What is the best, efficient approach to do a quick forms based web project?
If you're just doing some one off data gathering, you could save yourself the work and use Google Spreadsheets ( Create New -> Form).  I know you mentioned spreadsheets, but once you've got the data you can export it and do what you want with it.
It's a simple solution and might not fit, but if it does it'll cut your time down to a couple of hours instead of a couple of weeks.
I am a database guy and its been few years since I did anything with PHP (no MVC experience). I now have to work on a Data Entry project - a form that a user will fill and submit data to the database. I figured this is much more efficient than a spreadsheet approach. 
All I need is :
1) Authentication
2) Validation of data
3) Submit data to the database.
How would you suggest I proceed? I have 2 weeks time for this project. Should I dabble with MVC and do it the industry standard way or go with good 'ol procedural PHP way? 
Some things I looked at :
1) Symfony
2) CakePHP
3) Django
Any ideas, suggestions are really appreciated.
Thank you!