The most gorgeous portraits done by the best photographers in the world. An alarming number of pics of Aishwarya Rai, the most beautiful girl in the world!
From the now defunct magazine The Illustrated Weekly of India; Dimple Kapadia's turn in taking a shot at recreating Charlie Chaplin's look.
Gorgous Dimple with a fake wig, moustache and a ma's suit...
Karishma Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Raj Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and others in Bollywood and the Indian film industry have given it a go. A nod and tribute to a cinema icon. For our last rupee, we bet no one did it better than Sridevi in Mr.India - as you can see here.
Is there such a thing as an underrated Madhuri Dixit dance? Yeah, there are several!
MD - like we know her - ok, 'the' Madhuri Dixit is currently the finest Bollywood dancer alive on film and stage today. The recent lot of actresses - no offence - are no match when it comes to the lethal combination of dancing prowess, grace, expression and preternatural skill set that has been honed to perfection over time, practice and holy dedication. I don't mean 'whole'-y but as in divine.
What she has is God-given, you can emulate it, but not replicate it.
Some snowflakes took umbrage when, on the chat show Koffee with Karan, this exchange happened:
Karan: Which one of these item songs, could you have done better? Munni Badnaam Hui, Chikni Chameli or Fevicol?
Madhuri Dixit: All of them.
It was a rather off-the-cuff remark but never a truer sentence was spoken. She can indeed do a better turn than any of the contemporary actresses, bar none. And she proved it.
During her IIFA performance in Macau, Mrs Nene grooved to not only the usual roster of songs from her storied past, but did an original spin on contemporary numbers. And she simply excelled.
There's a fine line of difference between abhimaan (pride) and swabhimaan (self-respect), ahenkaar (arrogance) and wajood (identity). Her identity as a celebrity is deeply linked to her excellence as a dancer. La Dixit is a confident and capable artist who knows her merits - and is completely aware of her weakness and limitations too. She knows she can't do the rubber-limbed dances of Prabhu Deva, but she'll match him step by step when she can. She may not be able to do the aerial dynamics shown on current dance reality shows - but she isn't trying to either.
As a trained classical dancer who has dedicated a near-lifetime to the craft, the poise and perfection of Madhuri Dixit cannot be denied. You may not be a fan of the person or persona, but objectively there are few dancers on earth who can do what she can - even at this day and age.
Most Bollywood fans can reel off a long list of her incredible on-screen numbers with ease; the usual suspects like Choli Ke Peecheh, Ek Do Teen, Humko Aaj Kal Hai, Chane Ke Khet Main, Dole re Dola come to mind. Each of them garnered her choreographers several awards too - and Madhuri Dixit had a poised hand in it. Well, at least a leg.
Above: Dances choreographed by Saroj Khan for Madhuri Dixit in Devdas, Prem Granth, Khal Nayak and Sangeet
In the list below, there are a handful of dances that never get mentioned or counted simply because the movies tanked and the music wasn't as popular on the charts.
We paid close attention to the choreography and the perfect execution of the numbers. All you aspiring dancers, pay attention to the steps, her expressions and in particular, the sinewy smooth finish of her hand movements - she doesn't throw away her fingers at the end of a step, there's a polish from beginning to refined end.
I can't explain it... except through woeful comparison. A dancer that's often talked about but I can't stand to watch is Sandhya in Jhanak Jhank Payal Baaje (1955). Between the exaggerated expressions and the lack of finesse to her dancing - sacrilege! - yeah I said it, I find all the songs and dances painful to watch when she moves. She throws away her steps, there's an exhaustion of movement as opposed to completion of one. The exaggerated acting might have been indicative of that era of film-making, but we don't cringe at Nutan, Vyjanthimala or Waheeda Rehman's dances. They had a timeless quality to them - and we are pretty sure the same can be said of Dixit's diva-licious moves for generations to come.
Madhuri, even in her weaker films (Good lord she was a part of several God-awful movies) danced almost perfectly from her early hesitant steps on the cine screen. The rise and fall of her movements were not only in perfect sync with the music and lyric, she had the grace and facial mobility to entrance the viewer in imperfect movies. Her early flop films and remembered not for the merits of the movie, but the hit songs that she shone in, like Laila Mar Gayi, I love you, pyar karo choo... etc etc
The song that comes to mind, and really, the reason why we wrote this entire feature; Baaju bandh from Prem Granth. The title song of was a loud duet, the romance number shot in South Africa was... well, rather meh.
But this group number with several delicate movements is gorgeous. The perfectly in sync background dancers enhancing much of the number. Jungle main sher is also well executed by the garish colours give us a headache. Ipso facto, Baaju Bandh was chosen for this curated list of
Song: Tum Bansi Bajate Ho
Film: Khilaaf (1991)
Choreographer: S. Raghuram Satyanarayan
Chunky Pandey was... a lucky hero. A less than capable dancer, more comic than truly tragic, even the choreographers let him get away with whatever he could and diverted attention to Dixit. Even the song by itself sung by Alka Yagnik and the under utilised Manhar Udhas, is quite lovely...
