Thank god, I didn't do Umrao Jaan: Saroj

It doesn't matter that Saroj Khan does not know whether Shringara, a period film on the life of a devadasi, is in "Tamil or Telugu".

What does matter is that she's won this year's National Award for Best Choreography for the film and will attend attend its screening at IFFI, Goa, on Saturday .

"I have been informed about the National Award by a letter, though the results are yet to be officially announced," she says happily.

Khan, who recently wowed the audience on Nach Baliye 2 with her impromptu dance to Dil cheez kya hai to "correct" contestant Shweta Kawaatra's faulty steps, was J P Dutta's first choice as the choreographer of his much panned Umrao Jaan.

"Yes, I was signed for the film. But once I heard the songs I refused to choreograph them. I have a reputation to live up to. Thank god, I didn't do it. J P Dutta and I are old friends. I have choreographed nearly all his films. But once I listened to Anu Malik's compositions, I told Dutta that the music wasn't a patch on the original. I also asked him to dub Alka Yagnik's voice," says she.

Dutta assured Khan that he would discuss her criticising the music of the film with Malik. "Instead, when I met him three days later, he said that since I didn't like the music, I wouldn't work from my heart'.

So I quit the film. "As a choreographer I can save lousy songs but Dutta doubted my dedication," says a hurt Khan. Saroj Khan saw Umrao Jaan with director Vipul Shah in Chandigarh. Frankly, she says she couldn't survive the experience and left after the interval.

"I saw Salaam and the two songs that follow it. I felt Salaam was totally wrong. There weren't so many hand gestures in the dances of 19th century Forget jumping into a pool, women were too shy to even show their legs those days," she adds.

Khan feels Kamal Amrohi's 1971 film Pakeezah is an ideal example of pure mujra: "Only Meena Kumari's feet are visible in all the songs. But in the new Umrao Jaan, there was no sharm (shame). Making Aishwarya dance so much has backfired. I know that Aishwarya is a good dancer but her choreographer was faulty."

"A tawaif only looks at and sings for the person who has paid for the mehfil. She doesn't go near others , neither does she allow anyone to touch her."

Saroj Khan's personal favorites:
Chane ke khet mein (Anjaam)
Hawa Hawaii (Mr India)
Choli ke peeche kya hai (Khalnayak)
All songs of Devdas
Sridevi's dances in Chaalbaaz

Good for her!! Thanks for sharing!! 😛

She is right.. mujra was not on par with old umrao jaan ..or pakeeja.. classic movies made on that century

😆

i havent seen the movie...dont have any intentions to see it either...but thats funny...saroj khan's choreography rocks...so im gonna trust her and believe the choreo for the new UJ was horrible

Though Saroj Khan is a lot spiteful these days still I totally agree with her on this. New Umrao Jaan didn't have any elements of that period. Dance steps, costumes everything looked recent.

Vaibhavi Merchant's ANL choreography was also not upto the mark. Saroj and Madhuri shares a vibe which is visible in her dances.

Sad that we don't have choreographers like Farah Khan anymore and also most dance numbers have western influence which can be choreographed by any tom, dick and harry.

Originally posted by: ~*Mehwish*~

Who is Saroj Khan 😕

she is a choreogapher

I disgaree with the music thing though..even thouth it wasnt well up to the mark of the old one..it wasnt bad..it was melodious..and Alka Yagnik did a wonderful job with them

she is absolutely right i totally agree wid her

Originally posted by: Tani91

she is a choreogapher

I disgaree with the music thing though..even thouth it wasnt well up to the mark of the old one..it wasnt bad..it was melodious..and Alka Yagnik did a wonderful job with them

agree