Toshi and Akram Sabri’s Jalwanuma shows the good and the bad of the brothers. The song is just like almost all the other hits from the brothers, but still the song sounds as nice as any of them and sticks like anything. Basically, couldn’t help liking it, even with nothing new in it.

The next song, Sunidhi’s Aaja Khatam Sabr kar de, is a nice number again, and though the song doesn’t have anything too interesting or new, it’s a simple, nice number on a good melody.

Song number three Salame Salame gets Shaan singing with Sharib. And the song is the type that would need quite some publicity before it can be popular, which I presume is not gonna be there easily. Shaan almost gets into the color of Sharib-Toshi here. And yeah, I was wondering how come so many of Shaan’s song have that word ’tishnagi.’

The next singer happens to be Javed Ali, who in Dil ke Liye once again sounds a lot like Sonu Nigam, especially in the higher notes. In fact Javed’s singing here, though quite good, reminds me of Kumar Sanu and even hints of Udit Narayan. Still, the song doesn’t sound like coming from ’90s, but has effects of Toshi-Sharib quite clear. Still, worth listening to.

The last song of the album Kahan hai tu is sung by Sharib alone. The rock number with some sad lyrics has some nice sounds that make it worth a listen again.

Overall, Ghost is a VERY Sharib-Toshi album with almost nothing new but still almost everything very much listenable. Somehow Sharib-Toshi are still able to maintain interest in their songs even with their repetitive style. Big deal I guess.

The second song, Satrangi Sathiya, sung by Toshi is a little more on the track and sounds more like a typical song, say maahi of Jashnn or Haal-e-dil or Murder 2. But then, the song sounds good and that is what matters. Can go for this one. Tried and tested.

Raghav Sachar’s first composition for the album, love is all I got is a nice one, with a likeable melody, and his typical style, with Hindi and English words mixed together. Like again.

The next by Raghav isn’t so good though. Karma Queen, sung by Sunidhi is quite unimaginative and boring. Could have been avoided I guess.

The next song, Gumsum by Shreya, is another feather in the cap of today’s melody queen, mainly because of the way she takes the song almost on her own. A nice composition by Raghav Sachar, a little unlike him, and well sung by Shreya. Try it, especially if you like the slow ones.

The last song Loot, from Raghav again, and sung by Neha Bhasin and Jankee Parikh with him starts kind of nicely but goes into have-heard-it-earlier mode quite soon and though Raghav seems to try hard with the arrangements, the song doesn’t impress too much. Passable for now, may consider with some promotion.

Overall, the album is okay with some typical Bhatt songs (the ones by young Sabri Brothers) which sound as good as they always do, and some good try by Raghav as well, especially in gumsum.

Buy Phhir Audio CD Here.

Composers: Sajid-Wajid
Lyrics: Gulzar

Taali: Sukhwinder Singh, Sonu Nigam, supported by Wajid and Neuman Pinto. Gulzar. And a rage inducing tone. Even though Sajid-Wajid don’t create an Omkara, the song is not bad. Gulzar’s lyrics Taali maar do hatthi veera taali baj jaygi, matthe bindi pairan mein bhi laali saj jaygi sound good. A decent start of the album. Above the average of Sajid-Wajid if you count some of their past movies. Sonu Nigam helps the song sound more natural. Sonu is wonderful again. Sukhwinder is typical himself, especially on higher notes.

Surili Ankhiyon wale: For this song Sajid-Wajid call Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and as I hear the song, I am in doubt if Sajid-Wajid are so underrated because they don’t get big singers. The song – a slow, beautiful tune – is quite up to the standards of Rahat (even without an alaap) and he sings it perfectly. The English verses of Suzanne are good, though it feels it’s a try to create something like Lagaan. Whether it looks natural will be decided by the video. Hear the song for Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

Salaam Aaya: If the big names have not been enough for you yet, here comes another one. Roop Kumar Rathod. A light, melodious, but very normal tune gets the voice of Roop and you get a lovely song. Shreya is fine. Suzanne De Mello doesn’t get much though. Nothing big in the song, but worth a listening for its melody and Roop Kumar Rathod.

Meharbaniyan: This is one song where Sajid-Wajid suddenly come down to the music of a typical Salman Khan film. Sonu Nigam sings this not required song which goes far from the look and feel of the movie and even other songs. Makes me reconsider my reconsiderations about the movie.

Kanha (Thumri): This song belongs to Rekha Bharadwaj as Sajid Wajid take a high jump back to good and give a wonderful tune, one of the best of the album. Sharib-Toshi here work not as lead singers or composers but as Sabri brothers singing pavan udave batiyaan in the background with Shabaab Sabri. Must hear.

Taali (Solo): Sukhwinder Singh is good enough to take any song on his own all alone, and so Sajid-Wajid send him behind the microphone to sing Taali, a six minute song alone and create a Sukhwinder effect. And he does it perfectly.

Surili Ankhiyon Wale (Duet): It’s strange. While one song claims a ‘Solo’ version, the other has a ‘Duet’ version. Never mind. Nowadays composers in the industry don’t take risk and give as many versions of a song as they think can be liked. So here comes a duet version of Surili Ankhiyon Wale which is sung by Sunidhi Chauhan along with Rahat. Sunidhi comes quite late in the song, but leaves her mark there. Go for the song.

Spirit of Veer: As you might have guessed from the promos, the spirit of Veer is quite small as it’s all body. Not worth a mention. Ends as soon as it starts.

Overall, Veer is, surprisingly, an album above average and quite above expectations, at least mine. Sajid Wajid have, with one exception, not wasted the lyrics of Gulzar at all. Big names are here and they have been treated well with the music. Try it even if you had decided not to do so.