About a year ago, director Vinod Mankara and actor Vineeth were talking about a film they were soon going to work on – Kamboji . Mankara spoke at length about how he wanted to visualise one of the songs.
He had told Vineeth about two characters, one a Mohiniyattam dancer and the other a Kathakali practitioner, who had to express their feelings for each other through a song. Mankara wanted authentic steps of Kathakali and Mohiniyattam for the song, not the usual cinematic ones. He asked Vineeth who would be the best to choreograph the song.”
Vineeth’s reply was prompt. “I could do it,” he said. The actor-dancer had not choreographed any song for a film in his three-decade long career, but he is recognised as one of the finest dancers among actors in Indian cinema, having learnt classical dance from eminent gurus such as Padma Subrahmanyam and Kalamandalam Saraswathy. So he was confident he could do it. More importantly, Mankara was confident about him.
A year later, both the men are happy with their decision. Chenthaar nermukhee …, sung by KS Chitra and Sreevalsan J Menon, which Vineeth had choreographed and acted in, has fetched Vineeth the Kerala State Film Award for the best choreography. This is the first ever state film award for Vineeth, though he started his career as an actor in 1985.
Long time coming
“I was told that I was considered for a state film award for my performances in films such as Rathrimazha , Parinayam and Bavuttiyude Namathil , but all that does not matter now. I am delighted that my skills as a dancer have been recognised with this award. I am passionate about dancing and acting,” says Vineeth over phone from Chennai.
Vineeth had begun choreographing for stage productions long before Kamboji .
“It was for a show in Dubai led by Mohanlal that I first choreographed a piece on my own. That was in 1992. After that I have choreographed several film songs for stage shows; sometimes I have collaborated with Shobana. I have also choreographed traditional Bharatanatyam items, besides a 90-minute production on Jnanappana ,” says Vineeth.
He views dancing and acting as two different disciplines. “I have to ensure that my years of training in dance, doesn't make my acting look too stylised, but the 'abhinaya' part of dancing comes in handy while doing emotional scenes," he adds.
Vineeth says the moment he heard the songs, he was convinced that the numbers would do the composer M Jayachandran proud. The songs were written by ONV Kurup, probably his last for a film.
Interestingly, it was by enacting ONV’s songs on screen in films like Nakhakshathangal and Idanazhiyil Oru Kalocha that Vineeth became popular as a teenage sensation all those years ago. Little could he have imagined then that one day, he would be choreographing what would be one of the last songs written by the legendary poet.
“The song had everything going for it. I wanted to use Mohiniyattam and Kathakali in the most authentic way possible in cinema. But you just cannot have pure classical dance for cinema – it is not a stage performance and there is the camera that you have to be aware of,” he elaborates.
In step
Vineeth had learnt Mohiniyattam from Kalamandalam Saraswathy during his school days – and he used to make a bewitching Mohini on the School Arts Festival stage – but he hadn’t studied Kathakali, though the style was familiar to him.
“So I worked with a Kathakali artiste. I also brushed up my Mohiniyattam with the help of a couple of dancers. Then I explored the possibilities of how to stylise the steps and the techniques and use them effectively for cinema,” he says.
Vineeth and Lakshmi Gopalaswamy in a still from Kamboji
Another challenge was teaching Lakshmi Gopalaswamy Mohiniyattam and designing costumes for the sequence and also acting in it.
Vineeth says he would love to do more choreography.
“I have been dancing since the age of four. And I have always been inspired by some brilliantly choreographed song sequences in Indian cinema of different languages. We don’t have too many choreographers who are trained in classical dances. So I guess I could add something to a song that demands a base in classical dance,” he says. Surprisingly, Vineeth hasn’t yet got a role in Malayalam cinema that has truly explored his talent as a dancer.
We have, however, seen glimpses of his skills in films like Kamaladalam ( Premodaranaayi… ), Vaathilpazhuthilooden… ( Idanazhiyil Oru Kalocha ) and Shivadam shivanaamam… ( Mazhavillu ).
“I would have loved to do more dancing in films. I am happy that I could at least do a Ra ra… ( Chandramukhi ) and a Mere dholna … ( Bhool Bhulaiyaa ),” he says.
Vineeth’s one regret is that the film that has his finest dance performances, Queens! (Hindi), has not been released in cinemas.
“I played a transgender called Mukta in the film. I had some three dance sequences in the film, dressed as a woman; they all had come out very well. It is a pity that the film hasn’t reached out to audiences yet though it was screened in festivals,” he rues. Vineeth points out that Indian cinema has seen several great actors who have also been outstanding dancers.
“I have always been in awe of Padmini, my aunt who encouraged me to learn dance, Vyjayanthimala, Kamal Haasan, Shobana, who is my cousin, Bhanupriya and Sridevi.
“Among choreographers, I have high regard for Uday Shankar, B Hiralal, Raghuram, Saroj Khan, Sundaram, Shiva Shankar, Tarun, Prabhu Deva, Kala, Kumar Shanthi and Vaibhavi Merchant.”
For the moment, he is looking forward to the release of Kamboji .
Vineeth chooses his top ten dance sequences from Indian cinema
* Kannum kannum kalandhu… ( Vanjikottai Vaaliban )
* Nalanthaana … ( Thillana Mohanambal )
* Hothon mein aisi baat… (Jewel Thief)
*Dola re dola … ( Devdas )
* Naada vinodangal … ( Silangai Oli )
* Oru murai vanthu … ( Manichithrathazhu )
* Aaja nachle … ( Aaja Nachle )
* Gori tere ang ange mein … ( Tohfa )
* Neelam ke nabh chayee… ( Utsav )
* Arivin nilaave … ( Rajashilpi )
TIMELINE:
1984 Begins making a mark at the State School Arts Festival
1985 Debuts in films with Idanilangal
1986 Wins the inaugural Kalaprathibha (individual champion) title at the State School Arts Festival
1992 Makes debut in Tamil cinema with Avarampoo
2007 Wins Kalaimamani Award
2017 Wins the Kerala State Film Award for Best Choreographer
