Sanjeev-Darshan made a very impressive debut just over 3 years ago with Mann and then followed it up with a good soundtrack for Deewane. However, after that they have just gone downhill, and their latest album Talaash is one more step in that direction. S-D haven’t had a release in awhile, and with their current slump they had a chance with his album to bounce back, but it looks like they didn’t take their chance too seriously. There is no creativity at all in any of the songs. Some tunes sound like they were left out of some early-mid 90’s Nadeem-Shravan albums. The way things are going for Sanjeev-Darshan, don’t be surprised if they end up becoming extinct from the world of Hindi film music after a year or two.

The album begins with “Yaar Badal Na Jaana” sung by the ever dependable duo of Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. The tune is very reminiscent of another Alka-Udit duet from Kasoor, “Zindagi Ban Gaye Ho Tum”. The song is very routine and doesn’t seem to hold interest for too long, given it’s still one of the “better” songs of this stupid excuse for an album.

“Tune Kaha Jab Se Haan” a duet by Shaan and Alka Yagnik is a passable tune, but the often heard arrangements (very similar to “Tanha Tanha” from Rangeela) ruin the song. The singing is competent but the lyrics (“mujh mein jaan aa gayi, dil dhadakne laga..” and “ek pal bhi ab rehna na akele”) are just too ordinary for the song to hold any interest.

“Masoom Chehra” is a solo in two versions, one each by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik. The lyrics are again just too familiar and Sameer doesn’t seem to offer any originality. Maybe he’s just putting together lines from his previous work and passing them off as “new” songs.

Alka Yagnik has three other solos on the album: “Baaga Ma Jab Mor Bole”, “Dil Le Gaya Pardesi”, and “Zindagi Se Ab Jung”. There’s nothing exciting about either of these songs, however, “Baaga Ma Jab…” can be regarded as the better one among the others.

I was excited to see Vasundhara Das’ name on the inlay card for “Rabba Pyaar Se Mila De”. However, I was disappointed again. Das does her best to save the song, but the lack of any creativity makes you want to reach for the “skip” button.

“Bhangra Paa Le” is sung by Anuradha Sriram and Udit Narayan, and no points for guessing that this is a Punjabi-style number. Anuradha Sriram has always excelled at these types of songs (“Chunnari Chunnari”, “Prem Jaal”, “Dupatta”, etc). However, this song is ruined by - you guessed it - the lyrics! With lines like “tu hain kudi Amritsarwali, dil hai mera Ludhiana” you can’t help yourself from stopping the song immediately. The composition itself isn’t anything new either, it’s just an ordinary Punjabi song one would find in a Hindi film.

Talaash is a good example of a bad soundtrack. The over-worked Sameer seriously needs to put more effort into his writing instead of just recycling his previous songs. As for Sanjeev-Darshan, this film is just another addition to their continuing list of pathetic scores. Let’s hope however, the film does offer what it promises to: loads of action and excitement.