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By Joginder Tuteja, September 8, 2009 - 14:29 IST
MOVIE DETAILS
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Arshad Warsi, Amrita Rao
Director: Neeraj Vohra
Producer: Anil Kapoor
Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
THE FILM
A Rs. 100 stamp paper available in Bangkok. A mainstream commercial film being completed with entire pre-production, principal shooting, post production and promotion in 2 months flat. A bunch of no-gooders coming together and turning producers for a multi crore film with a mega star. A husband and wife separating without even a single attempt at any reconciliation. A complete non-actor turning into a superstar. A top actress not knowing that her estranged husband has not just become a director but is also shooting near her own film's shoot and even staying in the same hotel. An entire climax for a film within a film being shot in a reality TV fashion.
Now wait for this one. After a 30 odd days shooting, a junior actor turns out to be the hero of the film with the main lead, who has shot for the film all this while, being completely unaware of the proceedings.
Well, these are some of the many absurdities that one gets to see in Short Kut - The Con Is On which is a truly disappointing affair. The film seems to have been made in chapters, all of which have a different feel to them. Typically one comments after seeing a film that first half was better than the second half or vice versa. In case of Short Kut - The Con Is On, debate is around which particular segment in the film is worse than the other.
So while the first 20-30 minutes are still enjoyable since the context is set right for the narrative to move ahead, the going-ons only become weirder as the reels progress. The character of a complete non-actor (played by Arshad Warsi) becomes a superstar and this happens in like one minute flat. There is absolutely no hint around how this happened, no build up is incorporated in the script to show his rise or sudden stardom and worse, you don't even get to see that how he did something good at the least to have been accepted by the audience.
Raju can't dance saala, Raju can't emote saala, Raju can't say one line properly saala. But he is still a superstar saala. Kab, kaise, kahan? Don't ask!
Now if only the film would have stayed on the battle between the 'adarshwaadi' writer-director Akshaye Khanna and an opportunist/thief Arshad Warsi, then Short Kut - The Con Is On may still have been an enjoyable affair. In fact the promos pretty much indicated that. However, what you get to see is a story that is entirely Akshaye Khanna's with Arshad primarily playing a glorified supporting actor role. In fact the entire marital discord angle between Akshaye and Amrita is a big bore and over
stretched.
In fact there is not a single 'fall off your seat' moment in this film that brings with a horde of character artists, all of whom collectively manage to irritate audiences to the hilt. In fact Amrita Rao, for all the talk of her makeover, hardly has much to do in the film and completely vanishes in the final moments of the film.
PACKAGING
It is surprising to see the DVD of Short Kut - The Con Is On arriving on YRF Entertainment because traditionally the company hasn't picked up many films outside it's banner. No wonder, the DVD finds a glossy packaging for itself.
DURATION
The film's duration is 128 minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Making of the Film/Music
He is a great actor. He is a great producer. She is the most beautiful leading lady on this side of the planet. He is a director par excellence. The songs are just perfect for the situation. The screenplay is truly rib tickling. Etc. etc. etc. These are some of the many talks that happen during the making of the film/music which is as predictable as it gets even though Arshad Warsi (unsuccessfully) tries to bring in some novelty in the opening moments of this segment by merging his real self with his reel character of a spoilt star.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
- 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
- Subtitles in English/Arabic
- Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo
PRICE
Rs. 199/=
CONCLUSION
What is surprising is the fact that even though the film is sold as a comedy, there isn't much comedy in store. And what you get to see in the final version of the film also hardly manages to bring in a smile or two, let aside any full throated laughter. Short Kut - The Con Is On is barely watchable in some portions mainly due to Akshaye and Arshad who play their part with conviction but that's about it.
  
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