The music of 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues' has opened to a very favorable response, especially with the song 'Mahi Ve' picking up quite tremendously with the audience. Vishesh Films-Emraan Hashmi 'jodi' has worked once again and though the film is not a romantic saga (it is actually a horror thriller by director Mohit Suri), Bhatt brothers have yet again managed to come up with a popular soundtrack for the film.

However, not many are aware that the soundtrack of 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues' hasn't been composed by Pritam. It in fact sees an assortment of composers with Raju Singh coming up with two songs and Sharib-Toshi, Pranay M. Rijia and Gaurav Das contributing with a song apiece.

Now that's surprising since it has been reliably learnt that after approaching Nadeem Shravan to compose music for 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues' [the duo had come up with a memorable score in Bipasha Basu-Dino Morea starrer 'Raaz'], Pritam was the next stop.

So why is Pritam no more a part of the project even after delivering multiple hits with Bhatts in the form of 'Jannat', 'Awarapan', 'Woh Lamhe' and 'Gangster'? Joginder Tuteja investigates.

How come your name doesn't feature in the soundtrack of 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues'. After all you were almost finalized for the project, isn't it?
Yes, I was all set to do the project after things didn't work out between Bhatts and Nadeem-Shravan. I am not aware about what actually transpired but then they bounced off the idea to me and I was all set to begin work with them.

I was excited about the project and was looking forward to creating the soundtrack since Nadeem Shravan had come with an excellent score in 'Raaz'.

I was a little scared because it was not easy to get close to the kind of standards that they had set. Still, it was a good enough challenge that I took up and even composed one song for the film.

What happened then? Why didn't you complete the album?
I soon realized that they (Bhatts) had already composed two songs with Raju Singh. By this time I had decided that I didn't want to work in a film which would have multiple music directors.

I shared my apprehensions with them and they understood as well. There was no bad blood, no controversy; it was all amicable.

I didn't want them to drop Raju Singh and just have me on board since that would have been unprofessional. Also, he had done a good job with what he had composed and deserved to be retained.

But he too hasn't composed for the entire album. There are others like Sharib-Toshi, Pranay M. Rijia and Gaurav Das as well who have come up with a song apiece.
Well, I can't say anything on their behalf. To each his own. It's their decision and I am sure each of them would have done a good job in the opportunity they got.

So what happens to the song that you had created for the film? Will that be retained in the film?
No, the entire point was to not have a song of mine in a movie where I am not a sole music composer. I have done number of such projects in the past where I have contributed with a song or two but I don't wish to repeat the same in future.

I requested them to use this number in Kunal Deshmukh's (director of 'Jannat') next film (tentatively titled 'Tum Milein') that stars Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan. They readily agreed and I am happy too since I am responsible for the entire score of the film.

On his part, Mukesh Bhatt too maintains that there is no unpleasantness around Pritam not being a part of the project. Over to the head honcho of Vishesh Films:

Don't you regret Pritam not being on board for 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues'?
Not at all, it's okay since these things happen. He is anyways composing for our film with Kunal Deshmukh and has come up with a very good score. For 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues', instead of Nadeem Shravan or Pritam, I have four musicians who have given five songs in total.

Each of them has done a fantastic job.

Your choice of music has invariably paid. One can see the result in the sound of 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues' too.
I am not an easy nut to crack and the people who work with me clearly know that they have to do something extraordinary to find their tunes making it to the final list.

We all worked hard to ensure that the music turns out to be yet another milestone in the journey of not just Vishesh Films but also Bollywood music in general. The film's music has surpassed all my expectations and has turned out to be even better than 'Raaz'.

Really?
Yes, it is indeed 101% better than Raaz. I know it is a big statement to make but with an industry experience of more than a couple of decades, I guess the least I am capable of is ascertaining whether something will work with the audience or not.