Shortcut Romeo Music Review: A Massy Pacy Album

With filmmaker Susi Ganesh at the helm of affairs for Shortcut Romeo, one expects the music to carry a South flavour to it, more so since it is the remake of a Tamil film. However given the fact that Himesh Reshammiya is at the helm of affairs, that theory is entirely discounted. With as many as five distinct songs filling in the proceedings (with remixes to add) and Sameer, Shabbir Ahmed, Sanjay Masoom along with Manoj Yadav contributing as lyricist, there is quite some masti and mazaa in the offering.

The album kick-starts with a 'dhamaka' of a number - Pe Pe Pe. One may scoff at it for carrying inane lyrics like Pe Pe Pe and the ones that follow but the fact remains that it strikes you from the word Go and never lets go off it's pace right through it's four minutes of play. A hugely catchy number which also arrives in a 'remix version' and is all set to burn the dance floors, one is surprised that Salman Khan never caught a whiff at this number. Nevertheless, the one who benefits immensely is Neil Nitin Mukesh who is sitting on this chartbuster which has Himesh Reshammiya enjoying his time behind the mike.

For those who may question Himesh of giving Pe Pe Pe, he strikes back immediately after with a soulful number which is in the Akshay Kumar and Ranbir Kapoor territory when it comes to a soulful number doing the trick. If the composition is the kind that takes one into the Namastey London space, it's the voice of Mohit Chauhan that instantly reminds of the kind of hits he has given for Ranbir. However, and as before, it is Neil who enjoys the best of both worlds with Khali Salam Dua, an extremely well worded song with a serene composition to match that wins your heart and finds a place in the repeat mode. A winner!

Ishq Gangster is the one that comes next and has a music video to support as well with Neil and Ameesha Patel coming together. Carrying a Western base to it, one waits to see the kind of distance that it eventually ends up covering as the overall result is just fine with the picturisation too being decent rather than exceptional, something that would have elevated the song's prospects. Sung by Himesh Reshammiya and Vineet Singh, this one is also heard as a 'remix'.

One expects a similar treatment to Shortcut Romeo as well considering the fact that it is a title song. However this one has a different sur to it as it maintains a leisurely pace to it instead of turning ballistic in its very arrival. Reminding of the kind of mood that was created by Long Drive in Khiladi 786, this easy going number is actually the one that goes well with a long drive. Ash King is the right choice for the accented flavour that the song demanded and one looks forward to the kind of visual treatment that this Himesh Reshammiya song earns for itself. A shorter 'reprise version' comes next in Aman Trikha's vocals and is even slower in the way it is sung. However one's preferred choice is Ash's version.

One still remembers the beats and rhythm of Govinda Govinda from OMG Oh My God!. The same base is used for Jave Saari Duniya which has a jhoom baraabar jhoom beginning to it and could well mark Neil Nitin Mukesh's introduction in the film. Mika Singh renders this number which maintains a good pace throughout, though one can't ignore the fact that even the 'antara' portion has a similar setting as 'Govinda'. Last to arrive is Shortcut Romeo (Mashup)' though one has to mention that the one which stays with you is the sound of Pe Pe Pe that forms the base of this mashup.

Shortcut Romeo wins from the very factor that it doesn't have a single dull moment. Instead, it maintains a largely rapid pace to it which stays consistent right from the start to the finish of the album. An out and out massy album with a huge winner in the form of Pe Pe Pe, it also has a beautiful melody in the form of Khali Salam Dua which deserves to be heard for some good time to come.

Our picks: Pe Pe Pe, Khali Salam Dua, Short Cut Romeo

Joginder Tuteja tweets@tutejajoginder