Ajay Devgn has written, directed and produced the upcoming film Shivaay besides playing the lead role. The last time Devgn multi-tasked in this way was in U Me Aur Hum (2008), whose soundtrack was left to the trustworthy Vishal Bhardwaj. Shivaay, which is being released on October 28, is being promoted as an action adventure film with little scope for music. The soundtrack is by Mithoon, with lyrics by Sayeed Quadri. Jasleen Royal features as a guest composer.

Singer Mohit Chauhan leads the first track Bolo Har Har Har, which has Sukhwinder Singh chanting, Badshah rapping and four additional singers (Megha Sriram Dalton, Anugrah, Parthiv Gohil and Mithoon) providing back-up vocals. Mithoon samples various styles, including EDM, dubstep and rock, and tries to create a medley that is dark and hypnotic. Bolo Har Har Har is too loud and busy to warrant an encore.

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Darkhaast is a song for the road. Sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Arijit Singh, the track has the tempo of a marching band mixed with the melody of a ballad. Mithoon focuses on the rhythm to match the mushy lyrics by Sayeed Quadri. The singers repeat the catchy hook line, “Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de,” giving the song a joyful spirit. It is the only track to put on loop.

Raatein is a lullaby in two versions, composed and sung by Jasleen Royal and written by Aditya Sharma. The happy version has a lilting flow with smooth guitar riffs. The reprise version is sung in a sombre, meditative tone with an echoing chorus. The layered arrangement of the reprise version holds more promise than the first one.

Kailash Kher’s high-pitched vocals are deployed for the paean Tere Naal Ishqa, about divine love. Mithoon keeps the composition minimal, with the emphasis on Kher’s voice. Kher is in excellent form, but the track sounds like one of the Sufi-folk fusion tunes he produces repeatedly with his band, Kailasa. Shivaay’s soundtrack has one cliffhanger of a song, Darkhaast, to hold on to for dear life.