Dancing her way
READ BEFORE YOU PROCEED: D2G wears no responsibility of the views published here by the respective Author. This Editorial is used here for Study Purpose. Students are advised to learn the word-meaning, The Art of Writing Skills and understand the crux of this Editorial.
Meanings are given in BOLD
In Nidhi Tuli’s 2012 documentary, ‘The Saroj Khan Story’, the choreographer narrates an argument she once had with the censor board — they were not too keen ( having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm ) on having Madhuri Dixit heave ( lift or haul (something heavy) with great effort ) her bosom ( very close or intimate ) to “Dhak dhak karne laga” in Beta. “Dhak dhak, from where will that sound come, except from the heart? And where is my heart?” says Khan.
The song and its choreography went on to become the year’s biggest hit in 1992, and once again, Khan, who passed away on Friday morning, demonstrated that if there was anyone in the Hindi film industry who could walk, or sashay ( walk in an ostentatious yet casual manner, typically with exaggerated movements of the hips and shoulders), the thin line between sensuality ( the enjoyment, expression, or pursuit of physical, especially sexual, pleasure ) and vulgarity ( the state or quality of being vulgar), it was her.
Khan began her career as a child actor and dancer in the 1950s, at the beginning of the “golden era of Hindi films”, but it was her work in the 1980s and ’90s that cemented ( settle or establish firmly ) her place in the industry. At a time when entire plot-lines revolved around the hero’s journey, and the female lead was relegated ( assign an inferior rank or position to ) to the singing-and-dancing love interest who offered relief from action sequences.
Khan recognised the power of every musical number — an opportunity for women to take the lead. And what better way to do it than by dancing and celebrating femininity? In every composition, she brought the body alive: It could be a slight twitch of the head, a smile that reached the eyes, hands that moved with grace to beckon ( appear attractive or inviting ) love or signal admonishment ( a firm warning or reprimand ), and feet that moved so swiftly, so lightly, that the ground beneath seemed to tremble ( shake or quiver slightly ) in delight.
Known as “Masterji”, Khan’s talent also lay in helping actors who couldn’t follow her intricate ( very complicated or detailed ) routines. Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan have spoken about how she worked with their limitations: “You have two left feet, but what of the face, use that.” Dance was more than expression for Khan, it was life itself.
