Congress leader Dr Shama Mohamed has publicly condemned actor Ananya Panday’s Bharatanatyam performance from the film Chand Mera Dil, asserting that the actor has “killed” the dance form. On May 24, Shama shared her grievances on X, revealing that she had dedicated significant years to Bharatanatyam training from the age of seven until thirteen and even completed her arangetram in Kuwait, showcasing her deep connection to the art.

Shama expressed her dissatisfaction with the portrayal of Bharatanatyam in the film, indicating that such classical dance requires dedicated study and cannot be superficially produced. She commented, “Ananya Panday has killed my favourite dance form—Bharatanatyam! Classical dance needs to be studied over a period of time and can’t be manufactured for Ms Panday! Please don’t ever insult such a beautiful art as Bharatanatyam (sic).” Her critiques follow an ongoing backlash online regarding Ananya’s dance sequence.

Online Backlash Against Ananya Panday

The actor’s dance number has prompted extensive criticism on social media platforms. Ananya Panday’s performance attracted renewed scrutiny as viewers revisited snippets from her recently released film, leading many to denounce the execution as inappropriate and disrespectful to the traditional dance form. In the narrative of Chand Mera Dil, Ananya portrays a character named Chandni, who is the daughter of a Bharatanatyam dancer.

Rather than delivering a pure Bharatanatyam recital, her character presents a fusion of traditional Bharatanatyam with modern urban dance styles, including hip-hop and locking. This fusion performance occurs twice within the storyline, first during her college days and again during a reunion, both times captivating her love interest, played by Lakshya. Viewers found this creative interpretation controversial, perceiving it as a misrepresentation of authenticity.

Prominent Bharatanatyam dancer Anita Ratnam took to X to express her discontent, describing her viewing experience as if Bharatanatyam was “held hostage by a catastrophic misunderstanding of the form.” This sentiment further fuelled the criticism surrounding the film’s portrayal of the dance.

Film Release and Mixed Reviews

Chand Mera Dil, directed by Vivek Soni and produced by Dharma Productions, was released in theatres on May 22. The film integrates themes of romance and personal challenges faced by two budding engineers grappling with emotional turmoil. Critics have responded to the film with mixed reviews; India Today notably awarded it a rating of 1.5 stars.

According to the review, the film has been likened more to a television serial than a cinematic experience, with commentary suggesting that it appears akin to modern iterations of popular soap operas. The review went further to emphasise the similarities, stating, “All that’s missing is dramatic thunder sounds and someone re-entering after plastic surgery.” Such comments reflect a broader perception of the film’s narrative and production quality.

The controversy concerning Ananya Panday’s dance segment has left a significant mark on the film’s reception, sparking conversations about the portrayal of traditional art forms in contemporary cinema. As viewers continue to dissect the performance, it remains to be seen how this conversation will evolve in the context of Indian classical dance representation in films.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share