Pritam (along with Vishal-Shekhar) has pretty much been the go-to-composer for big blockbuster films that demand their fair share of chartbusters that are often composed for made-to-order demands, rather than their need to fit the narrative. Despite the manufactured approach in such films, the composer has often delivered memorable tunes, and well above average albums like he did with Once Upon a time in Mumbaai (OUATIM). However, now that Pritam is back with the film's sequel, he hits a dead end. The first song of the album, Yeh tune kya kiya, invokes the qawwali-like chorus portions of Pee loon from Once Upon a time in Mumbaai, but is not half as melodic as the latter. That it is one of the album's better listens is because of now-fresh-soon-to-be-worn-out vocals of the impeccable Javed Bashir and a fairly catchy tune.

The next song, Taiyab ali pyaar ka dushman, a reworking of Laxmikant Pyarelal's super hit song gets the flavour right but hardly adds anything to the original. The pulsating beats and the sweeping synths of Tu hi khwahish, transport one to Bollywood cabaret nights, but it is too kitschy. The tune is too dated to hum along, but Sunidhi Chauhan does well by lending Asha Bhonsleisque spunk to the vocals. Chugliyaan isn't a great song by any means — a standard romantic ballad that Pritam seems to sleepwalk through — but it comes as a breath of fresh air after an overdose of Bollywood kitsch. Overall, Once Upon a time in Mumbaai Dobara is a surprisingly bland outing by Pritam. The recycled sound of retro Bollywood sounds jaded, and the tunes too familiar to even register.