Song: Tere Pyar Main Sanam
Film: Jamai Raja (1990)
Choreographer: Saroj Khan and Chinni Prakash* (*Don't know who did the choreography for this particular number as both are credited in the film!)
Anil Kapoor's efforts show - be it in acting or his dances. He's a good actor, often a great one, but a dancer... well, fortunately when paired with Dixit, he seemed to be better by osmosis and proximity. We love watching this little ditty - also for the nostalgia of the early 90s!
Song: Le le Dil
Film: 100 Days (1991)
Choreographer: Possibly Javed Jaffery - uncredited choreographer in the titles! We checked twice!!
Sun Beliya was the chart-buster that year from the film, but when it came to dancing, Le Le Dil and the lol-tastic Gabar Singh Yeh Keh Kar Gaya are better dances.
Bollywoodites have a short memory span, so here's a refresher; before there was Prabhu Deva, there was Javed Jaffery!
'The' dancer/actor most leading ladies were afraid of partnering with, as his choreography was next level, 99 percent of his co-stars never matched up... and then came Madhuri!
Not only did she match him step for impossible step, with her expressions and oh-so-pretty ways, quite frankly, she outshone him. Sorry Javed sahab...
#TBH, even you know when Madhuri's dancing - no one's looking at anyone else.
Gabar Singh's super fun to watch but the steps in Le Le dil are incredible!
Song: Saat Suron Ke Taar
Film: Sangeet (1992)
Choreographer: Saroj Khan
In the cacophony of the early 1990s, the mostly semi-classical songs and dances of Sangeet were such a jarring aberration on the charts. But for a handful of hardcore Madhuri fans, few have seen K Vishwanath's severely underrated film and dance extravaganza.
There are other songs that hit the charts and fared better in the Top Ten list; like Oh Rabba Koi Toh Bataye and Main Tumhari Hoon, which borders on the intentionally tasteless....
But as this listical is purely about the dance, the severely difficult semi-classical steps in Saat Suron Ke Taal is the only one worth watching again. And again.
It is neither Kathak, nor Bharatnatyam, its not Kuchipudi or Bhangra, its a mishmash of everything put together. Hema Malini on stage did pure classical numbers, Hema Malini on film did semi-classical Bollywood numbers. The extra inch added to the thumak, the gaudy dance outfits and makeup (the orange eyeshadow in Sharaafat title song would make Trump blush), the lack of perfection makes it all film dancing semi-classical Bollywood oddities.
Dance teachers across the region retch when you state you saw a classical number in a Hindi film! No! No you didn't. You saw a Bollywood number that's a soulless shadow of a classical number. It's inspired by but is a diluted version of a historic art form, for the new fangled thing that is film - created in 1913. Bharatnatyam's origins trace back to 300 BC! Kathak's origins trace back to the Mughal era. Film dancing is such a novel entity, its greatest exponent - Saroj Khan - just died a few weeks ago!
Ok, off our soap box; now to the dance, Madhuri Dixit in brightly coloured Amrapali outfits is gorgeous to watch. Jackie Shroff is another famed non-dancer (where did Tiger Shroff's dancing genes come from?!) she was partnered with, who strutted around sets, and rarely joined in. Man knew his brooding strengths, not his dancing weakness.
The film and song came out during the era and peak of Discman and mp3 players. This song - Jaane woh Kaisa - by the shrill Kavita Krishnamurthy is PAINFUL to listen to, as its in such a high pitch. The dance however, is breathtaking. Madhuri Dixit does a rambunctious solo in top light and darkened background, that's physically complex and exhausting - and she does it one glorious take so well. Not a great film, not a great song and poor lyrics... but we've seen it just for that bit she does with perfect execution.
Below; rare pic of Rikku Rakesh Nath (Madhuri's famed and feared manager, producer of the flop film), Madhuri Dixit and the choreographer of all choreographers; Saroj Khan, during the making of this finale dance number.
Post Script: BTW there are a few dances where the choreographer failed greatly. Either over awed by the stature of the leading lady or those who got complacent - cough cough Saroj Khan for the songs Idlee doo, Dil Loye Loye, Gale main Laal tie.... etc. which were not up to par. The problem is, Madhuri Dixit set herself such a high watermark, every outting had to top its previous benchmark.
In Madhuri 2.0; when she returned post marriage and children, all her song and dances have been incredible. The choreographers knew they were getting the best so they stepped up their game; be it Ghaghra, Gore Gore Mukhde Pe Kaala Kaala Dil, Aaja Nachle, Hamari atariya pe...
Now, if a song and dance routine is less then great, the fault lies entirely on the dance director. - that fear alone makes them excel.
