Looking Back: Saroj Khan saved ‘Dhak Dhak’ song on Madhuri Dixit from censor’s scissors
Looking Back: Saroj Khan saved ‘Dhak Dhak’ song on Madhuri Dixit from censor’s scissors
Madhuri Dixit’s most popular song “Dhak Dhak” from film Beta had faced wrath with Censor Board, but, ace choreographer Saroj Khan, however, with her logical reasoning, never let it getting axed by the censor board. The song turned out to be a chartbuster.
Needless to point out that Saroj Khan was a master in craft and given some memorable dance moves.
The Choreographer’s illustrious career as a dance guru in Bollywood redefined dancing in Hindi films.
leading actresses Aishwarya Rai Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit have danced to most memorable songs choreographed by Saroj, who passed away in 2020.
She has composed dance moves in a plethora of films and one such memorable track was “Dhak Dhak” from the film Beta. The song was choreographed on Anil Kapoor and Madhuri, which also gave the latter the title of ‘Dhak Dhak girl’. However, not many know that Central Board of Film Certification wanted to chop down scenes from the song, as they deemed the dance steps to be deliberately provocative and not appropriate for audience back then.
In a documentary, The Saroj Khan Story made by The Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) in 2012, the choreographer explained the conversation she had with CBFC members. She explained that the board members had problem with the dance steps, and especially a scene where Madhuri is seen sitting down.
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CBFC wanted to cut down the whole mukhda of the song. So the producer and director were petrified. They said ‘come along with us. See what they are saying, whether you can help us. So, Saroj went with them.
Saroj Khan’s rendezvous with cinema started at a young age. The three-time National Award winning choreographer started as a child artiste in black-and-white films like Sharda (1957) and Aaghosh (1953). Soon after, she explored her love for dancing further and bagged first group dance in 1958 film Howrah Bridge’s song “Aaiye Meherbaan” picturised on Madhubala. Saroj played one of the boys seen in the background.
A few years later, she started working with renowned choreographer B Sohanlal as assistant.
Eventually, as she went solo, she choreographed in films such as Mr India, Chandni, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Taal amongst others.
While she has worked in Hindi cinema and South film industries, it was her collboration with actor Madhuri Dixit that was most fruitful.
It was after Madhuri’s song
Ek Do Teen from Tezaab found immense popularity that Filmfare Awards introduced Best Choreographer category with Saroj emerging as the first winner. She received the award eight times in her career.
News Edit K.V.Raman
