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Star and her rising son

TAKE TWOVyjayantimala Bali and her son Suchindra Balistrike a conversation on acting,dance and more

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BONDING: Budding actor Suchindra Bali cuddles up to actress-dancer mom Vyjayantimala Bali

She remains Hindi cinema's most memorable dancer and Southern Queen who paved way for the others, snaking through "Man doley" and prancing around in "Chad gayo paapi bichua". Vyjayantimala Bali for many avid film watchers remains the eternal Chandramukhi from Devdas and the doe-eyed beauty with the milky face of Sangam. And dance aficionados will always admire her as a Bharatanatyam dancer who's held her own on stage for over five decades and continues to dance past 70. Her son Suchindra Bali, a law graduate from Columbia University, chose to move away from his practise to make his debut in Hindi and Tamil films. The lady tugs Suchindra to sit down for a chat with Bhumika K.

Vyjayantimala: Feels good to be together.

Suchindra: Yeah and we will be giving an interview together.

V: (To us) We're friends you know. It's not that mom-and-son kind of thing.

S: We share a good relationship. We understand each other.

Foray into acting S: We had agreed on one thing — that I would complete my education. I was interested in modelling and my friends coaxed me to give it a shot and get my portfolio done. That's how I did a couple of assignments in Delhi and pictures were splashed in Tamil papers. That's how it started and I've enjoyed it.

V: Now he's put his foot into it. (laughs)

S: I want to prove myself, and stand on my own feet. I've just started out. (He's done two films - Aaanch in Hindi and Kannodu Kanbethellam in Tamil.) I'm hearing two scripts and I want to come in, in a big way.

V: I never went to his sets even on a single day of shooting, but these two films were not bad at all. But today everything has to have a lot of hype, publicity and marketing. It never happened during my time but now it matters.

On dance

V: What do you think of dancing? Today the kind of dancing is not what I did in my films!

S: There has been a change in trend and you have to keep up with the times. But even now, there's no one to touch you when it comes to dancing.

V: Awww oh! (Drawls and laughs)

S: I'm fairly OK.

V: (Flying to his defence) No he's got a good sense of rhythm and he's light on his feet. He's quite graceful. He has to prove himself because dancing has become an essential part of films today. Every hero dances. (Laughs) One has to be flexible and agile. I was that and it helped me in my dance. Grace is important.

S: I hope it's there in me.

V: Even when he was acting, he would only tell me about the acting scenes. When I would ask him about what steps he did in the dance he would not do it! (Chuckles heartily) He said wait for the film.

S: I wanted her to see it finally. I didn't want her to have a trial.

V: But when I saw the film I was happy. I was pleasantly surprised and I said `Not bad!'

S: Yeah, but nothing close to what you did...

V: (In vehement protest) No no, no comparisons. There should never be any comparisons, because comparisons are always odious. You should have your individuality...

No role models, no image in your mind. If you have to struggle, you have to. Achcha, don't you remember, I did a very bold number. Which film was that? S: Sangam! `Main kya karu Raam mujhe buddha mil gaya'.

V: Of course!

S: And the best part was that there was no choreographer! (To us) I believe Raj Kapoor gave her the concept and a free hand to do what she wanted.

V: In those times it was a bold number. But it fitted in beautifully with the theme and concept. I would say there was no vulgarity, which I find today in the gestures and movements. Gemini Ganesan

V: I've worked on quite a few films with him and it's been like knowing the family. His daughters used to learn dance at my school. He always called me `Paapa' which is my pet name. He had no airs, no qualms, no complexes. And we made some successful films together, the most memorable being Then Nilavu and Vanchikottai Valiban.

What keeps Vyjayantimala, the dancer, going?

V: It is all the bhakti in my heart. And the three Ds - devotion, dedication and discipline. And this has been my upbringing, thanks to my grandmother Yadugiri Devi and my wonderful husband Dr. Bali. Of course, I've been so involved in dance... I enjoy doing it, and it gives me lot of satisfaction. I'm so engrossed in it that I don't have time for golf. I haven't swung a club for three years. Every year I take a resolution, and don't get back to the game. But this year I'm definitely going back to it. Suchi used to play so well. But he's totally given up

S: Not given up... (In protest)

V: Hey, c'mon, you don't even think about it. At least I do. And I miss golf. Whereas you don't talk about it or miss it. I'm very angry with you. Because you were such a good player with a natural swing.

(Both laugh and set off for lunch)

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