In Punit Balana

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Another day, another round of movie promotions. And for this latest outing, Alia picked a Punit Balana suit. Wearing her hair up, she rounded out the look with a small bindi, big earrings, bright lip and pair of kolhapuri wedges. The look might lack novelty at this point, but there’s no denying she looked nice.

Alia Bhatt At Kalank Promotions

Photo Credit: Viral Bhayani

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49 Comments

      • Ummm, as one myself (and one who is obsessed with Kathak, Kuchipudi and Odissi) if you look at her performance in that song, it is as if it is paint by the numbers but in dance form. Either actors should undertake long-term prep (atleast 6 months) for such a performance or simply ask to be recused. There is, to put it as kindly as I can, no fluidity and grace in that performance. It is jerky and step by step in its visage. Now, Madhuri, who is classically trained has the skill. But this had to be a vehicle for the star to shine so the skilled one has to stand, lip-sync and watch in horror as the novice goes about her acrobatics.

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          • Perhaps the reason why the film Gods were so petrified of the prospect of having them dance in the same frame. The question is, why are audiences being led to believe that what is actually sub-par at best is actually a performance par excellence?

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            • Suvaqua24 The same reason why we are being led to believe this is The Movie of the Year and has The Love Song of the Year. PUBLICITY GIMMICKS.

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          • Agree with Suvaqua24, Alia’s dancing skills are at novice levels. Just dress and make up and jewelry don’t turn you into a skilled dancer. I was horrified to see the promo song where Alia is doing a shoddy job at dancing with Madhuri wondering no amount of money I get can compensate for the horror show that I just witnessed. Being a 90s kid, I am a huge Madhuri fan and can’t wait to see this special number that she is supposedly featured in.

            As for the outfit and styling, it’s getting repetitive.

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        • As a fellow classical enthusiast (and trained for a bit in Kathak) I share your feeling. Someone shared a video the other day of “self training in Kathak” and my mind was like NOOOO.

          Anyhoo, a lot of movie stars are NOT trained in any form of classical dance and still manage to do their job of entertainment. Sridevi was not trained either, and she was still a major movie star. I even cringe when Deepika does ‘classical’ dances, although Aishwarya and Priyanka (to some extent) are still able to pull it off.

          PnP, I know this isn’t related to clothes, but could you please please allow this mini discussion :-) pretty please :-)

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          • I always thought Sridevi was a very good dancer in spite of not being classically trained. I remember vaguely seeing a song with her and Jayapradha in it, and she outshone Jayapradha in spite of the latter being the trained one.

            I totally get the cringe for Deepika :D

            I know this is unrelated to the blog but since we are having a dance discussion, couldn’t help it :)

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          • Aishwarya is trained in Bharat Natyam for 7 years, that is why she dances so well. Deepika and Priyanka no they can’t do these classical dances.

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          • Deepika is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer. Aishwarya was trained in Kathak. They are both very good dancers. Madhuri, of course, is the epitome of grace and skill. She is the best classical style Bollywood dancer, period! Priyanka is not a patch on them and the others cant even compare.

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            • Sridevi was not trained in dance? Wow, this is revelation. Her dance on the instrumental piece from Chandni was a staple of all Bharatnatyam performances in school and I suspect is still popular. Always found Aishwarya very jerky in her dances. Never looked very graceful or trained to me although she may have taken classes.

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              • Haha! Take Sridevi’s Apsara dance to anyone who has the most basic training in classical, and they will not be able to watch. In fact, I believe Sridevi herself admitted that she missed being classically trained.
                Aishwarya has not done her Arangetram, but is still very highly skilled. Her posture is always correct (and no, she is not trained in Kathak, and it shows). Of course, Madhuri is well trained. But Deepika…I don’t know. I cannot remember one of her Indian or semi-classical dances that I have enjoyed. I am not going to bring the other classical trained ladies into the discussion – Meenakshi, Hema Malini, Vaijayanatimala.

                THAT SAID, of course the enjoyment of the audience has little to do with training in classical. Star power has a lot to do with why we enjoy movies, and therefore a dance by Sridevi or Deepika (ugh) can pass rather well. But I would request you to consider – it takes several years of training to get classical dances right (although less for Kathak). If you do an Apsara dance for a school function, please do not call it ‘classical’. It is not classical, unless you are classically trained. :-)
                Alia makes a lot of effort to get the look of Kathak, but to any one with basic training, she looks only like a good dancer at a school function.

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              • I learned Bharatanatyam for 14 years and not a single film song was part of our curriculum (and I learned dance from a very popular actress herself). If the dance is truly traditional, only real classical (i.e. Carnatic) songs are used. Whatever this song is – I can only imagine that it is the background for BN light/inspired performances, not the real thing.

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            • Don’t get the ‘cringe’ about Deepika. I think she is really graceful and her movements and expressions are still much better than the rest of Bollywood. Now, I’m not a trained dancer in Kathak either but found Alia’s performance really awkward to say the least.

              As per tohers, Madhuri is THE BEST we have and I quite like when Aishwarya and Deepika do folk numbers too. Priyanka and Alia are okay if they do not touch the classical styles. But yes, nobody comes close to Madhuri.

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            • I agree wholeheartedly! As a third generation trained dancer (my grandmother and mother are Kathak dancers) it’s obvious that nobody can hold a candle next to Madhuri even in Bollywood style dancing. Not even Sridevi. I’m sorry to those who pressed the thumbs down button but Meenakshi Sheshadri was the next best followed by Sri and the rest. Deepika and the current generation although capable are nothing in front of Madhuri.

