Spirit of Jhalak

Hi all,
I'm an avid follower of JDJ-4 and I've been reading everyone's comments, especially over the last few weeks...
I have a few thoughts to share - especially after all the heated debate over the top 5 and now top 4 contestants...
In my humble opinion JDJ - is a platform for celebrities or distinguished personalities - non-dancers by profession primarily - to hone their skills and become better dance performers... show us a "jhalak" of their hidden talents.... with that said....
With all due respect we have seen groW*H in most of the contestants... Chang, Ragini, Ankita and Mahi have definitely grown as dance performers over the last 10 or so weeks...
I do concur with a lot of the sentiments that Mahi is not as strong a performer and is not able to give power punched versatile performances... but she does seem to work hard and takes the commentary graciously...
Ankita is a competent dancer and has also done well over the weeks and it is unfortunate she was eliminated. Her demeanor as shown on the show.. a tad bossy and a little arrogant are characteristics that show lack of sportsmanship which one would expect on such a platform....which probably worked against her.... I'd also like to add that the clips shown with her comments after being eliminated were defiant and aggressive, she could have conveyed those thoughts with out sounding so abrasive...- no matter how great her disappointment..it only proved her bitterness and lack of sportsmanship, even if it was a publicity stunt by the channel..
Yana is a competent dancer as well and is very graceful...however if we compare her performances from the earlier episodes and now.... the groW*H as a dance performer is lesser than the above mentioned contestants such as Chang, Ragini, Mahi and Ankita... Yana's performances seem to have stagnated as they are less versatile and tend to stay in their comfort zone as far as dance forms...
Ragini also showed tremendous groW*H as a dancer also and its unfortunate she was eliminated - the blindfolded performance and the performance of the khichri episode as well as the performance week 3 where she scored her first 30 - were a visual delight... I admire her spirit and continuing optimism despite being in the danger zone repeatedly....a good sport indeed..
Now to come to Sushant, he is a very strong dancer and has been teamed with an equally sharp choreographer... they do work hard and it shows... as far as groW*H....he has shown a good amount of versatility and his performances are fluid...though from my perspective - I don't think he's grown that much as a performer as far as execution of steps..for example....his mother-son themed performance was a very touching concept but from a dance perspective, i felt they had presented much better dance in other performances...Shampa and Sushant do incorporate various dance types and come up with innovative concepts and themes for their performances that is probably their strongest point as a team and it helps they are both naturally good dancers..

So all in all wishing the contestants the very best and hoping the most deserving and all round "sitara" be the "taj" of JDJ-4!

Please note the above note is entirely my personal opinion and not intended to offend or upset any reader... do post your thoughts though!

no comments from anyone :(

I think this has to be THE most sensible, balanced, well-thought out and unbiased post on JDJ 4 forum. Thank you for saying all that I wanted to!👏👏👏

I appreciate your post. However I think the title of your post and your analysis of all the contestants totally contradict each other.

Originally posted by: cute2stay

I appreciate your post. However I think the title of your post and your analysis of all the contestants totally contradict each other.

First of all, Jhalak is NOT a platform for non-dancers. This is completely untrue. It is simply a platform for stars or celebrities to show their dancing skills whatever their previous dance background may be. So I think it is completely unfair to prefer certain contestants over other only on the basis of their previous dance training.

I think the bit about Ankita's attitude was uncalled for. I think your post would hold more credit if you talked more about the contestants' dancing ability. Anyways, Ankita's attitude is your personal opinion so I'm not going to say anything about that.

Now coming to what I think is the main point of your post. The fact that this platform is an opportunity to show a "jhalak" of their hidden talents. Based on that idea, I think Sushant and Shampa are the clear winners of this season.

Sure Mahi, Ragini, Ankita and Chang have shown groW*H this season. There's no denying that and that's commendable. However what makes Sushant and Shampa's team stand out amongst others is the THOUGHT these guys put into their performances. Each performance of their's has shown a different side, a different emotion/story, thought..a different "jhalak" of theirs. No one else this season has put in that much thought and creativity into their performances as these guys have!

It's one thing to participate in a competition and dance/choreograph. It's another thing to actually use this opportunity to the maximum! To actually give a MEANING to dancing! Both Sushant and Shampa have shown their maximum potential through this opportunity. If you observe their performances closely, each step, each movement is well thought out. They succeed in capturing the spirit, the SOUL of the music! Plus Sushant actually dances his heart out! He dances from his soul which is reflective in his performances! That's what makes them stand apart from the others!! It's their spirit, creativity and THOUGHT process! Their hard work goes not just into practicing, but also the THINKING. That's the difference!

I don't know what you mean by Sushant not having shown groW*H. But I think the performances we have gotten to see this season because of Sushant and Shampa have taken this show to a totally different level. They bring something new to each of their performances and that according to me is groW*H. They have maintained their level of excellence and you can't dismiss that!

Talking about the maa-beta example you gave...if you observe that performance closely as well you will see how much thought has gone into the detailing of that act! The movements reflect the mood and the lyrics of the music! Yes, the dancing style wasn't anything new. I will agree to that. Sushant has attempted that style before. But the emotion, the creativity involved in choreographing and performing the act was just as commendable!

I've said this before while discussing weekly performances but the difference between Sushant and Shampa's performances vs. the others is that they have LAYERS to their dancing. They show details!! Even in a concept like maa-beta for example, the theme was NOT simply showing the maa-beta relationship! It was about the MOMENTS! The memories Sushant has of his mother, his grief at the fact that his mother isn't present with him to be a part of his success, the fact that he is now living his dream but is mother who always believed in his dream isn't alive to see him live it, but despite this the mother watching over her son every step of the way. THAT'S detailing right there!! THAT'S thought process, creativity right there! Sushant and Shampa managed to show all this not just through acting/emoting but through actually DANCING! And no other contestant has been able to show that in this season so far!!