To end this feature, need to mention the end of an era; RIP Saroj Khan. The combination of Khan - Dixit created headlines and history. There'll never be another like you.
Sadhana versus Aishwarya Rai! Bollywood icon of the 1960s Sadhana in a sari that looks alarmingly like... Aishwarya Rai's from her Cannes red carpet in 2013! Black and gold is not an uncommon pattern but this had us message Diet Sabya. lol
Which reminds us, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan was wearing Sabyasachi Mukherjee saree for the occasion.
Guess if everything comes back in fashion - and a saree is timeless!
Today, we celebrate the 91st birthday of the "Nightingale of India"; Lata Mangeshkar.
The great one was born on September 28, 1929.
Think it was writer/editor Dinesh Raheja who said, "In the pursuit of excellence only Lata Mangeshkar has fulfilled her journey."
One of the few singers on earth we can state has sung "innumerable" songs with a certain sense of accuracy, there is no hyperbola in that sentence. She herself has no idea how many songs she has recorded in all the Indian languages. There are too many contradicting fan and media reports online to verify the exact number hence, and ipso facto she has categorically sung innumerable songs! Lata Mangeshkar held the Guinness record for years (only to be beaten recently by her younger sister, the formidable Aasha Bhosle) for having recorded and sung the most number of songs. I'm sure someone online will create the precise list of all by the Mangeshkar sisters one day, but until then, here's a list of just 10 songs that are perennial favourites of many. Our list of Top Ten faultless, flawless, fabulous (was going for alliteration there!) Hindi film songs sung by Lata Mangehkar below. Perfect lyrics, perfect composition, perfect orchestra, perfect sound, perfect emotions, perfect pitch... just perfect, perfect, perfect.... Not an iota of criticism for the songs can we fathom. The list is in no particular order as the favourite changes according to mood and moment... Portrait of Lata Mangeshkar below by the late, great Gautam Rajadhyaksha. Wish we had talked to him about music; the man had encyclopedic knowledge on music, among several other subjects.
TOP TEN Lata Mangeshkar Songs...
Movie: Junglee (1961)
Song: Ehsaan Tera hoga
Music Director: Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyricists: Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra
Movie: Anupama (1966)
Song: Kuchh Dil Ne Kaha
Music Director: Hemant Kumar
Lyricist: Kaifi Azmi
Movie: Kabhi Kabhi (1976)
Song: Kabhi kabhi mere dil main
Music Director: Khayyam
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi
Movie: Silsila (1976) Song: Neela Aasmaan So gaya Music Director: Shiv Hari Lyricist: Javed Akhtar
Movie: Kabhi Kabhi (1981) Song: Kabhi kabhi mere dil main Music Director: Khayyam Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi
Movie: Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960) Song: Ajeeb Daastan Hai Yeh
Music Director: Shankar Jaikishan Lyricist: Shailendra
Movie: Woh Kaun Thi? (1964) Song: Lag ja Gale
Music Director: Madan Mohan Lyricist: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
Movie: Abhimaan (1973) Song: Piya Bina
Music Director: S.D.Burman Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Movie: Aandhi (1975) Song: Tere bina Zindagi se Koi Music Director: R.D.Burman Lyricist: Gulzar
Movie: Kinara (1977) Song: Naam gum jayega Music Director: R.D.Burman Lyricist: Gulzar
Movie: Razia Sultan (1983) Song: Aye dil-e-naadan Music Director: Khayyam Lyricist: Jan Nisar Akhtar
Post Script:
As we completed this ad hoc list so many songs that were left out came into mind... Any number from from the film Mera Saaya (Sachin Tendulkar's favourite is the title song), Tere Mere Honton Pe from Chandni in 1989, well, any song in that film by Lataji or Lamhe... an entire treasure trove from RK Films, B.R.Chopra films... We really should do a Top 100...
Today, 16 September is the birth anniversary of one of India's greatest photographers, Gautam Rajadhyaksha.
He did exquisite portraits of every major star, but his definitive muse was 'the' Madhuri Dixit. Easily all her best portraits were by him and him alone. Not only did she smile beatifically for him, the beautiful actress morphed herself as a model for his lens, as he experimented with light, look, mood and movement.
When Gautam da died unexpectedly at age 60 back in 2011, she was away in the US and couldn't attend his funeral. When she was finally back in India, she paid rich tribute to him at an event during the Marathi book launch of Faces.
The fact that the gaudy 80s brought to the forefront the sophisticated portraiture of the late great Gautam Rajadhyaksha is a miracle in itself. Some of his classic portraits below of the definitive leading ladies of Indian cinema; from the extraordinary Aishwarya Rai to the classic south Indian beauty Hema Malini, the soft lens dream that is Madhuri Dixit to the late great Smita Patil and ethereal Kareena Kapoor's earlist photosessions... No one captured the most beautiful women in India like Gautam da.
Can't believe he left us nine years ago today. Time stood still... and yet it flew by.
