Ek Chalis Ki Last Local 

It is exciting times for Bollywood with plot driven films coming up with great regularity in practically every month. One such film is Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, the debut film of writer-director Sanjay Khanduri. Gearing up for release at just the right time after being in the making for around 1 and a half years, the film tells the story through the eyes of Abhay Deol who has his world changing around him in a matter of hours as he becomes richer by 2.5 crores in 2.5 hours.

A Quartet Film that is presented by Bharat Shah, ECKLL has an ensemble musical score with Call The Band, Sandesh Shandilya, Ankur, Tknow Frankcorsi and Aqueel & Sanjiv coming up with a song apiece. With expectations of something genuinely different in the album that has songs composed for the situations, one plays on ECKLL. What you get is a soundtrack that is a mix of different and routine numbers with at least a couple of nice sounding tracks.

Opening with Abhay Deol's narration of the punch line ''Wo Kehte Hain Na, Jo Hota Hai Acche Ke Liye Hota Hai...Galat Kehte Hain", the number 'Laree Choote' has the sound of chugging away of a train in the background. From this point on the theme music begins that has Xulfi of Call The Band writing and rendering the number.

Revolving around how life changes its course with situations and circumstances, 'Laree Choote' is a well orchestrated number with guitar as an instrument which is a steady companion and also a female voice in the background (why hasn't she being credited?). A promotional track that has a rock base to it while giving an experience of a new sound, it moves at a decent pace without letting the music take over the essence of the song. DJ Suketu and Aks come up with a 'remix version' at the end of the album which is obviously fast paced and has that zing effect in it which makes it a good club/dance floor track.

Sandesh Shandilya, who gave some delightful music for Abhay Deol's 'Socha Na Tha', teams up with 'Ekka Chauka', a number that is seemingly set in a bar with a game of cards being on. While you expect a routine dance bar song here, there is a surprise in store as the track turns out to be European in feel with saxophone playing a major role throughout its 3 and a half minute duration.

Crooned mainly by Alisha Chinai with Sandesh Shandilya chipping in with a husky tone to croon the title lyrics 'Ekka Chauka Satta Aththa', the number has a haunting appeal to it with a good situational feel to go with the dark comedy mood of the film. Later in the album comes the 'Title version' by composer Tknow Frankcorsi which is only slightly different with arrangements being touched upon without any change in the mood and essence of the overall flow/tune of the song.

Ankur Tewari comes with an all-around show with 'Bheegi Seeli Si' which is written, composed and sung by him. First romantic number of the album that has a jazz and pop feel to it [with arrangement by Ranjit Barot], 'Bheegi' is about this guy who is thinking about this pretty girl who is walking besides him on a beautiful night. For the lovers of Indi-pop music, this one is a must hear, as Ankur doesn't aim at doing anything out of the box but follows a genre that works well with the youth. If promoted well, this could be a good song to catch up for the campus festivals and works.

Frankcorsi comes up with a two versions of 'Akh', a 'Film' and 'Dance' version. The weakest number of the album so far with forgettable lyrics that go like 'Akh Lad Gayi Tere Naal Soniye; Ho Jaaye Kuk-du-ka-du'. Even though the number has been arranged as a techno track, it doesn't do much to salvage the basic tune and mood of the song that is plain average. Rendered by Rashmi and Anoushka in the film and dance version respectively (there is nothing much different in the two), 'Akh' is so boring that you want to get on to the next number even as you are mid-way through.

After 'Ekka Chauka', Alisha Chinai returns with 'Panga' where she teams up with Sonu Nigam. A theme track about this couple which has missed their last local and now find themselves in all sorts of 'pangas', this rhythmic track has an Indian base to it. What one observes though in this Aqueel & Sanjiv composed and Mehboob written song is the fact that with the kind of tune they had in hand, they could have easily used it as a peppy romantic number too rather than a situational track like this which at most would play in the background at places.

'Ek Chalis Ki Last Local' was never meant to be a musical and it isn't either with the kind of numbers it has in the offering. Though 'Akh' is a downer with 'Panga' being hardly the number one may want to hum around, theme track 'Laree Choote' followed by a new sound in 'Ekka Chauka' makes you give these number additional hearings. And for those who have their heart lost out to the one they love, there is a 'Bheegi Seeli Si' to be played on. Overall, a fair score.