My Favourite Dance Sequences - Part 1
A compilation of the video series I'd posted on Facebook plus one new video:
1. Chhaiyan Chhaiyan - Dil Se
Makes it into the list for the sheer concept of dancing atop a train to AR Rehman's energetic tune. Given the space constraints this could have easily turned into a slow boring number. Kudos to Farah Khan for making it look groovy with the minimum of leg movement.
It also helps that Rehman is my favourite composer ;-)
2. Satrangi Re - Dil Se
More Dil Se, this time with some stunning shots of Ladakh by an award winning cinematographer. (Check out Thikshey Gompa at night and Pangong Lake in the summer).
The choreography seems weird to the average Indian, but I think people would feel differently if this had been executed ...by trained dancers. (Shahrukh and Manisha exceeded my expectations of them, nevertheless). The choreography had many elements in common with how I'd imagined it should be done. Only I'd have the guy in muddy white clothes like a traveler who's been following his lady love far and wide and I wouldn't let them touch so much. Adds an edge to the longing that way.
This one's an ode to the kind of obsessive love that can destroy lives, like it does in the movie at the end.
3. Jiya Jale - Dil Se
One final dose of Dil Se. This was actually a somewhat disappointing number because sadly when it comes to anything even remotely Indian classical, Preity seems to have two left feet. Her winning personality, however, makes it somewhat bearable.
All said and done it's a beautiful song about a bride-to-be's anticipation and romantic notions about the big Day and you have the lush green Kerala backwaters as an added bonus. I love the kalaripayattu-inspired steps that the guys do in the midst of all those majestic elephants. If you've watched any of the real trained fighters you would realize that even a fight sequence is in some ways akin to choreography!
4. Nimbooda - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
OK. So, I'm really partial to that stunning blue dress. But, still it shows off Aishwarya's skills as a dancer and was fun to watch.
5. Dholi Taro - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Again from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. I remember gasping when I saw the dance floor in this song on the big screen for the first time. It looked like they were all dancing on flames! They were playing this song forever during Navratri. They still do.
6. Man Mohini - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Rounding off Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam with this sequence that serves as Aishwarya's entry point in the film. Yes, it's really a game of Lagori. But, even that can be choreographed! :p Love Shankar Mahadevan's singing as well.
7. Pyaar Ki Yeh Kahani Suno - Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.
As far as I'm aware this is the first time a Salsa number has been attempted in Hindi cinema. I'm not sure if Minisha and Abhay have a dance background, but some of those steps seemed a little tricky to pull off and no I'm not talking about the special-effects-flying through the air... ;-)
8. Sajanaji Waari Waari - Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.
Here's another one from Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. It's the maddest dance number I've seen on screen. If this was choreographed, they did a great job of making it look spontaneous. That's how people would actually dance (except for the stuff K K Menon does) in a random situation like this. KK had me in splits and he's my favourite of the lot. :D
9. Hoton Pe Aisi Baat - Jewel Thief
Now for something more classic. I like the song more than the dance, to be honest. It's perfect for dancing. I spent lots of hours as a child dancing to this one. I remember going completely out of breath and dry-throated dancing to the 2-3 minutes of energetic drumming towards the end.
The actual picturisation wasn't as energetic as I'd have liked but it was still good. From what I've heard, Vyjayantimala never had to do a re-take on this one and was applauded when she finished dancing.
10. Jugalbandi from Amrapali
An interesting Jugalbandi from the movie Amrapali. Love how graceful Vyjayantimala looks in this one. The idea of creating a rangoli with dance steps is intriguing. I've been told certain Kuchipudi dancers can do this.
11. Gori Tori Paijaniya - Mehbooba
Hema Malini is one of my favourite dancing actresses. I attribute her grace and beauty even at this age to the fact that she has kept up with her dancing despite having retired from films and also how she has turned it into a means of spiritual expression. It's always awe-inspiring watching her. This video showcases her classical dancing skills. The first piece (where she is dressed in yellow) is very close to actual Bharatnatyam steps. Enjoy and remember to breath!
12. Seductress Dance - Chandni
Sridevi playing seductress in Chandni. We picked this instrumental piece for a dance we prepared for the school annual day programme when we were in the 5th standard. Only in our version, it was Menaka trying to seduce Vishwamitra. I was one of the apsaras dancing in the background. :)
13. Hawa Hawai - Mr. India
The best gibberish opening lines in the world! lol. Sridevi at her comic best. I don't think there's ever been a leading lady who was so good at comedy. :)
14. Mohey Chhedo Naa - Lamhe
I like everything about this song. The music, the lyrics, the singing, the locale, the dancing, the outfit ... everything! It's all so soothing. :)
15. Taandav - Damini
Damini's enraged awakening from the stupor of induced madness. Excellent energy!
