When Feet Sing To The Rhythm – Part 1

By Aditi Thakur | February 9, 2017

Rhythm is something that everyone has. It is in our breath, our heartbeat, our walk. And when we talk of rhythm in music, dance becomes an inevitable part of it.

Bollywood is blessed with many fabulous dancers, both male and female. There are so many beautiful dance numbers that it will take lot many write ups to cover all. Here are few such rhythms or dance tunes on which our heroines (of yesteryear) have performed their heart out.

It is seen that the dances are predominantly classical or semi classical. The actresses were also trained in different classical dance forms, sometimes even before entering the movie industry. This made their dances graceful and the audience happy.

1. Shehnai (1964)

Rajshree : This beautiful daughter of filmmaker V. Shantaram was a trained classical dancer. She has performed in many films which have showcased her dancing talent. The music of this film was given by Ravi.

 

2. Amrapali (1966)
Vyjayanthimala : She played the “nagarvadhu” or the royal courtesan in this movie. The film, although not a box office hit, had fabulous music by Shankar Jaikishan. The duo made the era alive with the kind of music that they gave; classical yet layman-friendly. This is a semi classical dance performance choreographed by none other than Gopi Krishna.

 

3. Guide (1965)
Waheeda Rehman : The famous serpent dance by Waheeda Rehman is something which one can never forget. She plays Rosie, the young wife of an aging archaeologist, who loves dancing and singing. The music of the movie was given by S.D. Burman and the choreography was by Master B. Sohanlal.

In an interview, Waheeda Rehman once said that she had requested Dev Anand not to cut any of her dances from the movie.

4. Kinara (1977)
Hema Malini : She plays the role of a stage dancer in this movie. The film’s music was given by R D Burman. This is a Bharatnatyam dance by Hema Malini, a dance form which she has mastered for years. The grace with which she performs is truly magical.

5. Mera Naam Joker (1970)
Padmini : She plays the character of Meenu, an orphan, who is ambitious of becoming a famous actress. The music of the movie was by Shankar Jaikishan.

Padmini’s alleged rivalry with actress Vyjayanthimala did rounds in the gossip magazines of that time. Both were often compared in terms of dancing skills and both had their own huge fan following. Here’s a semi classical dance by Padmini. Look at her expressions when she spots Rajendra Kumar sitting in the audience, the change in the face for the split second is amazing.

6. Daasi (1981)
Rekha : She portrays the story of Krishna and Gopikas in this classical Kathak dance. The ease with which she changes her expressions (from that of Krishna to those of the Gopika) is something that a dancer of her calibre can do. In a short span of time, an entire story is told and we understand every bit of it.