme to its melody and has a very climactic sort of feel, which makes the filmmaker's decision to use it in the film's promos understandable. Sunidhi uses her vocal instrument to full effect here, perfecting the almost Bond-esque sort of singing here. The track is remixed in a version called aa zara (reloaded), where Kiran Kamath rekits the number in a beat-heavy, synth-based edit that clubs and discotheques will find easy to pick up.

Composer Mithoon contributes the lyrics and music, both, to aye khuda. He is also on vocals here, along with Kshitij Tarey and Saim Bhat. The track's middle-eastern feel has a very perceptible Atif Aslam hangover, though it doesn't quite manage the same sort of appeal that the Pakistani singer has. The number's arrangement is rather predictable, the muezzin type background vocals taking centrestage for dramatic effect that never quite takes form. The track's remix by Kiran Kamath goes synth-crazy, loaded up with beats to make it dance-floor friendly.

Mithoon's second entry on the soundtrack is phir mohabbat, a slow track penned by Sayeed Quadri, where the composer recruits Mohd. Irfan, Arijit and Saim Bhat on vocal duties. The track, arranged around some simple string lines, has a quiet sound, and is rather low-key compared to the rest of the stuff here. Unfortunately, though, this contemplative track doesn't really hit the mark, and doesn't offer up anything significantly memorable.

The final original number on the album is the fast-paced tujhko bhulaana, composed by Sangeet and Siddharth Haldipur. The former also takes on the vocals, in a duet with Roshni Baptist. The out-and-out dance number goes big with the syth-rock sound, with Sangeet's vocals backed up by Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar on backing chorus. The track features some interesting guitarwork from Abhilash Phukan, with programmed percussion to keep him company. Still, though the track has a 'loud' sort of melody, an ascending sound, it doesn't quite take off and fails to make a mark.

Overall, the Murder 2 soundtrack is quite a disappointment, especially in light of the fact that the first outing for the film was such a musical success, with few tracks, like aa zara and hale dil, worth remembering here. Perhaps the fault lies with the film's makers, who choose to go with multiple composers for a single album, taking away any chances of the film's soundtrack having a unifying theme. Perhaps, then, Murder 2 makes for a perfect example of how too many cooks spoil the broth...?

Song: Phir Mohabbat - Mohd Irfan, Arijit, Saim
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Jacqueline Fernandez
Music Directors: Harshit Saxena, Mithoon, Sangeet Haldipur, Siddharth Haldipur
Lyricists: Sayeed Qadri, Kumaar, Mithoon
Label: T-Series

Lyrics of Phir Mohabbat Song

Jab jab tere paas main aaya, ik sukoon mila
Jise main tha bhoolta aaya, woh wajood mila
Jab aaye mausam gham ke, tujhe yaad kiya
Jab sehme tanha pann se, tujhe yaad kiya
Dil, sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil, yenhi ruk ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu

Aisa kyun kar hua, jaanu na main jaanu na
Dil, sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil, yenhi ruk ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu

Jis raah pe, hai ghar tera
Aksar wahan se haan main hoon guzra
Shayad yahin, dil mera haan
Tu mujkho mil jaaye kya pataa
Kya hai yeh silsila, jaanu na main jaanu na
Dil, sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil, yenhi ruk ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu

Kucch bhi nahin, jab darmiyaan
Phir kyun hai dil tere hi khwaab bunta
Chaaha ki de, tujhko bhulaa
Par yeh bhi mumkin ho na saka

Kya hai yeh maamla, jaanu na main jaanu na
Dil, sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil, yenhi ruk ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil, sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu