Dancing with the Stars

Colors

HHH

What’s it about? The Indian version of the popular UK dance series Strictly Come Dancing,Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is in its fifth season this year. The show rounds up several celebrities and semi-celebrities who train with professional dancers for partners and then compete with each other for the title and the Rs 50 lakh prize. However,unlike the original series where ballroom and Latin dances form the focus,the Indian version concentrates on film songs and themed performances. The show has been popular since its debut in 2006 on Sony Entertainment Television and has seen acclaimed personalities such as Farah Khan,Sanjay Leela Bhansali,Shilpa Shetty,Juhi Chawla and Malaika Arora Khan as judges.

Who’s in it? The three judges this year form the show’s highlight — actress and dancing diva Madhuri Dixit,choreographer Remo D’Souza and,surprisingly,filmmaker Karan Johar.

The show has 13 as opposed to the usual 12 contestants this year. They are a mix of members from the entertainment industry. Giaa Manek (Gopi Bahu),Pratyusha Banerjee or Balika Vadhu’s Anandi,veteran Jayati Bhatia,comedian Bharti Singh and Gurmeet Choudhary,who is currently the lead actor in Punar Vivaah,are the television brigade. VJs Archana Vijaya and Shibani Dandekar bring in the glam factor along with film actress and danseuse Isha Sharvani. There are also ghazal singer Talat Aziz,actor Ravi Kishan and child actor Darsheel Safary. Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya and Kaun Banega Crorepati 5 winner Sushil Kumar look like outsiders in the entertainment-dominated sphere. Manish Paul and Ragini Khanna will play hosts.

What’s hot? While Dixit and D’Souza were also judges on the previous season,the show’s makers have pulled off a casting coup with Johar on board. The episodes on the opening weekend were grand with massive sets,like those in award functions. Other celebrities introduced the contestants with a mini performance. For example,Malaika Khan accompanied Bharti,Ayushmann Khurrana came with Vijaya and Dandekar and Harbhajan Singh was Jayasuriya’s pal. The second episode opened with a laudable performance by Dixit and D’Souza,with a few moves thrown in by Johar too. Judging by the content of the first two episodes,the makers have ample antics planned out to keep the viewers hooked. Bharti,with her surprisingly good performance and comic sense,is a contestant to watch out for. A trained dancer,Sharvani is pleasant to watch. Jayasuriya and Aziz are both terrible performers.

What’s not? Barring the almost A-lister judge line-up,the show yet again brings together a host of wannabes and has-beens. After all,there are only as many celebrities in India,given the country’s fixation with cinema,television and cricket. And the list of possible contestants is going to get exhausted unless Indian television raises standards to attract B-listers,if not the top notch talent,to compete.

Also,while the other two judges already share a rapport from the previous season,Johar seems a tad stuck-up and snobbish.

Should you be watching it? The first two episodes indicate that the channel is keen on delivering entertainment. How much of it will demonstrate real dancing talent is something only time will tell.