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          • When I watched ‘Pinga’, I felt that Priyanka was able to execute it with grace but Deepika looked awkward, almost like an athlete trying to recall her choreography steps. Ash matched Madhuri toe to toe in the Dola re song and watching Ash dancing, I could see the Bharatnatyam training. Alia and Kareena etc. just look stiff and lacking the inherent posture and fluidity that classical dancers have.

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            • Word!!
              In fact, in Dola Re, in some of the feet movement, you can see that the choreographer (Saroj Khan) retained the Kathak foot posture for Madhuri and Bharatnatyam foot posture for Aishwarya. Aishwarya Rai is very highly accomplished as a dancer. She has not done her Arangetram, but she must have had great training or must have been a great student, or both. The only really classically choreogrphed songs in Hindi movies in recent memory have been Kahe Chhede in Devdas, and Mohe Rang Do Laal in Bajirao Mastani. Others (including the new Umaro Jaan and Hamari Atariya) can best be called semi-classical or folk. Again, Deepika does try but the lack of training is easy to spot.

              Sushmita Sen posted a video of her ‘training’ in Kathak. Cringe cringe cringe at her chakkars.

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          • Aishwarya got trained in Bharatnatyam for 12 years from childhood. When you learn these classical dances from childhood, you will have the fluidity and shapely feminine movements for the body when dancing.
            Deepika is athletic and when she does these kind of dances she looks awkward like athletic movements.

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    • This is Bollywood. Other than you guys and a minority like you, does anybody even expect a true representation of the classical in this entertainment genre? And thats ok too.

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      • As someone who can’t dance to save her life, but love watching others dance, I found myself actually looking away from Alia’s admittedly very attractive face while watching this dance. Her expressions actually looked pained which didn’t make sense in the context of the song. There wasn’t any joy in that dance and to be honest I think she does much better when she is doing something contemporary rather than the classical one shown here.

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      • No, as long as it’s not being passed off as classical either. But I do find it odd that, let alone the film, but in a press event, there is so much focus on her dancing, for seemingly people being in awe of her Kathak “skills” specifically. And that’s why people are making comments here. It’s too bad they have not released Madhuri’s mujra yet.

        Also, there actually have been some good classical dances in Bollywood – take Madhuri in Devdas (including one song choreographed by Pandit Birju Maharaj). And I think the standard there was higher – Sanja Leela Bhansali seems to appreciate the classical arts, and the movie was a period film. Even in other films, anything heavily classsical has generally been performed by somebody who has had some classical training – even if it’s not traditional, I think many actresses go to great pains to get it right. If this were a contemporary film where the choreography were Kathak-inspired, that may be fine. But this is a case where it is both being intended as being fairly traditional (as it is a period film) and the actor has missed the mark by 1000 miles.

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    • I’m so happy someone brought this up…I’m a trained kathak dancer and I found Alia’s performance too rushed and jerky..she isn’t cringe-worthy really but yes does come across as novice. I felt it was such travesty to have Madhuri stand and watch while she went on. Even her expressions were so wrong. I can only think of Madhuri having that grace, ada and ‘thehrav’ required for a stellar kathak performance.

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  1. Why does she always have to wear anarkalis! Why can’t she wear some normal muslin, linen straight Kurt’s with high slits?

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      • I cringed at the promo song coz she is just hurrying up to complete the steps. Expressions which are so integral to Kathak are missing or are Bollywoodish.Lastly there is no grace in her hand movements. Look at Madhuri s hands in that song and then see hers. Just Twirling 2 times nonstop is not Kathak. Her dance has been criticized on all online platforms. But Bollywood biggies are trying to pass her as next Madhuri

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      • OK I have to ask, since you have said it twice now – what does that mean? It seems that is a question in response to people saying her dancing is not up to par, so wondering why being a dance enthusiast matters – is it more abut trying, regardless of the end product?

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        • It is also the feet and the overall technique. For instance, when she does a chakkar, a well-trained dancer would finish a chakkar right within the beat, and without the feet landing here or there (mind you, one could have a not-great guru or generally be not that great. Just training does not equal a good dancer).
          Alia has made a lot of effort indeed. But her bhavs and her hand gestures give it away very very easily. Any one with training can spot someone else with training. It is like a cult hahaha

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  2. Bramastra promotions will follow this one so Alia will be pushed in our faces constantly for the next year, I guess. What SN above said – so much Alia fatigue!

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  3. I am a North Indian but I am huge huge fan of South Indian movies and South stars. It’s too charming, attractive and the stars are down to earth. Is there a website where I can check South celeb sightings? I don’t know, so I am asking.

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    • +1 As someone said, it’s Alia Fatugue rihght now with those boring anarkalis over and over again. I though they were dying a slow death. :/

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  4. Tbh even with a trained dancer I cringe at almost all Bollywood song and dance numbers including Madhuri’s. They are fun and popular but lack grace. Even skilled dancers like Vyjayanthimala and Sitara Devi ended up with a few OTT numbers.

    As for Alia I guess it really depends on the character she plays and if she is supposed to be a dancer at all.

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  5. Also Alia seems to be acquiring some smugness off late…not sure what that is. There is Madhuri and Sonakshi on the stage. Too tired of her anarkali looks and same expressions.

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  6. Would I be a snob if I say that I find actors breaking into a dance at public places like malls etc really silly…just brings down the movie star magic several several notches down…

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    • The RJ at the event forced her hand otherwise she was not willing at all. She might have seemed more of a snob had she declined with the janta present.

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