Producer: Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani
Director: Vijay Lalwani
Starring: Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone, Ram Kapoor, Shefali Chhaya
Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Midival Punditz
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Singers: Shankar Mahadevan, Kailash Kher, Loy Mendonsa, Clinton Cerejo, K.K, Alyssa Mendonsa, Suraj Jaggan, Caralisa Monteiro, Sakanya Purayastha, Malika Singh, Karsh Kale
Audio On: T-Series Number of Songs: 9
Album Released on: 16 January 2010

I always look forward to checking out Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s work’the trio is versatile, has really explored various genres of music throughout the years and has contributed some very memorable compositions to the Hindi music industry. Sure, Short Kut and Thodda Pyaar Thodda Magic weren’t OSTs to boast of, but who can forget gems such as Mission Kashmir, Dil Chahta Hai, Phir Milenge, Bunty Aur Babli, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Taare Zameen Par, Rock On !! and London Dreams? Anyway, so I got around to listening to Karthik Calling Karthik’s compositions, which I was looking forward to since the end result of the SEL-Farhan Akthar combination is usually magical.
“Hey Ya!” (4.17) is a catchy song sung by Clinton Cerejo, Shankar Mahadevan and Loy Mendonsa, that blends rock music with hip-hop beats. It’s a well-made composition. Perfect to sing along to and dance to with friends’nice steady beats’Javed Akhtar’s lyrics are rather average, though:

I see you walking through the door, Why won’t you look across the floor? I got to tell you how I feel. Oh baby you’re the only one for me. I want to get closer to you. I need to be closer to you.

“Hey Ya! Remix” (5.17) comes later in the soundtrack courtesy of Digital Boyz. Not a bad remix.

“Uff Teri Adaa” (5.06) has that familiar SEL feel’brings back memories of “Mitwa” and “It’s The Time To Disco”‘Nonetheless, it’s still pleasant to listen to’easy on the ears, light listening. I enjoyed the classical style rendition of Shankar Mahadevan (I wish other MDs used his voice more often!). Alyssa Mendonsa also has a nice, deep voice. Sadly, Javed Akhtar really does a terrible job with the lyrics:

Lehraaki, balkhaake, tu duniyaa bhoolaake naach. Dhun koi gungunaa le, gaa le, tu gaa ke naach’Uff teri adaa, I like the way you move. Uff teraa badan, l like to see you groove. Uff teri nazar, it says I want to dance with you.

“Uff Teri Adaa Remix” (4.06) by Udyan Sagar is a high energy pumping remix!

“Jaane Ye Kya Hua” (4.04 ) is a soft, slow-paced composition, and K.K. is the perfect choice to sing this song. The use of the harmonica also gels well with the laid back mood of the song. I just wish the lyrics actually bothered to convey something memorable’Jaane yeh kyaa huaa? Hum dono kaa yun milnaa, Aise paas aanaa, Jaane yeh kyaa huaa. Ab har pal anjaanaa hai, Dekho honaa hai aur kyaa? Jaane kyun lagtaa hai, Dheere se, haule se, Geet koi dil hai gaa rahaa hai’

“Kaisi Hai Ye Udaasi” (6.07) is a beautiful, tehraav filled composition. Although, I do feel the use of the flute for ‘udaasi’ waale songs is a bit clich’d. Kailash Kher’s voice is always a treat to listen to, but what really blew me away was Sukanya Purayastha’s rendition (at 3.59 into the song) and even the lines she got to sing are amazing:

Tu hi bataa eh dil mere, Maine toh hameshaa teraa hi kahaa maanaa hai. Kyun hai mujhe yeh gham gehre? Mujhe umr bhar kyaa bas yehi sazaa paanaa hai? Sapne boye maine aur dard maine hai kaate. Gaaye geet maine aur paaye sannaate. Aarzoo naakaam hai, Sooni si har shaam hai’

“Karthik Calling Karthik” (3.11) brings together singers Shankar Mahadevan, Caralisa Monteiro, Malika Singh and Suraj Jaggan (from “Aal Izz Well” and Rock On’s “Zehreelay” fame) has some cool techno sounds’Nothing memorable, though.

Midival Punditz produce the rock inspired remix version titled “Karthik Calling Karthik Remix.”

“Karthik 2.0” (4.06) is another rock flavored theme piece composed, arranged and performed by Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale. Theek-thaak hai’Nothing khaas.

I’m really shocked with the average lyrics by Javed Akhtar- there’s no doubt that the man is talented and surely knows how to write beautifully when he wants to but this time around his lyrics were rather clich’d and stale. If you’re going to offer lyrics in your composition then you might as well bother to actually write something memorable’no, that doesn’t mean you have to throw in Urdu words every other line’but for God’s sake kuch toh poetry daalo!

Overall, Karthik Calling Karthik is a pleasant OST with some melodious, easy-on-the-ears compositions including “Hey Ya!”, “Uff Teri Ada” and “Kaisi Hai Yeh Udaasi”. Nothing exceptional. More of an enjoy-it-while-it’s-recent OST.