Dhokha Review {1.5/5} & Review Rating
Ever since the music release of Nazar, there hasn't been a single album coming from the house of Bhatts that has failed to create a buzz
around it days and weeks before its release. Kalyug, Gangster, Woh Lamhe, Awarapan - the list is endless as each of the films have
boasted of chartbuster tracks and have been in news throughout the promotion of the film.
Surprising, but the truth is that Dhokha has been an exception to the rule. In a rarest of rare scenarios, there is hardly any visible focus on
the music of the film so far. Agreed that lead actor Muzammil Ibrahim is a newcomer while Tulip Joshi is a relatively new entrant too, but when
have the stars (or the lack of them) made any difference to the fortunes of music from a Bhatt film?
Still, one hopes that this soundtrack by M.M. Kreem throws a pleasant surprise and turns out to be a much better experience than what one has
been fearing for. Sadly, in the end all the hopes are shattered as Dhokha turns out to be a disappointing album.
Kay Kay, the man of all seasons, who is easily the most versatile singer today, gets to sing the opening track 'Anjana'. Boasting of an
unconventional tune and setting with good support from western arrangements, it starts off quite while with a 'mukhda' that instantly catches
your attention. Nevertheless the 'antaras' which follow do not carry a similar punch as the song gets into a situational mode.
Shakeel Azmi's lyrics are thoughtful and later M.M. Kreem himself comes behind the mike to do his own take on the song. Singing at a low pitch,
he does a decent job though one tends to prefer the Kay Kay version.
Guest composer and singer Shiraz Uppal is roped in for 'Roya Re' that has lyrics by Sayeed Quadri. If you have been fond of music coming
from the other side of the border and have been following Pakistani pop genre music in Bhatt films for last few years, chances are good that you
would find 'Roya Re' interesting too. The song follows a similar soft-rock approach as heard in dozen odd songs belonging to the same
genre in last few months.
A track with sad undertones, it has a decent tune and rendition by Shiraz Uppal. As expected, there is a 'remix version' by DJ Suketu making in
appearance towards the end of the album though the end result isn't anything spectacular.
Now this could well be one of the most listless title tracks (especially from a Bhatt film) ever heard in recent times. Neither Rafaquat Ali Khan's
voice works for 'Dhokha' nor does the chorus crooning of the words 'Dhokha Dhokha' make much of an impression. Agreed that the
theme of the film is justified through lyrics by Khusbir Singh Shaad & Bharat Bhushan Pant but if one hears closely, the song sounds like an
opening credit title roll of a television thriller serial. Blame it on the tune. Period.
There was not much point of creating a remix for a song that is hardly any good in it's original shape too but probably the makers/music
company thought otherwise. Result? A track which you want to skip within one minute of it being on.
For the first time in the album a female voice is heard with the arrival of 'Kab Tujhe'. Though Shreya Ghoshal is at the helm of affairs along
with Kay Kay, somehow her rendition style comes quite close to that of Anuradha Paudwal. A weak track that drags rather than infuse any feeling
of love in the air, it comes across as a song from the 90s. There is also a heavy influence from down South, especially in the way orchestra for the
song is set. Disappointing.
One's worst fears about the album come true after hearing it in totality as not a single track stands out which has a chartbuster written on it. At
maximum, an 'Anjana' or a 'Roya Re' hold your attention for a while but that's about it. Dhokha is clearly one of the most lukewarm
albums coming from the house of Bhatts in last many years.
