The Journey: HALO RE HALO!!!

‘Ghor andhari re rataldi maan nisaraya chaar asavar, Ramjo Ramjo re Amba Maa tame Ramjo saari RAAT!!!’ a famous Gujarati garbo (song) that sums up Navrati for me. Navratri an Indian festival dedicated to the worship of goddess JagdAmba/Durga. Also celebrated as ‘Durga Pujo festival’, my friend ‘the Bangla Babu’, explains the significance: Lord Ram offered Neel Kamal (blue lotus’) to Maa Durga to attain her blessings before going to Lanka to rescue his abducted wife, Sita, from the grip of Ravana.

Rajmata (the queen of our hearts: MOM), Navratri being her favourite festival, takes me back to her childhood memories when she would participate in Raas-Garba competitions in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The secret to my Dancing genes is indeed my folk’s crazy passion for Dance Art…

BOLO AMBE MATA KI JAI!!!

Raas-Garba, one of the most celebrated form of Gujarati folk dance, is the true essence of Navratri. Raas also known as Dandiya Raas a synchronised dance form is traditionally performed with wooden sticks, while Garba a form with rigorous swirls and twirls is showcased in large groups matching the steps in motion.

Over the years Bollywood has captured this beautiful folk form with panache. One man ‘Sanjay Leela Bhansali’ has truly played with colours, grandiose and exuberance while showcasing this folk form. The team that has made is possible for him is the duo Samir & Arsh Tanna. Be it ‘Dholi Taro Dhol Baje’ (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam) or ‘Nagda Sang Dhol’/ ‘Lahu Muh Lag Gaya’ & ‘Bhai Bhai’ (Ramleela), the duo has left no stone unturned in presenting their devotion and passion for Garba. Their work consists of various Bollywood films viz, Humko tumse pyar hai, Dhanak, Gandhi my father and the list is long….

NAGADA SANG DHOL BHAJE........

The National Award winners for ‘Dholi Taro Dhol Baje’ and the Filmfare award for ‘Lahu Muh Lag Gaya’ got the curious me to cover their journey and unleash ‘the Dance Chemistry’.

My jalebi fafda (wink) time with ‘The Tannas’’

How did the Tanna Jodi meet?

Arsh: I am a trained classical dancer (Kathak). I had joined NM college for my under grad studies and Samir was my senior. Samir would handle the intercollegiate dance festivals. While auditioning for one such event I met Samir for the first time and let’s just say it was the classic college love story.

Samir: Back then we were auditioning for a folk dance performance and Arsh being a classical dancer had her limitations, but the moment I saw her I wanted her in my dance troupe. That’s how we met and here we are.

ANIRUDH TANNA: DADAJI

Who is your inspiration?

Arsh: My journey with Samir personally and professionally and also my association with his family (Dada bhai- father in-law and my sister-in-law’s who themselves are classical dancers (Bharatanatyam and Manipuri) has somewhere been my major source of inspiration.

Samir: I owe my knowledge and love for dance/dramatics to my father Anirudh Tanna, famously known as ‘Dada bhai’ amongst the Gujarati art circle. He was a true “Showman”, a dramatics and dance teacher to the differently abled (blind, deaf & dumb), he has choreographed numerous dance ballets’ and written various narratives and songs.

Also our guru Indumati Lele (Folk dance teacher) and Hussain Khawra our Dholi is the inspiration for our beats.

DHOLI TARO DHOL BAJE

Tell us more about your journey…

We represented India at the World Folk festival and travelled the world (USA, Russia, London,etc) with our dance troupe in college days. When we came back we started getting choreography offers for inter-collegiate festivals. That’s how our journey as professional choreographers began. Then Sanjay bhai gave us our first Bollywood break with Dholi taro Dhol Baje (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam). With our big break we won our first National Award for choreography of Dholi taro.

How is working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali?

Arsh: Sanjay bhai is complete school of cinema in himself. He himself being a classical dancer (Odissi) his knowledge in the field is vast. He’s a true Mr. Perfectionist in the industry, I would always go with 10 different variations of the count and show him but he would always say “yeh acha hai but Arsh kuch aur dikhao”. So he pushes you to the limit and brings out the best in you. And apart from choreography he made me sit through the dance costumes, the look and every minute detailing. In my eyes that’s true passion.

Samir: The fact that Sanjay bhai wants the best encouraged us to be very innovative. Like we used a dhol (weighed 10-12 kgs) in Dholi Taro and asked the dancer to twirl with it. That was first of its kind in the industry. Also in Ram Leela we created an Opera style authentic garba in the song Lahu Muh Lag Gaya. To our surprise we won the Filmfare for Lahu Muh Lag Gaya.

We always explain it as people who enjoy fast paced rigorous western styles (Hip Hop, whacking) will enjoy Nagada Sang Dhol and Dholi taro more, while Lahu Muh Lag Gaya is class and gratitude combined.

You have worked with two of the most beautiful female actors of our times (Aishwarya Rai Bachan and Deepika Padukone) who is your personal favourite as a dancer?

Arsh: Both are very dedicated and hardworking. But my personal favourite is Aishwarya.

Samir: Its Deepika for me (laughs) (Men will be Men…..wink)

Samir bhai's favorite: Deepika Padukone (wink)

Your upcoming project.

You will see us in Raees with Shahrukh Khan…

Indian Folk as a dance art form needs be more publicised and encouraged amongst our youth today. ‘The Tanna Jodi’ are a true inspiration in keeping these dance forms alive. Indeed, their ‘Love for Dance’ has brought them together and created ‘The Dance Of Love’