Thursday, August 27, 2015

Jhalak – Is it turning into a Circus???

 So it is the way I felt this weekend with the way Jhalak episode unfolded. It was very inconsistent from the word “Go” …and it left many perplexing queries in my mind and the audience was left feeling short changed.
Now I do have a choice to change the channel and see something worthwhile or do something more fruitful with my time and if this continues maybe I will exercise that choice but till few stars that I subscribe to are there I would want to see what they do and maybe drink in my FANDOM …besides some episodes were fun and so the lure continues…but it is increasingly leaving a distaste and discontent in the mind …with loving moments few and far between…
And so I will express my displeasure in the form of queries…rhetorical queries for definitely no one shall answer them and no one might pay heed to it but I still feel hopeful that if someone from Jhalak house looks for some helpful feedback at some point of time then well the blog might be helpful to them…
The Show began with a whacky announcement that Shahid has gone to Jupiter to promote Jhalak…hmm...why do we not promote it in India or at least make it available on this globe everywhere …I see so many fans commenting and tweeting about the show not available in their country or they not being able to vote for their favourite contestants???
Fans are left feeling helpless and unattended …the very fans who you expect to vote for you...reply to your tweets and be your audience…some efficient treatment they get!!! Only Mohit and Raftaar are sweet in that they honour regularly each fan that tweets to them…

Then we have the Report card moment…Ganesh Hegde believes in giving subjective report cards. Now we are so hoping for him to give concrete advice but he tapers with giving one liners and non-specific instructions and almost skipping few in his enthusiasm…so he asks Raftaar and Faisal to be CONSISTENT …do not get 40 one time and 31 another … hmm …sound advice so far…so general too..
Sanaya and Vivian are called popular celebrities but he asks “is your performance competitive” but he does not wait to let the impact sink in? Now that is where Ganesh lacks the authority of a Maestro whose each word one would hang on and covet the feedback that he gives…
He adroitly skips mentioning Shamita or Subhreet or Irfaan and Ashish completely-is their performance above feedback? Or not mentionable? Or undeserving of praise or beyond praise or he failed to just assess them? He admonishes Mohit for not getting full 40 yet and all in all he did not really add to our repertoire of information on contestants performances…we and they already knew it.
The only thing that was noteworthy was his announcement that there will be double elimination…hmm that was a surprise and another unhappy announcement from Irfan Pathan that he would be leaving the show on professional reasons. Well we had just about started to have fun with him on the sets. 
His act was cute and quite fun to watch and there were some lovely lifts. They succeeded in bringing the mischievous element on the stage reminding us of those days when we vigorously played a shot and broke a neighbour's glass window and put the blame innocently on the other...wish Irfan had stayed a little more and served us few more such funky moments...


Could the double elimination not be avoided? Why were they in a hurry to shed contestants? Maybe Subhreet had to leave for medical reasons as her new Leg would need adjustments and Dancing maybe a strict No No or maybe they just got tired of patronizing her or maybe they just felt that as the show moves to higher difficulty levels she might find it little uncomfortable to gear up with her new companion…whatever their reasons well it looked hurried and little pushed…for she danced without much soul into it...

 HER SMILE was a little strained…though the chaar kadam bus chaar kadam was so apt for her and the moment she went walking to her mother and hugged!!! It was a sweet moment! But since I am in an Acidic mood I cannot help but ask “is this her andaaz?” “Was the theme not andaz apna apna?” She would have done much better as is…

Ashish too was quite not in his element and his arrangement and coordination with backstage guys who handle all the paraphernalia of the harness and stuff simply went haywire…


and it looked fully out of control Act as if the ouster needed to be justified!!! The stone for which they were, striving too fell off.
Ashish did go on to reclaim his energy after the initial hiccups and actually showed promise and energy. Certain parts were pleasant and set a cool tempo but guess it did not measure enough to retain him in…
Raftaar again put in DANGER zone really?? He seems to be such a popular guy and also shares such a wonderful camaraderie with his choreo Sneha…
They both are so adorable and put in a lovely performance with different flavours and moves…they brought in their funky and mischievous andaz and also did a little bit of stunt with style...smiles! There was a bit of goof up by Sneha with the waist cloth however it did not deter them and they marched on with an absolutely winning perfrmance...

