The Journey: One Man ARMY

SURESH MUKUND.

More than often I have observed that human mind has this unique quality of SHUT DOWN or the SWITCH OFF MODE when we do not understand or rather don’t want to understand the nuances of things we are not good at. As I have earlier mentioned in my blogs the dance forms that I have been trained in, bring out the more poised and structured side. And yet my favourite dance movies in the current era (Step Up Series, Save the Last Dance, Streets, etc) showcase the vibrant, boisterous & clearly the most difficult dance form for me (wink) “HIP HOP”. Hence I am always in the Switch Off mode while viewing this marvelous art as I will never be able to master it.

Hip hop or rather the various forms of street dancing (pop n lock, whacking, jabber walkie, krumping, etc) to me has always been a dance of Nomads…..(strictly my opinion). My heart skips a beat whenever I see well-co-ordinated dance groups performing incredible head stunts and flips. The movie ABCD2, second installment of the dance movie franchise (ABCD- Any Body Can Dance) was inspired by the journey of two ambitious hip hop dancers (Suresh Mukund & Vernon Monteiro) who dreamt of putting India on the world map of Hip Hop Championship.

Back in school one of my classmates ‘The Beauty with Brains’ chic, in her speech said a line ‘the word Impossible reinstates I M POSSIBLE.’ at our farewell party. She sure did win a lot of hearts that day and the coveted ‘Miss Convent’ title. Walking down the memory lane I remembered the afore mentioned as it clearly holds true for Suresh Mukund (the One Man Army).

Will the real Surru please Stand Up??? (wink.........)

Thanks to ABCD2 we all know the story of the Fictitious Group founded by Suresh and Vernon. Post the split from Vernon (Fictitious group) Suresh upped the ante’ by winning a bronze medal for India in his second innings at the World Hip Hop Championship 2015. The journey to the Bronze was tumultuous, exhausting and most importantly an inspiring one. In my research I came across this article wherein Suresh stated “My aim was to change the mindset of the people that Indians cannot create something on their own. I wanted to prove that we don't need to follow others, that we can set an example of our own by adding our own Indian flavour to the dance. It was apna style.” Truly with ‘Apna style’ they won big and they won it in STYLE.

I decided to decode the new chapter in Suresh’s (SURRU- lovingly called) life. So I chose to visit his studio ‘Kings United Kingdom of Art’ and meet the MAN and in the trade-off learn some kickass moves. As I enter his studio, a huge standalone structure- enough to accommodate a 100 dancers at a time, I meet the enigmatic and very handsome(wink) SURRU. My expectations: the man who has a successful Biopic made on him at such a young age would be a narcissist at some level but after spending time at his studio all I got to see was someone who is crazy enough take chances and passionate enough to believe in his vision.

My Gup Shup with SURRU.......

Tell me more about your win at the championship last year?

My breakup with Fictitious Group (Vernon) tarnished my image and left me feeling that I need to prove my stand. So my impulse decision was to participate at the World Hip Hop Championship. Every year India has three official entries at the Championship and last year the groups selected were 13.13, scorpions & i am hip hop. I tried my best to convince the selection committee to add our name in the list but luck was not supporting me then. Around a month and a half before the championship we got an intimation that 13.13 could not make it so we were the next best choice. We had a guest performance at Indians got talent and we prepared the act within one night so it inspired us to take up the challenge (Championship).

We did not have a place to rehearse so my father who belongs to the construction line helped us find a shed (rented) within 7 days. The place was inadequate but at least we had a place to rehearse. We only had 13-14 days prior to the championship and then the visa application struggle. Travelling to the place was a costly affair but thanks Varun Dhawan, he helped us find sponsorship (Ponds) and also funded our trip partly.

But the struggle was not over our flights got cancelled at the end moment. Somehow we managed to book new flights and reached the preliminary qualifiers just a day before the round whereas other teams had 3-4 days of practice time. That very year the competition location shifted from Las Vegas to San Diego which added to our accommodation costs. Lack of stage rehearsals and no clarity in act did mar our confidence a little but we made sure we rehearse the entire night before the prelims. The result was a crazy crowd uproar, standing ovation and a 3^rd place. What worked in our favour was that we did not ape the west instead we added an Indian touch to our routines. It was a big risk on my part but as they say ‘Higher the Risk Higher the Returns’.

Semis was another task. Unfortunately, we made a lot of visible mistakes but I still had that lingering hope somewhere that we would make it to the final 8 just like our last outing. While the results were being announced I told my gang ‘Kya bharosa hum log unko (Brotherhood gang) bhi hara de’ (brotherhood gang were the defending champions in 2014) and that’s how it happened Brotherhood came in the 5^th position and we were in the 4^th position. A big confidence booster indeed.

THE FINAL CREW......

Before the finals one of my crew members (Pawan) fell terribly sick and a slight mistake in the final performance was the last thing going against us. At the final results announcement, we were trying to get a sneak peak of the flags chosen and finally we heard it INDIA wins the BRONZE medal. That memory is captured in my eyes even today.

ABCD2 ki adhoori kahani puri kar di.............

Post the achievement, I decided to create one of the largest hubs in India wherein anyone from any socio economic background can come and pursue their passion. We also thought of providing hostel facilities that would encourage kids from all parts of India to come here and just do what they do best Dance. That’s how KINGS UNITED KINGDOM OF ARTS came into existence.

What is the one thing you love apart from dancing?

Adventure Sports: I have done Sky Diving, Scuba Diving, Shark Diving, Flyboard and the list is long... it’s the sheer adrenaline rush and a sense of power that I experience while doing these things.

Is the handsome Suresh Mukund Married?

Yes (Heartbreak, Heartbreak L). I am married to my childhood sweetheart Pallavi. She has been my rock solid support system throughout.

Do you believe in Dance reality shows?

Yes,I am what I am because of reality shows. Had it not been for Boogie Woogie or India’s Got Talent we would not have the initial phase of visibility factor. The win at India’s Got Talent season 3 has been a game changer for us and there’s been no looking back ever since.

Why not appear in Dance plus?

I was more focused on the international championship as we had already gone through the Indian reality phase. And, as I mentioned earlier I wanted to complete the incomplete story of ABCD2.

The next big thing in Suruesh Mukunds Life?

Direction is the next way to go.

SURRU was generous enough to let me learn a few dance steps along with his energetic crew. Hip Hop not my strength, but I was fortunate enough to meet a man who like me understands the language of DANCE (although different styles).