Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

Label: T-Series

Rating: 2/5

Karthik calling Karthik brings back the SEL - Farhan Akhtar team. No, Farhan Akhtar doesn't do a Rock On with this album, but Alyssa Mendonsa, daughter of key whiz Loy Mendonsa, does debut on the groovy Uff Teri Adaa along with Shankar Mahadevan. However, you won't be able to gauge the nature of her voice because of the flanger effect on her vocals – wait for some other time. Thankfully, Shankar Mahadevan sounds clear  Another highlight of the album is the extremely catchy Hey Ya sung by Clinton Cerejo, Loy Mendonca and Shankar Mahadevan – but does the album offer any novelty besides this?

Interestingly, Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale debut with a new age progressive track, Karthik 2.0 that sounds quite ambient - hopefully, Bollywood will get some quality scores in future since the two musicians have officially debuted as Bollywood background scorers. Unfortunately, that's all Karthik calling Karthik offers as the rest of the songs don't impress much 

KK's laid back country influenced song Jaane Ye Kya Hua somehow fails to hold. Another maverick singer Kailash Kher gets wasted while he sings Kaisi Hai Ye Udaasi in his inimitable style - it's something we have already heard from the folksy singer before  However, the title track Karthik calling Karthik does compel you to give it a second hear for its unique dark nature. For those who love to shake on any and every other track, elaborated remix versions of Hey Ya, Uff Teri Adaa and Karthik calling Karthik might work 

Except two moderately well executed tracks Hey Ya and Uff Teri Adaa, Karthik calling Karthik is disappointing – it's heartrending to realize the album comes from musicians who gave us memorable albums like Dil Chahta Hai and Taare Zameen Par. Can we have one round of such scores again guys? It's been long.