16. Jaa Re Hat Natkhat - Navrang
Sandhya is not one of my favourite dancers. Her jerky neck movements tend to get on my nerves. But, I love the concept used in this song: the same dancer portraying both a male and a female simply by doing an about-turn. :)
17. Aadha Hai Chandramaa - Navrang
Here's one Sandhya number that I really, really admire.
I suppose it helps that her necks movements are arrested by the 7 pots she's balancing on her head. :-)
18. Title Song - Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne
What a beautiful concept! :) Rajashree makes up for all the grace that Sandhya lacked! ;-)
19. O Babua Yeh Mahua - Sadma
This one is from one of my all-time favourite movies. Those who think that dancing men are effiminate never watched a certain Scorpio by the name of Kamal Haasan (who shares my b'day, btw) dance. ;-) The best bits are all after 2:33.
20. Fire Dance - River Dance
One New Year's Eve in the late 90s, Star World had telecast the River Dance show. It was an immensely entertaining set of performances by an Irish ballet group. In addition to the Irish tap dancers, there was an American (or two, I don't remember) and a Spanish lady doing their native styles of tap dancing.
The lady (named Maria Pages) mesmerised me so much so that this piece called Fire Dance became my favourite out of the entire show. She's graceful and powerful all at once!
This was my first introduction to Flamenco and the one that spurred me on to hunt down a Flamenco class in Mumbai and give it a shot myself.
21. Al Albacín - Iberia
More Flamenco. This time from the Spanish musical Iberia.
22. Radha Kaise Na Jale - Lagaan
This one make it into the list mainly for the final few seconds for both the singing and the dancing.
23. Mehbooba Mehbooba - Sholay
Which dance list would be complete without Helen? I think this is her best number ever. No surprises since the music is foot-tapping good!
24. Almería - Iberia
More Flamenco. This is an interesting group performance from Iberia. Love the fiercely independent lady who treats casanovas and knights-in-shining-armour with equal contempt :p
25. Irish Party in 3rd Class - Titanic
My Favourite Dance Sequences: Video 25
So, you want to go to a real party? Makes it into the list for the music and the madness! :D
26. Jaane Kiske Khwaab - Guzaarish
While watching Guzaarish on TV today, I was reminded of my wish to add this one to my favourite dances list when I'd first seen this in the theatre. Of course, the effect is grander on the big screen, but even on the PC, there is no denying the grace in Hrithik Roshan's movements. Truly magical!
27. Opening Sequence - The Black Swan
This is one of the best opening sequences in a movie that I've ever come across (from a dancer's perspective anyway) :)
1. Chhaiyan Chhaiyan - Dil Se
Makes it into the list for the sheer concept of dancing atop a train to AR Rehman's energetic tune. Given the space constraints this could have easily turned into a slow boring number. Kudos to Farah Khan for making it look groovy with the minimum of leg movement.
It also helps that Rehman is my favourite composer ;-)
Click to view2. Satrangi Re - Dil Se
More Dil Se, this time with some stunning shots of Ladakh by an award winning cinematographer. (Check out Thikshey Gompa at night and Pangong Lake in the summer).
The choreography seems weird to the average Indian, but I think people would feel differently if this had been executed ...by trained dancers. (Shahrukh and Manisha exceeded my expectations of them, nevertheless). The choreography had many elements in common with how I'd imagined it should be done. Only I'd have the guy in muddy white clothes like a traveler who's been following his lady love far and wide and I wouldn't let them touch so much. Adds an edge to the longing that way.
This one's an ode to the kind of obsessive love that can destroy lives, like it does in the movie at the end.
3. Jiya Jale - Dil Se
One final dose of Dil Se. This was actually a somewhat disappointing number because sadly when it comes to anything even remotely Indian classical, Preity seems to have two left feet. Her winning personality, however, makes it somewhat bearable.
All said and done it's a beautiful song about a bride-to-be's anticipation and romantic notions about the big Day and you have the lush green Kerala backwaters as an added bonus. I love the kalaripayattu-inspired steps that the guys do in the midst of all those majestic elephants. If you've watched any of the real trained fighters you would realize that even a fight sequence is in some ways akin to choreography!
4. Nimbooda - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
OK. So, I'm really partial to that stunning blue dress. But, still it shows off Aishwarya's skills as a dancer and was fun to watch.
5. Dholi Taro - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Again from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. I remember gasping when I saw the dance floor in this song on the big screen for the first time. It looked like they were all dancing on flames! They were playing this song forever during Navratri. They still do.
6. Man Mohini - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Rounding off Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam with this sequence that serves as Aishwarya's entry point in the film. Yes, it's really a game of Lagori. But, even that can be choreographed! :p Love Shankar Mahadevan's singing as well.