when you compare it with the slow and unsteady dance of Subhreet (for obvious reasons) and the messy unfortunate bungle of Ashish …it was natural to retain Raftaar…
He is open hearted enough to  announce graciously  “my name shall stay in your hearts” Yes it will, should you go but I and judges are not yet ready to let you go…gear up and prepare …Your Andaaz was a medley of movements and so symbolises the two of you and your varied happy go lucky attitude throughout…

Shamita too tried to bring in her Sexy Andaz with the immortal sensuous anthem by an equally seductive Diva “Madhuri Dixit”.

 She rendered a brazen sensuality of a maiden out there to seduce her beau with her mature sense of surrender and slow entwining movements inching ever closer to intimacy…
So much can unfold in those few minutes…as a stand-alone Act it would be labelled cute and sweet and well tried. She did look amazing and gorgeous but Comparison is inevitable…and if you get in the comparison lane she fell short of the Mature and the certain movements of the woman out to conquer her love…
Her movements had zest and enthusiasm…what was needed was a kind of certainty and sure movements and expression of a woman…not a girl…but Loved the Act as I said if you view it without the comparison lenses. It would be a little cruel of me to be so critical.
I want to be critical of someone else that too very cryptically and vociferously…someone who feels that he can just about get away with anything…
Many times it is repeated that it is a “family Show” and I even saw people in the audience were sitting with their family members…my Question to Manish Paul “Was it absolutely necessary to throw Lauren on the hay stack and even more imperative to jump on her?” I understand Lauren is a beautiful girl but like really…did it befit the stature of the show??? Let us say he got carried away…were the editors of the show not awake???

What did bring the sweetness back in the show is our Mr. Consistent MOHIT MALIK with his Bhangra…

what I admire is the utmost comfort he enjoys with his choreographer Marischa Fernandes. She looks so cool in whatever attire you give her. She has made him so comfortable that we indeed get to see lovely dance Dos and this time it was Bhangra alright.
They brought a gentle breeze on the stage and kept the energy going. If judges felt it drop a bit...it was only after the performances when Mohit donned his trademark DAZED look…of like ‘did I just do that?’ as soon as his act is over.
He I think cannot get over his own sense of “I cannot dance” feeling and so he resumes his “ever confused expression” But his Mom is so cute. I loved the way Manish touched her feet…now if he does have his manners in place then why does he get carried away???
So typically charming was her appeal to Addie…I want a Grandchild!!! So cute and such a universal demand of every ma-in-law (in India at least)!! Addie you  better listen and I feel no harm in letting a little Handsome replica of mini Mohit or darling Addie baby girl out in this world…do honour her request.
Heeheeheee…it was a genuine moment which definitely could not have been scripted by the show guys and I do request that the Jhalak guys consider more of the “Rajma-Chawal” moments instead of the Circus that this show is fast moving towards!!!
Then the Moment Arrives when Salman Khan makes his grand entry and the show opens to grander tweets making the rounds from morning till the show begins…Sunday was ruled by Khans alright...
One established as the “Sultan of the Film Industry” and another Talented Khan we fans are so Hoping inches there with his overflowing Talent in everything he does…but as yet there are the formal rounds and introduction of the debutantes Athiya Shetty and Sooraj Pancholi. We take a moment to wish them ALL THE VERY BEST for their film career and well their Job is half accomplished for they do have Salman Khan himself promoting their talent and the Movie “HERO” under his production; they couldn’t have asked for a better Debut and Platform. I would say it is wiser for them to take the mantle of Production and direction and give an outlet to young talent of the industry.
Manishhhh…I quite enjoyed the Sunil Shetty…You are such a treasure then why do you stoop down to slapstick nonsense…you have tons of healthy humour...do tap into into it and enthral us…we all can do with smiles we can store for the entire week…Your take on Sanaya’s weight is …well…even Sanaya cannot resist giggling over it!!

