Movie Review: Shortkut (2009)

Rating: 1.5 out of 5*

Starring: Akshaye Khanna, Arshad Warsi, Amrita Rao, Siddhant Randeria and Chunky Pandey

Director: Neeraj Vora

Shekhar (Akshaye) is a hardworking assistant director who is striving to become an independent writer director. He lives in a Mumbai chawl and all the chawl residents including the owner Kantibhai (Randeria) dote on him. Popular actress Mansi (Amrita) and Shekhar are in love but her gold digger parents are against their relationship. Shekhar finally manages to write the perfect script that would give him the golden break. Meanwhile Raju (Arshad) a good for nothing struggling actor becomes his unwanted guest after having been thrown out of his rented house. Raju manages to find a producer who would cast him as a hero if he gets him a great script. Meanwhile at the same time, a producer agrees to make a film on Shekhar’s script and even gives him the signing amount. But a greedy Raju backstabs Shekhar and steals this very script and sells it to his producer, Tolani (Tiku Talsania). Since he is a very bad actor, Tolani hires Guru Kapoor (Chunky) an acting teacher to train him. Smooth talking Raju manages to convince Guru to become his business manager as well apart from acting guru. When truth dawns upon Shekhar after Raju’s film’s trial show is held that he has been conned by the same person whom he gave shelter to, shattered and shocked he threatens to sue Tolani’s film. A hapless Tolani begs him not to since he was pinning hope on this very film since all his previous projects had flopped. Shekhar agrees with a heavy heart. Meanwhile, Mansi leaves her demanding parents’ home and comes to Shekhar and they get married. However, hard times fall on Shekhar as he is unable to concentrate on writing after Raju’s heartbreaking con. While Raju goes on to become a big star with his debut film becoming a super hit, Shekhar’s family life suffers and he starts venting his frustrations on Mansi. Frustrated, Mansi leaves Shekhar. How then a determined Shekhar rises up from the ashes with the help of his chawl owner and neighbours and manages to teach Raju (who is now King Kumar) a lesson and also win back Mansi forms the rest of the film.

Although modeled on a popular Malayalam film starring Mohanlal and Meena, Shortkut’s script is a mix of Hollywood films Big Fat Liar and Bowfinger (especially the climax portions). However, despite having a script writer of Anees Bazmee’s caliber, good actors like Akshaye, Amrita and Arshad and a prolific producer in actor Anil Kapoor, the film falls flat. One fails to understand why Neeraj Vora has made his every actor yell while mouthing their dialogues. While the promos of Shortkut have been giving the feel of the film being a full on comedy, it is far from one. The best comic moments in the film are the ones you have been watching in the promos, rest is full on melodrama. The initial portions of the film manage to impress you as everything happens with break neck speed hardly giving you anytime to think but once Raju’s con is exposed, the film drops pace and only manages to come to life during the truly hilarious climax. Anees Bazmee’s script is the main culprit here. Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is average. The item song featuring grown up item boys Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor appears forced.

Akshaye Khanna is a good actor but watching him yell almost every time while speaking his dialogues is not a great experience. Arshad Warsi as the wily star suites the role. Amrita Rao is good as always. Her much talked about hot avatar works and is definitely going to increase her fan following. Chunky Pandey is okay. Siddharth Randeria is very good and the motley of Gujarati theater actors who play Shekhar’s chawl neighbours are mirth inducing.

After you come out from Shortkut the first thing that comes to your mind is that it’s a wonderful opportunity lost by the makers. Though it aims to be a clean entertainer, it disappoints big time and ends up being a wannabe Priyadarshan film.  - SAMPURN