Chunky Panday Comes To Ananya Panday's Rescue As Backlash Over Bharatanatyam Sequence In 'Chand Mera Dil' Heats Up
Chunky Panday defended his daughter Ananya Panday against the criticism she received over her Bharatanatyam sequence in ‘Chand Mera Dil’.
Chunky Panday has come out in support of his daughter Ananya Panday after the actress faced backlash over her Bharatanatyam sequence in the recently released Bollywood film 'Chand Mera Dil', which also stars Lakshya. Ever since the film was released in theatres last week, several clips surfaced on social media showcasing Ananya performing a Bharatanatyam fusion routine in the film. Several Bharatanatyam dancers described the performance as “catastrophic” and lashed out at the actress for not getting the basic steps right.
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Addressing the sequence, Chunky said people misunderstood the performance and that the backlash is unwarranted.
“I think people completely misunderstood it. It was never meant to be pure Bharatanatyam. It was a fusion performance, the kind of experimental dance you often see college students perform at social or cultural events. People assumed it was traditional Bharatanatyam and started judging it from that lens," he told ETimes.
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“But pure Bharatanatyam requires years and years of rigorous training, almost 20 years of discipline and precision. It’s extremely technical and structured, almost robotic in its movements and expressions. This is a fusion of futuristic, advanced dance forms with elements of traditional dance. It’s a creative blend, not a classical recital. I would request people to watch the film and understand the context before reacting," he added.
For the unversed, in 'Chand Mera Dil', Ananya plays Chandni, the daughter of a Bharatanatyam dancer portrayed by Charu Shankar. The scene, which is going viral on social media, shows her character performing a fusion act that blends Bharatanatyam with hip-hop and locking. However, the internet is not pleased with how the sequence played out.
Well-known dancer and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient Anita Ratnam also reviewed Ananya’s performance, saying, “Bharatanatyam is built on technique, control, tradition, geometry, musicality and emotional depth. This clip treats it like a wedding sangeet filmed during a mild earthquake.” She also criticised the choreography, adding that it bulldozed through “centuries of sophistication, training, dedication and devotion”.
Speaking of 'Chand Mera Dil', the film backed by Dharma Productions earned Rs 2.25 crore on Monday, the fourth day of its release, taking the total net collection to Rs 13.25 crore. The film is directed by Vivek Soni and is set against the backdrop of an engineering college.
The plot revolves around two students, Aarav and Chandni, and how their love story takes an unexpected turn when adulthood and responsibilities arrive in their lives.
