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So you think you can dance!

With ABCD2 set to hit theatres, we examine why purely dance-based films are rarely made in Bollywood

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If there’s one thing in which Bollywood excels it’s the song and dance routine that forms an integral part of our films. Not to mention the item numbers that can often change the fortunes of a film. Even if the film fails, the item number is a big hit with the masses. In such a scenario, it’s strange that Bollywood’s track record of dance-based films is dismal. Musicals you’ll find aplenty, but dance-centric movies are few and far between. And even among those that have been made over the last two decades like Naach, Aaja Nachle, Chance Pe Dance and  Dil To Pagal Hai hardly a couple of them been successful. In contrast, whenever Hollywood, which is high on action and special effects, has churned out a dance-based film it has hit the bull’s eye. Whether it’s the Step Up series, Dirty Dancing or Flashdance, most of their films have been blockbusters.  

Interestingly, dance thrives on our small screen. There are several dance-based reality shows like Dance India Dance, Nach Baliye and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa that are still going strong. Yet, when it comes to films, the number is less with established actors shying away from purely dance-based films. After Hrs explores

Dance films not exciting?
 Trade analyst Amul Mohan says, “Reality dance shows have a good spin on that with celebrities dancing. But in films we need that X factor. We don’t make that many dance-centric films because we don’t like that genre. We don’t get excited by it.”

Agrees trade expert Komal Nahta adding that since not many dance films have done well, audiences are wary of such films and “view them with a bit of suspicion”. 

The problem, says Mohan, is that even dance-based films like Naach or Chance Pe Dance have another angle to it. While Naach delved into the film industry, a reality show formed the premise of the latter.  The only purely dance film that did well according to him was ABCD for the budget in which it was made.  “However, another film in the same genre, MAD did not do well though it was similar - in the sense that it had newcomers, was exclusively about dance and backed by a big production house. We need to have good marketing strategies for these films,” he reasons. 

Good music

However, Nahta feels that for a dance film to do well, it is essential that the music is hit. “Also, it needs a supremely talented dancing hero/heroine/both, depending upon the script. Except for a handful, we don't have exceptional dancers,” he reckons. Another problem he says that is different states have different dance forms it is difficult to satisfy all with a particular dance form. “What's more, most dance films made with youngsters have western dances which may not find a large number of takers,” he reckons.

However, trade pundit Taran Adarsh is of the firm view that one can’t compartmentalise films. “You can’t say that dance- based films don’t work. There have been films like  Disco Dancer and Dance Dance that have done well. Also, dance-based film doesn’t mean you have to rely only on music. Content is equally important,” he says. Agrees Chetan Bhagat who is all set to judge a dance reality show and whose several books have been adapted to films. He says, "Even a dance film needs a good storyline. You need someone who understands dance and film and maybe I am trying to do that through this show. I would love to write a dance film."

The best dancer
When asked which actor they would love to see in a dance film, Mohan said Hrithik Roshan. “Even Varun (Dhawan) is a good dancer and his upcoming film ABCD2 has generated a lot of buzz in the trade. In the last few years, no mainstream actor has done a dance-based film, which is why Varun and Shraddha (Kapoor) doing it has created a lot of intrigue,” says Mohan.  Adarsh says all the actors are good at dancing and wouldn’t mind seeing anybody in a dance film, but for Nahta it’s Hrithik hands-down “because there's nobody better than him”!  

Old dance-based films that did well

Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje: Directed by V Shantaram in 1955 it was a story of love and betrayal in the backdrop of dance. It had some evergreen dance numbers including the title track and Nain Se Nain Nahi Milao. It starred the legendary kathak dancer Gopi Krishna and Sandhya.

Navrang: This 1959 film made by V Shantaram was a celebration of song and dance and is still remembered for Sandhya’s dances and melodies like Are Ja Re Hat Natkhat, Tu Chhupi Hai Kaha and Aadha Hai Chandrama in which she danced balancing 10 pots on her head.

Disco Dancer:  Mithun Chakraborty made his entry as the dancing hero with this film that shaped the actor’s career. His unique and inimitable dancing style heralded the disco era in Bollywood. He followed it up with another dance film Dance Dance.

Three actors we would love to see in a dance film
 
Tiger Shroff: A self-confessed fan of Michael Jackson, Tiger himself is a skilled dancer and showed off his perfect moves in Heropanti. The other dancing sensation Hrithik Roshan was hugely impressed with the newbie’s MJ tribute and had tweeted, “Wah Tiger! You are sheer magic! Check him out guys.” Indeed, we would like to see this young actor doing purely a dance film. We suggest, he ask his Turbanater director Remo D Souza to cast him in ABCD3!  
 
Siddharth Malhotra: If Varun Dhawan impressed people with his flawless moves in Student Of The Year, Siddharth Malhotra was no less. He gave a worthy takkar to Varun in the dance sequences in Disco Deewane and Radha Teri Chunari. It’s a different thing that we haven’t this Ek Villain dancing much in films after that. We are sure, given a chance, the actor can give the Varuns and Tigers a run for their dancing shoes.    
 
Sushant Singh Rajput: He proved he’s good at jasoosi in his last release Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, but Sushant did you know is a good dancer too. He did give a jhalak of his moves in Shuddh Desi Romance, but the kind of films he has been doing, there doesn’t seem much scope for him to shake a leg. For those who came in late, Sushant displayed his dancing prowess with his rocking performances in the dance reality Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4, which he won. Hope somebody exploits this talent of his and get him to dance like never before!

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