The country’s biggest movie star Salman Khan and Hindi film industry’s premiere film studio Yash Raj Films join hands for the first time in Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger. No surprise then, that the release of this action-thriller is touted to be the event of the year. The film is expected to generate gargantuan cash flows and shatter previous records at the box office. The soundtrack of this hugely awaited flick features Sohail Sen as the music director and Sajid-Wajid as guest composers.

The album kicks off with Mashallah, the perkiest track of the lot. Though Sajid-Wajid play it safe by sticking to the conventional Middle Eastern template, it’s the stylised vocals of Wajid and Shreya that lift this routine dance number a notch higher. Of course, the allure of Katrina Kaif swaying to Arabic beats will only make it more watchable on the big screen. Banjaara (Sukhwinder Singh) is a mélange of Irish and Bollywood filmi sounds. Mishra’s lyrics are drab but the concoction of violins, guitars, drums and Sukhwinder Singh’s energetic rendition make it quite an enjoyable affair. The chorus and the clapping effect also give it a festive rhythm.

Palak Muchhal sounds startlingly similar to Shreya Ghoshal in Laapata, a lacklustre composition that derives heavily from Spanish and Cuban rhythms. Even KK’s charm doesn’t make this one click. Saiyaara, however, is a beautifully composed melody. Taraannum Mallik’s superb soft vocals play the perfect foil to Mohit Chauhan’s high-pitched rendition in this charming romantic track. The music piece Tiger’s Theme (Julius Packiam) is unexpectedly bland.

Ek Tha Tiger is an average album, which is disappointing given the hype around the film.

Verdict: Not good enough