So to me all the other factors you mentioned don't even really matter. The sole fact that these guys have been able to show us ART through dance...that they have shown us such amazing performances makes them the only deserving winner this season! Whether he wins or not is another story, but there's no question in my mind as to who DESERVES it the most!

Spoke my mind in every way!👏👏👏👏


@topicstarter: You make some interesting points but I also disagree with the whole "non dancer" argument which ppl seem to take as a free pass to just say that the non-dancers should win this competition.

This is my opinion and my opinion only but I don't really think Ragini showed much groW*H over the course of the season....till the very end, 90% of her acts had co-ordination errors and she would forget atleast one step in each of them and it would SHOW....there was a clumsiness in general. As for Mahi, she's hit and miss.....by her own standards, sometimes she does better and sometimes worse....but in general majorly lacking energy and stage presence which are essential for a good dance performance IMO.

The ONLY person to truly show a groW*H from being a non-dancer to evolving into a very good dancer is Chang.

As for the rest of the "trained" dancers in this show like Sushant that you feel have stagnated, I think cute2stay has clearly explained my viewpoint on this as well.......Sushant is the LAST person I would call "stagnating" on this show.....he has shown THE most variety ESPECIALLY in terms of concept which the others have largely struggled with.

As for Ankita.....again I just sense more of a perception of her so called attitude from your post....but anyways leaving that aside, she too was NOT a "trained dancer" and she DID show groW*H and tremendous amount of variety with the various dance forms that she tried....above all the kind of GRACE she brought to her acts, none of the other female participants have this season. Also, I don't think that Ankita lacks 'sportsman spirit' as you put it....No, not at all....What she said in her AV showed disappointment and yes bitterness to an extent but what she spoke was the ultimate truth that was on everyone's mind....anyone who has a fair mind, that is😆......so she wasn't able to be a bigger person in that moment.....she was clearly upset over many factors....her ouster was OBVIOUSLY unfair since Yana-Salman didn't even DANCE properly in the faceoff.....so she vented....yes there could have been a better, more tactful, more gracious way to phrase it but she slipped up.....it seemed like a human moment to me....hardly one to label her "arrogant", "lacking sportsman spirit" over.

But yes, I can understand how the general audience won't view it that way.....Ankita's bossy and slightly childish nature has never been understood properly on this show either and this goes further in painting her in a bad light to just show her as an "arrogant/snobbish" person.....but I found her to be honest....lacking tact and diplomacy in that moment which wasn't for the best but honest and straightforward as she always has been.....

Thank you both for you thoughtful commentary - as I had mentioned at the end of my post - those were my thoughts... I don't expect everyone to concur with that obviously - that's why its called an opinion and not a fact...
Though I do feel it is necessary for me to point out a few things that I feel are being misconstrued -
I am not by any means saying that the not professionally trained celebs SHOULD win - in my opinion JDJ is a platform for popular faces/personalities to be able to showcase their dancing abilities...
Also the comment about Sushant and Shampa - I already stated they are very strong performers and yes they do raise the bar to a whole new level, they are very versatile and Shampa is a phenomenal choreographer.... what I am saying is that they started off at a really high point in comparison to the other contestants so in relation to that - the groW*H factor is less - you can't really better someone who is already great at what they do now can you?
In regards to Ankita - the thoughts posted on her demeanor and attitude were mentioned to illustrate how that might have been a factor leading to lower votes on behalf of the public - again just an opinion
Anyways - a forum is a place to share thoughts - no need for personal attacks and this is a special mention to the individual who questioned my "fair mind"

Somehow JDJ4 showed different sides of these clelbreties, along with their dances.

Like Daya Sir, saw his Modesty.His speech before leaving.. Showed his good heart while saying felt bad for others leaving, as he is the one to leave. Love U Daya Sir.

Ragini, saw her Fighting spirit and accepting challenge and failure with smile evern though she is the one most the time in bottom 3.Before leaving also she left the show gracefully and with a smile.. Go going Girl.. Loved your spirit..

Shekar suman a weak dancer, thanked the judges for giving him opportunity .It's great atleast he tried dancing in this age even though a non-dancer.

Ankita, a good dancer..But her Extreme Rudness leaving speech, negetivity towards judeges,other contestants and the words Sushant Band Banjaavoo Sabka ..showed her in badlight in normal audience mind.

Even though mahi is not a good dancer, but i loved her pure good heart.. and the words she told Life is Short wish good for others..

Originally posted by: skar1984

Thank you both for you thoughtful commentary - as I had mentioned at the end of my post - those were my thoughts... I don't expect everyone to concur with that obviously - that's why its called an opinion and not a fact...
Though I do feel it is necessary for me to point out a few things that I feel are being misconstrued -
I am not by any means saying that the not professionally trained celebs SHOULD win - in my opinion JDJ is a platform for popular faces/personalities to be able to showcase their dancing abilities...
Also the comment about Sushant and Shampa - I already stated they are very strong performers and yes they do raise the bar to a whole new level, they are very versatile and Shampa is a phenomenal choreographer.... what I am saying is that they started off at a really high point in comparison to the other contestants so in relation to that - the groW*H factor is less - you can't really better someone who is already great at what they do now can you?
In regards to Ankita - the thoughts posted on her demeanor and attitude were mentioned to illustrate how that might have been a factor leading to lower votes on behalf of the public - again just an opinion
Anyways - a forum is a place to share thoughts - no need for personal attacks and this is a special mention to the individual who questioned my "fair mind"