Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Seeing Saroj Khan was believing that dancing actually had nothing to do with one’s body weight or shape. If one had the desire to dance, one could dance.
At 4, you taught me “ek, do teen…” At 10, I was twirling to “chane ke khet mein.” At 15, it was all about “dil ye bechain ve…” At 20, I had danced at least ten times to “dola re dola de dola“ before I mastered each of those moves…
Now that I think about it, your moves through those actors gave me the joy I could have never experienced otherwise.
All through the 90s and even the 2000s, I would wait for the next Saroj Khan song so that I could learn some new steps that would always be a hit among girls.
I must have been pretty young when I first saw her on TV in an interview. I was shocked to see that behind the petite actors dancing away to glory, there was this woman who didn’t fall in the ‘ideal’ body shape category of a dancer.
Because before I saw her, having a slender waist meant more flexibility in terms of dancing. I thought the more petite I am, the better dancer I can be.
Seeing her was believing that dancing actually had nothing to do with one’s body weight or shape. If one had the desire to dance, one could dance.
It was empowering and also heartening to know that behind all the songs I had been performing on, both in front of the mirror and in front of people at various gatherings, was this woman who didn’t even think about her body type.
She was so bindaas in that interview and I was a fan girl for life!
The delightful way in which she taught those actors how to move to the rhythm of a song was encouraging enough for me to dream of becoming a choreographer.
Of course, I wasn’t able to pursue that dream because parents in the 90s weren’t too keen on having their daughter make a career in dance.
But she remained my inspiration and I think I’ve to give it to her for never letting my dream of dancing die.
Dance is such an integral part of who I am and even today, with a toddler in tandem, I can start dancing at the drop of a hat anywhere anytime. From my toddler doing her ‘happy’ dance since she was 1.5 years old to making friends who’ve joined me in dancing on the streets and in our hostel corridor at 2 AM, the little girl in me will always be indebted to Saroj Khan for introducing me to dancing through that “ek do teen” song we watched on our black and white TV in the 90s.
Be it “mera piya ghar aaya” or “akhiyan milaye kabhi akhiyan churaye,” your moves will always bring a smile to my face.
Thank you is the smallest way I can pay a tribute to all that you were to the girls growing up in the 90s.
You made them stand in front of the mirror and copy your choreography a hundred times before they got it right! I know I did.
Rest In Peace my first dancing guru.
Image source: YouTube
A former journalist, a freelance content creator and a mom blogger who can be found scribbling away in her many diaries, when she’s not entertaining or learning from her young daughter. A spiritually-inclined read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
Please enter your email address