7. Pyaar Ki Yeh Kahani Suno - Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.
As far as I'm aware this is the first time a Salsa number has been attempted in Hindi cinema. I'm not sure if Minisha and Abhay have a dance background, but some of those steps seemed a little tricky to pull off and no I'm not talking about the special-effects-flying through the air... ;-)
8. Sajanaji Waari Waari - Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.
Here's another one from Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. It's the maddest dance number I've seen on screen. If this was choreographed, they did a great job of making it look spontaneous. That's how people would actually dance (except for the stuff K K Menon does) in a random situation like this. KK had me in splits and he's my favourite of the lot. :D
9. Hoton Pe Aisi Baat - Jewel Thief
Now for something more classic. I like the song more than the dance, to be honest. It's perfect for dancing. I spent lots of hours as a child dancing to this one. I remember going completely out of breath and dry-throated dancing to the 2-3 minutes of energetic drumming towards the end.
The actual picturisation wasn't as energetic as I'd have liked but it was still good. From what I've heard, Vyjayantimala never had to do a re-take on this one and was applauded when she finished dancing.
10. Jugalbandi from Amrapali
An interesting Jugalbandi from the movie Amrapali. Love how graceful Vyjayantimala looks in this one. The idea of creating a rangoli with dance steps is intriguing. I've been told certain Kuchipudi dancers can do this.
11. Gori Tori Paijaniya - Mehbooba
Hema Malini is one of my favourite dancing actresses. I attribute her grace and beauty even at this age to the fact that she has kept up with her dancing despite having retired from films and also how she has turned it into a means of spiritual expression. It's always awe-inspiring watching her. This video showcases her classical dancing skills. The first piece (where she is dressed in yellow) is very close to actual Bharatnatyam steps. Enjoy and remember to breath!
12. Seductress Dance - Chandni
Sridevi playing seductress in Chandni. We picked this instrumental piece for a dance we prepared for the school annual day programme when we were in the 5th standard. Only in our version, it was Menaka trying to seduce Vishwamitra. I was one of the apsaras dancing in the background. :)
13. Hawa Hawai - Mr. India
The best gibberish opening lines in the world! lol. Sridevi at her comic best. I don't think there's ever been a leading lady who was so good at comedy. :)
14. Mohey Chhedo Naa - Lamhe
I like everything about this song. The music, the lyrics, the singing, the locale, the dancing, the outfit ... everything! It's all so soothing. :)
15. Taandav - Damini
Damini's enraged awakening from the stupor of induced madness. Excellent energy!
16. Jaa Re Hat Natkhat - Navrang
Sandhya is not one of my favourite dancers. Her jerky neck movements tend to get on my nerves. But, I love the concept used in this song: the same dancer portraying both a male and a female simply by doing an about-turn. :)
17. Aadha Hai Chandramaa - Navrang
Here's one Sandhya number that I really, really admire.
I suppose it helps that her necks movements are arrested by the 7 pots she's balancing on her head. :-)
18. Title Song - Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne
What a beautiful concept! :) Rajashree makes up for all the grace that Sandhya lacked! ;-)
19. O Babua Yeh Mahua - Sadma
This one is from one of my all-time favourite movies. Those who think that dancing men are effiminate never watched a certain Scorpio by the name of Kamal Haasan (who shares my b'day, btw) dance. ;-) The best bits are all after 2:33.
20. Fire Dance - River Dance
One New Year's Eve in the late 90s, Star World had telecast the River Dance show. It was an immensely entertaining set of performances by an Irish ballet group. In addition to the Irish tap dancers, there was an American (or two, I don't remember) and a Spanish lady doing their native styles of tap dancing.
The lady (named Maria Pages) mesmerised me so much so that this piece called Fire Dance became my favourite out of the entire show. She's graceful and powerful all at once!
This was my first introduction to Flamenco and the one that spurred me on to hunt down a Flamenco class in Mumbai and give it a shot myself.
21. Al Albacín - Iberia
More Flamenco. This time from the Spanish musical Iberia.
22. Radha Kaise Na Jale - Lagaan
This one make it into the list mainly for the final few seconds for both the singing and the dancing.
23. Mehbooba Mehbooba - Sholay
Which dance list would be complete without Helen? I think this is her best number ever. No surprises since the music is foot-tapping good!
24. Almería - Iberia
More Flamenco. This is an interesting group performance from Iberia. Love the fiercely independent lady who treats casanovas and knights-in-shining-armour with equal contempt :p
25. Irish Party in 3rd Class - Titanic
My Favourite Dance Sequences: Video 25
So, you want to go to a real party? Makes it into the list for the music and the madness! :D
26. Jaane Kiske Khwaab - Guzaarish
While watching Guzaarish on TV today, I was reminded of my wish to add this one to my favourite dances list when I'd first seen this in the theatre. Of course, the effect is grander on the big screen, but even on the PC, there is no denying the grace in Hrithik Roshan's movements. Truly magical!
27. Opening Sequence - The Black Swan
This is one of the best opening sequences in a movie that I've ever come across (from a dancer's perspective anyway) :)