Sanaya Irani too brought in such a beautiful Charlie Chaplin on the Jhalak stage…

 it was a lovely performance and I share Karan Johar’s opinion…ALL of us grew up admiring Charlie Chaplin from our childhood days…our black and white televisions were adorned by this Gentleman with his silent comico-tragic take on human sagas…what more could we ask for on a Sunday night???
She is a delicate doll with thousands of expressions flitting on and off from her face…and her discomfort with her moustache coming out brought on more giggles for us.
However happy Ganesh maybe and I agree that Sanaya was very cute in her co-ordination with all the props they used …the electric current…the umbrella lift…I still cannot understand that happy happy DANCE…even Sanaya chortled “I cannot quite do that…how to??”
The show does lack that pride derived from Remo D’souza’s “This is it1” which used to come so rarely and it used to be delivered with so much of impact - all silent and powerfully…that it would truly feel well deserved and treasure worthy…
Is the judge side not getting very noisy and crowded and uncoordinated? I remember the judges like MADHURI OR KARAN OR REMO would like very rarely and only when urged by the demand leave their seat and enter the centre stage. Here every judge is like waiting to pounce on the stage as soon as the contestants finish their Act to show their prowess!
There are two different worlds on JHALAK–One side there is a crowd of judges and guests galore vying for limelight and the contestants just about allowed to perform and relegated to their BACKSEATS…not quite allowed much leverage or even speech…only Sanaya allowed to go forth and hug and express her glee…
But yet the contestants are leaving their mark...shining with their talents and leaving me wanting to see more of them...feel more of them…love them…hug them…wipe their tears away …for sometimes the tears cannot be scripted…cannot be created…they fall in CASCADES…especially when they are dedicated to your Mother dear whom you adore and love deeply…a mom with whom your etheric umbilical cord is still intact…a mother whose pain you have felt and transcended…a mother you want to tell simply “I love you” for there are no more words to express that…except MY LOVELY SURREAL SCARLETT…YOUR DANCE WAS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO your love for your Mom…


My Mermaid…my pretty Lassy…my fairy Princess…you were a dream…Passion personified…for it was your genuine effort to tell your mom  a story of how much she means to you…no wonder you broke down at the end of it…
I will treasure the stance of going back to womb...it was so clean and vulnerable…you surrendered to the choreo and the moment, and I surrendered to my tears for I know love that misses and yearns…
I love you my missy...and I so wish Gods Had been kind and lend me a daughter in this life to nurture and care and who would someday tell me so liltingly that she treasures me as much as you did…what a beautiful depiction of paying a loving tribute…your Mom is so lucky…we will not even discuss judge’s comments or any other ones…you were so perfect for me…and I wanted to cuddle you and kiss your final tears away…You performed with such a flourish and form…unparalleled and pure…
After that all the fun that Salman and Karan and Ganesh took us through was like a breaker for me to compose myself in order to be able to carry on my chores of the time as well as go on and watch the show for I was waiting for another favourite to touch my heart…and for some reasons his performance was scheduled last…so I could not abandon the TV SET yet and give free rein to tears after sucha touching treat to my heart…

For a moment there I was brought back with a thud on the ground…we had Vivian trying a tango with his football. 

