SHORT KUT - THE CON IS ON (''Shortcut'' with Bollywood's lucky letter ''k'') is all ''no-brains'' and all fun madcap affairs with array of bankable names to its credits. After the critically acclaimed GANDHI: MY FATHER, actor Anil Kapoor makes a comprehensibly commercial connoisseur move with comical ace Neeraj Vora [PHIR HERA PHERI (2006)] wielding the microphone. To add more spice and glee to this comical thriller, there is the ever dependable trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy along with their favorite lyricist Javed Akhtar leading the musical show. Comedies have hardly been high on their melodic quotient and so expectations are not predictably gargantuan, despite big names in it line-up. Can SEL extreme prowess be able to create another comical magic on big screen? Will this frothy comical caper has the buoyancy of rising ''cut above the rest'' in its league? Let's take a ''shortcut'' to our discussion and plugged on to this concisely packed album...!
In an era of recession, the word ''Money'' seems to be the hardest thing to arrive but catchy music finds another ''funny'' escapade to describe ''shortcut'' to success in eye-catching and ''street-smart'' sounding ''Patli Galli''. Javed Akhtar's sarcastically amusing talks about ''chamchas'' (sycophants) and means of ''shortcut'' of attaining wealth (through chirpy verses) and goes for the hilarious cinematic needs of the flick. Shankar Mahadevan's voice has those modulating tinges that are in tuned with jokingly flavors of the track. SEL may not be in their greatest form with composition that hardly boasts any great histrionics but still has captivating massy flair to make things pompous on big screen. ''Patli Galli (remix)'' is energizer from the first disco rollicking beat and the heavily loaded DJ beats and scratches makes mood booty-shaking for the floors. It's more on mechanics rather than beat-structure rhythms and caters for the discotheque needs.
After hearing titillating ''disco-qawalli'' thrilling maneuvers in the prelude of ''Kyun Hota Hai Dil Deewana'', it becomes clear that SEL are all set to recreate the euphoria of ''Kajra Re'' (BUNTY AUR BABLI). This romantic duet (big surprise!) comes closer to ''Saiyaan Re'' (SALAAM-E-ISHQ) but the quintessentially funky rhythmic pattern of the composition (in both westernized and classical Indian instrumental works) sounds like cousin to the ever popular ''Kajra Re''. Javed Ali is again in vociferous mood and its Shreya Ghoshal shimmering vocals that adds femininity to this massy number. Javed Akhtar's routine ''filmi'' wordings exude out a modest romantic exchange of chirpy wordings through the magnificence of these two leading singers. Gloss, fiction and loads of exotic beach locales are surely to be catalyzing the fate of this number and do expects some really hot dancing and singing when it come racing all the way in theatres.
SHORT KUT-THE CON IS ON sobers down (another big surprise!) to considerable mellow tones with traditionalism of sensitive emotions taking over in impressive sounding ''Kal Nau Baje''. The sentimentalism in piano drills (similar to ''Piyu Bole'' (PARINEETA)) combined with melancholic violin works creates decorum of ''poetry-in-motion''. Javed Akhtar's wordings are quintessentially 60's and sensuous out in nimble ''ghazal-gayaki'' tonality with lovable voices adding to the grace. Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik's experience and command over in romantic emotions coagulates appreciably in tender -paced composition. ''Kal Nau Baje'' is a decent-hear affair and adds substantial credentials to the album but is not cult romantic track that can be cherished for years.
Two-in-a-row! Disco-qawalli seems to be flavor of the album and once again composers prefer to rehash their all-time-favorite massy number ''Kajra Re'' in rapturous sounding ''Mareez-e-Mohabbat''. It adds folksy touches and loads of hip-hop to make it thriving ''fusion'' number in a format of ''disco-qawalli''. Nikita Nigam's nasal twang in rustic flamboyance leads the shows with colorful traditionalism coming in loud overtones of Kirti Sagathia, Hrishikesh Kamerkar and Shankar Mahadevan. The feel of eye-catching ''item song'' is unmistakable but it's moreover hi-profile face-value, multicolored costumes, vibrant choreography and flashy cinematographic skills that will finally decide its credentials on the charts. It's ''remix'' is a cult ''discotheque'' number where snazzy DJ spins and pumping beat-juggling coordinates well with the racy tempo of the track.
SHORT KUT-THE CON IS ON is short in contents and fails to be a cut (read ''kut'') above the rest with set of situational and item numbers in its kitty. The massy feel of soundtracks like ''Patli Galli'', ''Kyun Hota Hai Dil Deewana'' and ''Mareez-e-Mohabbat'' are playing especially for the frontbenchers while the lonesome ''Kal Nau Baje'' is a decent hear affair. SEL are certainly in not of their greatest form this time and this album is likely to be having more viewers in theatres than listeners on their audio systems. Against all odds, soundtracks like ''Patli Galli'' and ''Kyun Hota Hai Dil Deewana'' can be big surprise on its big D-Day, if presented well on flashy silver screen.
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