Revisiting old memories with Kalpana Iyer

If I remind you of hit Bollywood numbers like Hari Om Hari from the film Pyaara Dushman (1980), Tu Mujhe Jaan se Bhi Pyaara Hai from Wardaat (1981) and Rambha Ho Ho Ho from Armaan (1982), what comes to your mind When I think of these larger-than-life item numbers of the 80s, the one and only thing I remember is the sensual and stunning Kalpana Iyer and all her memorable hip gyrating moves. An epitome of grace and sensuality, she took over the tradition of item songs from Helen, Bindu and Aruna Irani. She was one hot vamp who danced in almost all the films in the 1980s until her acting talent was displayed in films like Satte Pe Satte (1982), Anjaam (1994), Raja Hindustani (1996) and Hum Saath Saath Hai (1999). She was also critically acclaimed for her performance as a prison warden in superstar Shah Rukh starrer film Anjaam, in which she was hanged to death by dancing diva Madhuri Dixit.

As a Bollywood choreographer, item songs of the 1970s and 1980s have always fascinated me. I have had the fortune of meeting Helen Aunty many a times as Arpita and Alvira Khan — the gorgeous Salman Khan sisters — are my students, but Kalpana was one diva I always wanted to meet.

There was some divine connection I always felt with her. There was something about her personality, something about her over-the-top and larger-than-life image on-screen that always attracted me to her.

Social media indeed has brought the world closer and I realised this recently. My embodiment of grace Kalpana met me on a social networking site. Yes, you read that right, on a social networking site. She is now a restaurateur and lives in Dubai with her sister and nephew. My recent trip to Dubai to judge season 4 of UAE’s Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa- Dancing With The Stars gave me an opportunity to meet this dancing legend.

I walked into her Indian restaurant Nizam, which showcases wonderful live music and dance each day. The moment I met her and touched her feet, she hugged me tears rolled down my eyes, and I wondered why Was it because I was meeting my dancing idol Or was it that divine connection I felt with her even without meeting her I could not control my emotions and cried liked a baby in front of her. Soon after I took control of my emotions, I spoke to the Miss India 1978, for hours, who even till today has the beauty, charisma, charm and the zeal of a winner. Here are a few questions I asked her

Most South Indians normally train in Indian classical music and dance, you danced so beautifully, did you train in a particular dance form No, I am not trained in any form of dance at all. I did join a Bharatnatyam class as a kid, but could not continue for monetary reasons and so all my dancing skills are self taught and instinctive.

As a Bollywood dance icon, you gave hits after hits how was that different from learning or training in dance I am told that I used to move to music from the time I was a baby, I would dance in my school annual function and at the Ganesh Chaturthi functions in my colony always and since I was a keen observer and my memory was sharp I would watch and learn and retain everything. I never needed too many rehearsals. The stage taught me everything, it was my teacher, be it discipline and punctuality, it gave me a lot of confidence. The stage grooms you and is a tough task master and in comparison film dancing was a cakewalk and so easy. I was a good student. My choreographer was my guru and I would listen and follow them without question or debate for they were all veterans. I was blessed by the best and all of them were wonderfully talented, I loved respected each one of them. As for hits, God was so kind almost all my songs were super hits the songs were catchy peppy and most of them are popular even today.

Your favourite dance number and why That is the most difficult question ever, I cannot pick a favourite at all. How can I, my dear Each one is special for some reason or the other for example Lootmaar/Jab Chaye Mera Jadoo was my first dance number, so it is very special to me.

Kudrat/Chodo Sanam my first dance with huge stars, can’t forget it at all. Pyaara Dushman/Hari Om Hari my first solo dance number, so on and so forth. The list is endless.

A choreographer you loved working with and Why We called them dance master then. All me dance masters/choreographers were extremely special to me. Each one of them contributed to my growth as a dancer in cinema. Each one had his/her own style which was unique and distinctive. I carry each one of them in my heart with respect, I owe them a huge thank you for I was, I am what I am because of them and their complete belief in me. I was blessed I worked with all such legends.

A dance number you had the most difficulty working on No dance was difficult for me. I had tough dance masters, but that I was loved and respected especially in the south for there you just had to be perfect. There were no compromises irrespective of who you are. Well, I had sore feet, swollen knees, aches and pain all over, but the end result all good and I am glad still people remember the dances.

Now that you have been away from the industry, do you miss all the attention No, I miss nothing, that would be so easy to say but it is not true. I miss everything about it, but time waits for no one so I take pleasure in watching today’s generation and bless them all. They are all doing such fabulous work and am so proud of my film industry.

In today’s generation of actors/dancers who’s dancing skills you like and who is your favourite choreographer in today’s generation I am totally impressed by Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. Both of them have it all, be it grace, style and the dancing ability which is so effortless and smooth and a pleasure to watch.

I also like Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif who both come across as sincere in their effort and it shows in their dancing and the one person who brings tears of joy with his dancing is Hrithik Roshan. I sincerely believe that his is a unique talent and no one comes close.

There is one choreographer I like a lot and that is Prabhu Deva for he is different and a risk-taker and that is a winning quality most times.

Any song that you would have loved to dance to on screen, but never got a chance I am a total dance lover, I would have loved to do so many dance numbers. The list is a long one but, let me not go there at all. Suffice to say I had a lovely, long fruitful inning and feel blessed and grateful.

After spending time with this legendary dancer, I realised that she is a rebel and this rebellious side of hers made her who she is today. In an age when heroines were not supposed to gyrate and swivel seductively, film scripts strictly left sensuality to dancers who performed the song sequences, it was Kalpanaji who did what many would never dare to or even think of.

From being a proficient model, beauty queen, walking for thousands of ramp shows all over the world and then turning to the cinema industry, becoming a dancer and vamp because of her dancing skills and moving to serious roles in film and later television, winning awards and acclaims for her talent and then giving it all up and living a life of an ordinary person working long hours in the hospitality industry, she is one lady who has done it all with her head held up high. She is a true icon and an inspiration for all dancers and dancer lovers as she has proved that work done with sincerity never goes unnoticed and there always comes a time in a dancer’s life when they have to hang their dancing shoes or ghungaroos and allow the younger generation to take the spotlight, as a senior artist what remains with her is lots of love in the heart and blessings for the next generation.