Neither do I understand Tango much nor football but What I do understand is dance is movements…grace...telling a story…connecting and communicating with your audience and leaving an indelible mark on them…who view you at any point of time…
Vivian and his choreo looked stunning but well again Bhawna ended up giving striking poses for the entire Act and Vivian simply held her with great aplomb…what more can I say? His Fans will lambast me for this feedback as it is at the time of publishing this blog, news is in that VIVIAN has been eliminated in the coming week. His  fans are on a rampage. They had managed to get Him back during the Madhubala show by vociferous and vicious agitations…and they plan to repeat that History for him.
All I can say is I am not commenting on him as a person…only as he performed as a dancer and his journey in Jhalak. I do feel he was improving a little but sliding again into his conscious zone…this particular performance failed to impress…period…
And the angst of the disgruntled fans filtered over to where they think can hit most… Again because I subscribe to this little guy’s fandom I happened to receive few tweets that were extremely derogatory for the child and his family…I have happily blocked those as reporting them yields no result and publishing them here would be in bad taste…on the Star whom I treasure most…
Jhalak guys would have their own reasons for show casing Faisal Khan’s financial condition. The intention is pure which most kids of his age do not have. His tears are not to be misconstrued as drama to grab attention. His talent more than speaks for him and that fact all are certainly accepting that he is indeed talented…
At the age when he took to dancing schedules and acting assignment kids his age are busy nagging their parents to give them the latest models of cell phone in the market or Wi-Fi in the house or increasing the pocket money…well the kid expresses the wish that he wants to be the Hero of his family and let them live a peaceful life… “sukoon ki zindagi” Does that make him a “cry baba”??? Does that merit him being called creating a Drama to stay in the show???
No Dear ones for your kind information and record I would like to highlight his achievements at a tender age which few kids can brag about…which this kid does not even bother to boast…for he has not yet lost his humility and does not even think of highlighting…so I WILL DO THE HONOURS!! Wonder why it escaped the notice of Jhalak research team?
Here it is…At a very tender age he happened to win a very important Dance contest on a popular channel and gained popularity. To reach there I am sure he went through rigorous practice and bone crunching rehearsals and faced fatigue of endless hours and went through uncertain months not knowing where he stands for the show…he won!
He bagged the role of a Rajput prince in a popular channel and essayed it to hilt and perfection that his name has become synonymous to Pratap…so efficient were his warrior skills that he came to be referred as a symbol of reference to that iconic historical character...he worked on his diction and again stayed away from family and maybe went without decent meals and endured unpleasant weathers…and of course went on to bag many awards which proudly sit in his new house…
With the money he gathered bit by bit…he created a shelter for his family and social mobility. He owns a pretty abode in an upcoming suburb of Mumbai…anyone would agree that in itself is a mammoth task!!! His name prettily etched on the name plate…
His character in the tele show so impressed that a Fan fic Book named #Fanforthefirsttime was created…it is a 239 page book depicting his skills as a Rajput prince and his sincere performance …it sold overseas and is yet selling on Flipkart India. It is the first Fan fiction of India…one of its kind in our country and is currently being processed for a very famous Record in our country…Can a single star on television yet claim an entire book penned on a single character that he essayed??? I guess the record is looking into it...and we are awaiting results to see if the record has been paralleled by anyone?
He bagged a cool role of main lead in a Marathi movie…slated for a Diwali release and am sure he would do justice to whatever role he essays...he will bring his sincerity to it…
Does he advertise any of this? No for he only believes in giving his best to his current projects and believes in just being…do what he does best…dance or Enact…
For he is our hero…as he so effortlessly portrayed in his dance! Cap dance is his speciality…creating magic with his simplicity is his USP…his slow motions we can swear by and get one with it…he was what we call him…#Honeydrip …dripping honey on the floor ..he was #EffortlessGrace in that he without so much as blinking an eye changed caps from different angles and with Vaishnavi supporting his every move no wonder we had a wonderful well-co-ordinated smoothly flowing assurance of ‘Main hu hero tera…” indeed you are…


The command on his body is immense which I repeat comes with tons of practice and precision…
Faisal you are a Hero and do refrain from shedding those tears we hate them from our hero…we prefer the standing Ovations you keep getting and the resultant mischievous smiles that you collect when you are getting the comments “Blockbuster se bhi bada performance” and “ anokha bachcha” indeed…Jhalak ke hero…
Another request I have is experiment more and give us a dance routine we have never seen you do before…not risky but  stretch your own limits and set new parameters that’s what a hero does…creates new limits by extending own…
And before I close and sign off cannot help but mention…I am saddened by the news that Karan Johar leaves Jhalak…Oh My #PiedPiperOfJhalak what will Jhalak be without you? You were the signature persona of this show! What will we do? You brought your luxurious charm to the show…you endorsed Abundance and were a standing example of how to critique without being harsh and how to have fun...it would be so difficult to bid you ADIEU…MUST YOU GO??
You were a friend...motivator…the cheerful companion embellishing this show…Jhalak was never designed without you. Why should you go? Can we do something to bring you back? Do let us know and consider coming back...we will wait with our hearts and smiles in our beings for you…should you take a U-turn…Loads and loads of love to you Karan Johar…I shall ever Miss you in Jhalak…come back!   


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