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Swinging to the beat
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Hundreds of dancers from Kollywood came together to honour their masters. Malathi Rangarajan reports
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Pics by R. Ragu
SOME YEARS ago, in a television interview, when the host complimented the actor for his stylish, innovative dance steps for the song "Yaaradi Nee Mohini... " in the film "Uthama Puthiran", his modest and spontaneous reaction was "All credit goes to the great Hiralal, who choreographed the song... I just imitated him... " The actor was Sivaji Ganesan and the host who interviewed him was Kamal Haasan. Watching Sivaji clap and dance for the sequence with a group of Bombay's top dancers of the time including Helen, is a visual delight for the discerning viewer even today.
Such is the importance that dances in cinema have had over the decades. No film can be complete without dancers, and dance masters, as the lingo goes.
Well-choreographed sequences can undoubtedly enhance the impact of a song. So the 30th anniversary celebration of the Cine Dancers' and Dance Directors' Association at the Nehru Indoor stadium, with much fanfare, was well deserved. Everyone who had anything to do with tinsel town was present. The stadium was packed with technicians, actors, and film buffs who enjoyed watching the glitterati walk in and out. The hall was so crowded that journalists who had been invited to cover the mela struggled to find a place even to stand.
Marked by camaraderie and goodwill, "Steps", as the show was called, saw big and small stars wishing their dance masters and their association with warmth. The emcees of the evening — Revathy, Oorvasi and Rohini — went down memory lane as they traced the hit sequences of the choreographers of the past.
Every dance master, including the present lot, from D.K.S. Babu, Chinni and Sampath to Kala, Cool Jayanth and Dinesh, were spoken highly of. Despite a hand injury in an accident the previous day, Arun Kumar did a well-coordinated jig with Nandita. After the sequence you saw him resting, with his hand in a sling.
Sundaram was known for his uniqueness in choreography in his heyday. Today, his sons Raju Sundaram, Prabhu Deva and Nagendra Prasad keep up the tradition. The old "Pon Maeni... " number, seductively sung by S. Janaki for Balu Mahendra's "Moondraam Pirai" and picturised on the sexy `Silk' Smitha and Kamal Haasan, created a sensation for its choreography then. It was Sundaram's. The same sequence was re-enacted on stage by Sangeetha and Sundaram's son Nagendra Prasad — but somehow, the magic of the original seemed to be missing.
Young hero Srikanth was all admiration as he gaped in awe at Kushboo, who, her girth notwithstanding, had a whale of a time on stage dancing to a medley comprising lines from her various films over the years. Whether or not you enjoyed the plump lady prancing on stage, you could not but appreciate her spirit and verve.
Lawrence and his group tried something different from the usual song-dance routine but safely ended with his recent hit song that had an incredible display of footwork by actor Vijay and Lawrence — "Tham thakka thai thakka... " from the film "Thirumalai".
Revathy described it as a "special treat" and special it was. As Ramjhee and his group danced, floated, rose high up to the ceiling and glided down with grace, all in perfect synchrony and with amazing co-ordination, for the popular "Thottu Thottu... " from "Kadhal Kondain", the number revealed a new dimension in choreography that evening. As Revathy said, the stunt masters behind the stage, who pulled the ropes tied to the two main dancers, in keeping with the momentum of the song, also deserve praise. The strength and stamina of the whole group worked wonders. Kudos to the entire crew!
However, the blatantly suggestive movements that you witnessed in certain dances can surely be avoided in stage shows.
The talent, diligence and commitment of the artistes involved were only too evident. The slug that followed the title, "Steps" called it "the real show" — it was, in every way.
Record step
THE MAIN event was saved for the last. After the crowd dispersed, the chairs were removed and the entire hall of the Nehru Indoor stadium became a dance floor. The dancers, 300 in number, twirled to the beat of Iman's composition "Idhuvae Engal Jeevan... Idhuvae Engal Jeevanam".
The simple yet relevant words had been penned by Kadhalmadhi. "We had rehearsed for the song for 10 days now... ", said Ramjhee, the dancer who had stunned you with his gentle, acrobatic footwork a little earlier. The purpose of the dance, choreographed by nearly 30 masters was to find a place in the Limca Book of World Records. "The next step would be the Guinness," smiled Ramjhee.
As he confidently adds, "No one has ever tried it anywhere in the world. And if we accomplish it, it will be a proud moment for all of us... "
Whose idea was it? "Dance master Raghu mooted it and we got terribly enthusiastic about the project," says Ramjhee.
All the 300 dancers are members of the association. "Totally we are about 1,200. But 300 of us performed in today's show. And it is the same group that danced for the world record," Ramjhee smiles gleefully.
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