Roadside Romeo

Yashraj Films (YRF) first tryst with animation strikes big with "ROADSIDE ROMEO", in alliance with giants Walt Disney Pictures. That blossoms out on the big screen with the voice-over of actors like Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kappor and Javed Jaffery for lead characters. It's an experimental in its exhibit and marks the directorial debut of cherubic actor-turned-director Jugal Hansraj in the marquee. Salim-Suleiman, now a favorite with YRF (NEAL N NIKKI, AAJA NACHLE, CHAKDE INDIA and RAB NE BANA DI JODI) makes their first major attempt at animation project with Jaideep Sahni penning out the essentials. Their combination worked wonders in CHAKDE INDIA but animation is an all-together different genre. Do they click as a team again? Even YRF has just one musical success with BACHNA AE HASEENO lately and now ROADSIDE ROMEO comes out as their next big hope of this year. Will the competence of Salim-Suleiman be delivering out another FASHION for esteemed Yashraj Films? Do find this out!

The vibrant arrival of vivaciously cute dog "Romeo" pump starts with a fervor of enthused chorals and rigorous arrangements in the title track "Main Hoon Romeo". Salim-Suleiman imbues the binge of "Neal "n" Niki" (NEAL N NIKI) in its rigorous tempo, signature tune and composition where Kunal Ganjawala's vociferous vigour sets the pace. It's an engrossing mix and match of genres and it's primarily "jazz" cum pop that rules with strong impulse of percussive elements and thriving horns in its loud backdrop. Jaideep Sahni's bouncy lyrical jumbles up with ease and matches pace with the boisterously paced composition. This impressive situational number may not be trailblazing but certainly jesters up all the synchronized comical acts of the bubbly protagonist in its lively melodic display. John Stewart along with Salim Merchant makes commotion of disco zing as this snooty title track "remix" gets spiced up with booming disco beat fillers. It's another party-loving that is likely to be having substantial takers among disco-freaks.

"Choo Le Na", a typical club-night "Crooner" track comes out in 80's retro feel of "Panchamda" style of music with notable Sunidhi Chauhan making all hot-shots in her svelte tones. The bombastic outrage of "Laila O Laila" (QURBANI (1980)) with tinge of "Halla Re" (NEAL N NIKKI) in spicy flavor of Latino Salsa musical madness is enthralling but the over-energized and jarring orchestrations makes it hostile at places. KK's added vocals lights up affair while Sudesh Bhonsle's gruffly back-up vocals (similar to R.D Burman) add animatedly villainous touches. It's again a challenging task for the visual displays to emote every animated act but its "remix" version by DJ Suketu has much in store for party animals. It's a blazing "club" remix work that impromptu in its echoing and booming DJ beats and beat juggling and works well to evoke commotion on floors.

"Cool Cool", a preachy number about rules to be stylishly cool is an emceeing attribute by its lead actors Saif Ali Khan and Javed Jaffry in their jittery baritones. "Cool Cool" is presumed to be strong in its humor quotient and this chirpy tete-a-tete is likely to be sizzling out melodramatically witty animation on big screen. Naresh Kamath's fresh voice impresses to hilt in varying shades while Marianne D'Cruz back-up works with the feel and tempo of the track.