It’s Boogey time, folks!

The hall reverberated with the very catchy beat of Shweta Shetty's Ore Ore and the 13-year-old who was vigorously gyrating to the beats coul...

4 min readMay 20, 1998 12:00 AM IST

The hall reverberated with the very catchy beat of Shweta Shetty’s Ore Ore and the 13-year-old who was vigorously gyrating to the beats could have easily taught the original dancer, Raveena Tandon, a thing or two about filmi jhatkas and nakhras.

Scene two had a couple of teenagers with a fabulously choreographed number set to the current hot craze – Barbie Girl.

Then came the turn of a PYT Pretty Young Thing for the ignoramuses! in skin-hugging jeans and a short, short top who proceeded to do the most incredible steps for the number Sexy Eyes that so mesmerised the crowd that even the guys controlling the audio system forgot to put off the tape after the stipulated one minute, letting the song run to near completion!

And so it carried on – the all guys dance group that kept their shirts on but did an equally commendable job as Salman Khan and co for O O jaane jaana, the Punjabi girl who was probably all of nine but balle balle-d to the Daler Mehendi number with the expertise of a professional and the breakdancer, with a body made apparently of rubber, who did the most incredible antics on the dance floor set to a hot filmi favourite.

And it was all happening right here in amche Pune. It really seemed as though this was just the break youngsters in the city had been waiting for all this while. For the three days, that is May 16 to 18, it seemed as though every youngster in town had tripped to Holiday Inn to shake a leg and various other parts of the anatomy for the benefit of the Colgate Gel Boogie Woogie team that was in Pune to have a dekko at the local talent. But obviously even they had not fathomed such an overwhelming response that ultimately resulted in the organisers extending their original schedule of two days by another day simply to accommodate all the applicants.

Ambitious parents and even more ambitious youngsters could be seen engaged in a flurry of activity as they collected the forms, filled up the particulars, memorised the number allotted to them and lined up for their turn, clutching their precious audio cassettes in hand that contained the vital piece of music that would form the background to the explosion of talent as planned by them. While there were a few aspirants who seemed more seriously inclined and based their dances on classical numbers, the majority were clearly banking on the jazzy and catchy beats of one of the current top ten to notch up a win. As for English numbers both Barbie Girl and Sexy Eyes could have won a prize for the oft-repeated score, if there was one going.

The first two days itself saw some 400 auditions and the organisers were hoping to clock in another couple of hundred on the extended day too.

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According to Ravi Behl, one of the producers of the show, the final selection of contestants from the auditions being taped would be done in Mumbai. The finalists would then contacted individually and asked to come to Mumbai where their performances would be recorded at the Filmalya Studios from June 1 to 4. The organisers expect the Pune Special to be on air in about two months from now. That would in fact also coincide with this popular show completing its 100th episode. “I am simply amazed by Pune’s talent. In fact it looks like we might have to come back,” revealed a visibly thrilled Behl. So there’s hope yet for the handful left who probably missed the earlier auditions and along with that their shot to fame.

While the oodles of talent so visible in the city does make one immensely proud, it also seems to force you to acknowledge another undeniable fact… That Pune is no more Pune – it’s just another wannabe Mumbai!

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More

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