Sometimes a filmmaker and a music director develop an instant rapport, which translates into magical tunes. Take the combinations of Subhash Ghai-Laxmikant Pyarelal (Karz, Hero, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak); Yash Chopra-Shiv Hari (Silsila, Lamhe, Darr); and Nasir Husain-R D Burman (Hum Kisise Kam Nahin, Yaadon Ki Baaraat).

And so director Rajiv Rai discovered a partner in rhyme in composer Viju Shah. The duo joined hands in the late Eighties for Tridev (where Shah was conductor), followed by films like Vishwatma, Mohra, Gupt and Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat.

Sleek presentation and Shah's techno savvy music have always been a Rajiv Rai speciality, with the sole exception of Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, his attempt at a love story.

Surprisingly, in Asambhav, his latest, starring Arjun Rampal, Naseeruddin Shah and Priyanka Chopra, Rai receives little support from Shah. The latter's tunes barely impress.

If Tridev showed Shah singing the slow motion rap Paap se dharti phati, then in Asambhav, he mutters, Main to asambhav ko sambhav banata hoon taaqat mera naam hai in the opening song, Raatein badi hain.

The next song, Main sada hoon, is nothing but an extension of Raatein badi hai. It is fancy, yes. But that is all there is to it.

Montonous is the only way to describe Teri dekh dekh ladkaiyan, the Punjabi dance track rendered by Udit Narayan and Kavita K Subramaniam. It tries very hard to be another Tu cheez badi hai mast, but falls flat. Hard.

Anuradha Sriram suggestively purrs Mashuqa rubi, a crude number obviously aimed at those who hanker for item songs.

Koi aayega's electro-modern curves and beats are accompanied by Sunidhi Chauhan's spunky vocals. The song starts off promisingly enough only to disappoint.

Then, there is the Asambhav theme, with a good-versus-evil dialogue exchange between Rampal and Shah. For those interested, the music CD of Asambhav also offers the instrumental versions of all the featured tracks.

I tried hard to like the music of Asambhav. What can I say? The title of the movie says it all.