“For me it is not just about shaking my hands and feet or moving to a rhythm. It just comes from my soul. It’s a very spiritual thing for me whether it is a Western number or an Indian one.” ~ Madhuri Dixit
These are the words said by dancing diva “madhuri dixit” for her much appreciated skill- ‘dance’.
The name ‘Madhuri” has became synonym for dancing talent. In fact whenever we think of Madhuri Dixit, the first thing which strikes the mind is her dance sequence in different films, which became pretty famous. She is not only a dancer but a very endowed actress also. She is gorgeous beautiful and stunning. Her attractive smile holds heart of millions. She is very often refereed to as the “dancing queen of Bollywood” and people are simply mesmerized by her dancing style
Known as Madhuri Dixit in the Bollywood film industry, her full name is Madhuri Shankar Dixit. She is one of the famous Bollywood actresses who made her acting debut in the late 1980’s. Born in an orthodox Marathi Brahmin family, she was one of the Bollywood heart throbs, who wooed audiences not only through her acting skills but also with her dancing skills. Through her entire acting career, which started in late 1980’s and continued till the late 1990’s, she won many awards and recognitions for her dance as well as her acting abilities.In fact whenever we think of Madhuri Dixit, the first thing which strikes the mind is her dance sequence in different films, which became pretty famous.
Madhuri Dixit made her acting debut in Abodh in 1984. After a few minor and supporting roles in movies like Dayavan and Vardi, she landed the lead female role in Tezaab (1988), for which she received her first Filmfare nomination. This dance is considered one of her best performances and is listed on everyone’s favorite list. The energetic choreography is a mixture of modern and classical Indian steps, and Madhuri dances it effortlessly. . This song was choreographed by the famous choreographer Saroj Khan and the popularity of the song reached such a stage, that it became almost a national anthem which was being sung by every one.
She then starred in a number of films that included Ram Lakhan (1989), Parinda (1989), Tridev (1989), Kishen Kanhaiya (1990) and Prahaar (1991). In 1990, Dixit starred in Indra Kumar's romantic-drama Dil. She played the role of Madhu Mehra, a rich and arrogant girl who falls in love and later leaves her house to marry. The film became one of the biggest box-office hits of the year in India and Dixit's performance earned her the first Filmfare Best Actress Award of her career.
Post the success of Dil she starred in movies like Saajan (1991), Beta (1992),[10] Khalnayak (1993), Hum Aapke Hain Kaun...! (1994), and Raja (1995).Her performance in “dhak dhak song” from beta not only rocked the nation but her performance in it, won her a second Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
‘Choli ke peeche kya hain’ (Khalnayak 1993) - This song and its choreography stirred up some controversy but Madhuri had faith in choreographer Saroj Khan, saying “It was meant to be a naughty number. Subhash ji came up with it and we all said, ‘Ah! What are you saying.’ Whenever I have worked with Saroj ji I have had full faith in her. That is because she is a woman so she would never make anything look vulgar. So, for this song we used a lot of folk numbers like the twirl with the ghagra. It was great fun doing it.”
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun...! (1994) became one of the biggest grossers in the history of Hindi cinema till that time. It won Dixit her third Filmfare Best Actress Award. In that same year, Dixit was also nominated in the same category for her performance in Anjaam. In Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, her dancing in “didi tera devar deewana” is worth noticing, which was appreciated by many. Though the song was not a rocking number but madhuri” dacne added such flavor to the song that it topped the chart busters.
‘Chane Ke Kheth Mein’ (Anjaam) - This is a classical number that truly shows off Madhuri's talent. The movements are so intricate and are performed so well it is as if her arms and hands are dancers themselves. The choreography is filled with exuberance and each step Madhuri does is first-rate, with one of the highlights being the drum solo where she performs fast turns into the final pose. Each section is dazzling and you wish the dance went on longer.
Dixit appeared as Pooja in Yash Chopra's Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) for which she won a fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award. In that same year, Dixit starred in Prakash Jha's Mrityudand. Dixit's performance in the film landed her the Best Actress award at the annual Star Screen Awards.
Her performance in Devdas, by famous director Sanjay Leela Bansali, in the year 2002 is also worth mentioning. In fact this film was also aired in Cannes Film Festival, where her performance was highly appreciated.
It was again in 2007 where we saw the dancing diva’s return to her dancing as well as her acting career through the film “Aaja Nachle”. After Aaja Nachle, even though Madhuri Dixit did not appear in any film, she did not dishearten her fans and audiences completely. She made a sudden appearance in one of the famous reality dance shows named Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, which is being aired in Sony Entertainment Television. The dancing diva is the judge for the session four of this dance reality show, along with others. So her fans need not be disheartened, because she will not only be judging this dance reality show but will also show her dancing skills to the audience and to her fans, who eagerly waits to see her dancing gracefully as before.
