Colors, Saturday - Sunday, 9 pm
Host: Ragini Khanna, Manish Paul
Rating: **1/2
After all the hype when a show launches, what we want to see is the real thing, the contestants dancing and not a two hour spectacle that looks more like a pointless celebration
The fifth season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa started with a lot of performances, from just about anyone and everyone. Thank God, they didn't have the cameramen, the lightboys, the spot boys joining the revelry! I mean, we know the excitement of starting a new season on a new channel but would have loved some restraint on their part.
The first episode was a stretch. From the hosts to the judges to the contestants and their friends just about everyone was on the dance floor. Those who were missing were the choreographers who were going to make the pappus and pappis dance! How unfair is that. At one point, I almost forgot who the real contestant was and who their 'so-called' friends were who had come on the show to 'present' them. Besides, after all the hype when a show launches what we want to see is the real thing, the contestants dancing and not a two hour spectacle that looks more like a pointless celebration than a dance reality show!
Now, for some important questions:
Was it a great comeback yet again for Madhuri Dixit? Yes, it was. She looked great in both the weekend episodes. We loved her Kabhi Kabhie inspired poetry, her voice too. Though we can't say the same about her 'inspired' Udi Udi dance number! That smile is still fetching and the aura intact. What we could do without is the over enthusiasm on everyone's part to welcome her. Come on, guys, she's been there, done that. We know she is a dance diva. Let's move on. Host Manish Paul almost falling at her feet was a bit too much! Do we like Karan Johar's debut as a judge of a dancing show? Yes, we do. He tells it like it is, though he could go easy on his chirpiness.
Do we like the line-up? Yes, we do, at least most of them are easy on the eye — Archana Vijaya, Gurmeet Chaudhury, Giaa Manek, Pratyusha Banerjee — and light on their feet. Sanath Jayasuriya may have two left feet, he may not know to lip-synch the song, but he can still have everyone eating out of his hands. Shibani Dandekar is sheer eye candy, graceful and definitely someone to watch out for. Our personal favourite is stand-up comedienne, Bharti Singh. She alone can get the show some decent numbers with a little help from Manish Paul. Talking of Paul, he's an asset, alright. His quick wit, easy charm and light banter keeps the show alive and going. He certainly doesn't need the fake smiles of his co-host, Ragini Khanna, to liven up the proceedings.
Last but not the least is Remo D'Souza, the only one who seems to be unaffected by his worthy co-judges. He delivers his judgement with minimum fuss though his logic behind marking Sanath's debut performance a nine each escaped us. We were told the marking was done on the basis of how far removed the contestants were from dance. But that's the format of the show. The more far removed the contestant is, the more difficult the challenge. Weren't they supposed to be 'stepping out' of their comfort zones? If that was indeed the logic behind the judgement then it should have been mentioned right at the beginning and not three performances down- unfair to those who came before Sanath.
The sets are grand and the competition is only going to get hotter. The first
jhalak has whetted our appetite for more.
Verdict: Fun weekend viewing.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
