TV REVIEW: Dancing Queen is a winner

[soniya]

Yet another dance reality show, Dancing Queen (DQ), went on air this weekend on the new general entertainment channel Colors. Wondering if it would be any different from the rest, we tuned into the show (10 pm IST) only to be welcomed by a rather unimpressive title song.


We groaned a bit but then everything that happened later was planned to impress. Small screen heartthrob and anchor Shabbir Ahluwalia made an entry with the Bachna Ae Haseeno title track, telling us how much he will enjoy being in the midst of so many women on the show. Just that the fake whistle tracks were not going with his moonwalking.


Moving on, the beautiful Hema Malini entered and shook a leg to the famous Sholay number, Aa, Jab Tak Hain Jaan making us wish she hadn't stopped! Her grace, her elegance, her beauty seems unchanged to this day. Soon enough, Jumping Jack Jeetendra came in dancing too on Taki Taki, one of his hit numbers. The chemistry between the judges, who have worked together before, saw some sparks, and promises to get better as the show proceeds.

Unlike in Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa and Nach Baliye, where the mentors were essentially professional choreographers, DQ has gone one step ahead and chosen known names in films and TV to be the 'mentors' of ordinary girls next door who will be the contestants. So, the faces you see on the hoardings are that of the mentors and not the participants!


The first mentor, Meghna Naidu delivered a good performance of the song that made her famous, Kaliyon Ka Chaman. Then came in Shweta Menon, who danced on Aa Tayaar Ho Ja from the film Asoka. She seemed like she hasn't lost touch at all, and as Jeetendra remarked, "Not letting the good-looking guys (male dancers) overshadow her".


But in came in Barkha Bisht, whose highly energetic and agile performance on Crazy Boys and Tu Saala Kaam Se Gaya definitely threatened to 'overshadow' all. Challenging her was Dipsshikha Nagpal with her spirited Tuk Tuk Dekhe. What was heartening to see was that her children were there to cheer their mom.

[soniya]

Mink made a comeback with Mamta Kulkarni's Mujhko Nanaji Maaf Karna number from Karan Arjun. She added grace to the slightly vulgar song. Anita Hassanandani was a pleasure to watch in her Dil Ding Dong Ding Bole act. She poses a good threat to Barkha on the show. Mentor Sanobar Kabir seemed a veteran on the Meri Beri Ke Ber remix.

Bruna Abdalah Christofoli had problems with lip-synch but was extremely graceful in her performance on Kareena Kapoor's song, It's Rocking. Ishita Arun was as fresh as she was when she first shot for Vaishali Samant's Aika Daaji Ba.



Then came the most awaited performance – of the Bhojpuri Helen Sambhavana Seth. Indeed, Bigg Boss 2's naughty girl was dynamite as she gyrated to Piya Tu Ab To Aaja.


One was so engrossed in the dancers that one almost forgot Deepika Padukone was to make an appearance on the show. She came in, dressed in a red churidar-kurta, and spoke of Chandni Chowk To China. But since Deepika's been compared to Hema Malini both in terms of looks and dancing s****s, one expected a little more interaction between the two on the show.
Hema Malini and Jeetendra as the judges were nice to all, and even asked some questions, making one wonder if the show was going in beauty pageant mode.


DQ gave viewers only a glimpse of the contestants on Friday, and will reveal them on Saturday night's episode. We aren't sure who to watch out for, but if the first episode was anything to go by, we sure are dying to get floored!