On 25 February 2006 she performed on stage for the first time in six years at the Filmfare Awards to music from her last movie Devdas.
Her other noteworthy performences
‘Akhiyan Milau’ (Raja) - This is one of her most popular dances and was a rage when it released. It is modern choreography and Madhuri shows she can dance that amazingly as well.
About this piece Mahduri said, “We all loved the song when we heard it because it had a lovely beat. I remember we shot the whole song and it was pack-up time and Saroj ji came up with a new idea. She said for the beginning of the song let’s just do expressions. She said say the whole thing with your eyes, not with your hands or your face. So the first line had to be emoted through my eyes. I saw her eye movement and said, ‘I don’t think I can make my eyes go round like that.’ But she kept saying try and so I rehearsed for it. I also managed to get the eye movement. I was really thrilled. And that became like a signature. A lot of people have come up to me post that song and asked if I put something in my eye for it to rotate like that. It was those little moments that make a difference.”
‘Piya Ghar Aaye’ (Yaarana) - This incredible dance number is set as a stage performance and is a fusion of modern and classical choreography. Watching her perform you can see that she truly commits to every movement with her entire body and there is such joy in her dancing. She also plays a ripping guitar while dancing!
‘Key Sera Sera’ (Pukar) - This number was choreographed by Prabhudeva, one of the best dancers and choreographers in the Indian film industry. The steps are modern in style, and their performance shows what exceptional dancers he and Madhuri are. She said working with Prabhudeva was a challenge, “He kept me on my toes, on my knees, on my head, on my hands, everywhere. When people used to tell me we don’t want to dance with you I used wonder why they said so. But when I had to dance with Prabhudeva I understood what they felt like. I was like, 'I don't want to be in the same frame as him because he is such a terrific dancer.' I said to him, 'Look I cannot do what you do. So you choreograph for me the way I will be able to dance.' He said, 'No, not to worry Madam. Very easy'. I thought may be it was very easy. I was very glad and the first step we did was the Que sera sera and when I saw the choreography, I was like, 'Oh God! I can't do this!' He said, 'Only one difficult step. Next step...very easy. Only this one. Next one very easy'. And he went through the whole song saying the next step is going to be very easy, and none of them were easy I can tell you that. For the first time in my life I was sweating. He molded his style to suit my stature, style and dancing. He did a brilliant job.”
‘Badi Mushkil’ (Lajja) - This piece shows Madhuri’s proficiency of Indian classical dance. There is such fluidity to her movements that, though we know it is difficult, she makes it look easy. Again there are marvelous background dancers in this number but you see none but her.
‘Maar Dala’ (Devdas) - This is one of her best performances ever, so beautiful were her movements. It is just an awe-inspiring dance to watch. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali said, “One can go mad just looking at her songs. This song had one of the biggest sets in Indian cinema and the way she performed was a dream. The first time she did the Mar Dala step I whistled and clapped in sheer excitement. It was an exercise in expressions. With every shot, Mar Dala had a different expression. I wished I could shoot the song for a year because I wouldn’t get tired of watching her dance.”
Here are a few honorable mentions: ‘Dola re Dola’ and ‘Kahe Ched Mohe’ (Devdas), ‘Bade Dukh Dina’ (Ram Lakhan), and ‘Dhak dhak karne laga’ (Beta).
From the sets of “Jhalak dekhla ja”…………………..
In the dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikh La Jaa’, Munni Malaika made Dancing Diva Madhuri Dixit, who is also a fellow judge in the show, shake her legs to the beats of her popular item number. Not so long back, when Madhuri was asked to choose between the two hot item songs – Munni Badnaam Hui or Sheila Ki Jawani – she chose ‘Munni’ for its flat-out energy.
Apparently, it was Malaika herself who took the lead and showed the ‘Munni’ steps to Madhuri.
Item songs came in vogue with Madhuri’s controversial number “Choli ke peeche kya hai’ and though it is difficult to match her pelvic thrust but both the starlets were seen jiving to the song’s beats.
Madhuri had won many awards (including “padmashri )‘in her long career of 25 years in bollywood. It is not possible to list each of them but some are noteworthy.
Filmfare – Best actress
Dil (1991), Beta (1993), Hum Aapke Hain Kaun...!(1995) , Dil To Pagal Hai (1998)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Devdas (2003)
Filmfare Special Award for completing 25 years in the Indian film industry (2011)
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