Nach Baliye 2: A Dance Season with a Difference

By: Arya Aiyappan
Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Nach Baliye, celebrity couples' dance competition (2005) along the lines of Indian Idol, Sa Re Ga Ma and The Great Indian Laughter Challenge has come up with a sequel Nach Baliye 2 in September (2006) on Star One. Nach Baliye season 1 ended with the oldest couple Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar as the winners in the dance show. The celebrity couples' dance show comes as a package entertainment with dance, music, revelry and suspense pepped up with a layer of emotions and melodrama. There's more to it than mere dance.

The second innings of Nach Baliye kick started with a bang with an astounding line of high-profile celebrities. Nach Baliye 2 claims to cash on a variety of new add-ons to enhance the star value of the show. The Reality Episode and Performance Episode judge the contestants as per the effort they put into their rehearsals off screen and the latter with regard to their performance before the panel of judges. The esteemed judges for this season are the same; Saroj Khan and Malaika Arora Khan except for director Kunal Kohili, who has replaced Farhan Akhtar who had adjudged the first season.

The curtain raiser, of Nach Baliye Season II was held on 18th August 2006. The show began on 25th September 2006 with a performance by the previous year's champions Sachin and Supriya on the song "Where's the Party Tonight". The ten celebrity couples for the show- Narayani Shastri and Gaurav Chopraa, Gouri and Yash Tonk, Shweta Kawaatra and Manav Gohil, Shweta Tiwari and Raja Chaudhury, Ketki and Rasik Dave, Gurdip Kohli and Arjun Punjj, Gauri Pradhan and Hiten Tejwani, Tina and Hussain Kuwajerwala, Keerti and Sharad Kelkar, and Tanaaz R. and Lal Bakhtyaar M. Irani - in their dazzling attires and stunning dance performances have set the stage on fire. The show featuring couples have real life couples as well as on screen couples, and some like Narayani and Gaurav who being good friends do not want to tag their relationship with anything.

The grand show is all set to make a record with ten host jodis as there are ten contestant jodis. The hosts for the star-studded show are Shabbir and Sangeeta, Shakti and Sai, Amit and Neeru, Sachin and Supriya, Manish and Poonam, Varun and Rajeshwari, Mihir and Maninee, Apoorva and Shilpa, Rohit and Mansi and Rajiv and Delnaaz. Each and every passing day of the show has some new surprises springing up. The dance show with various exciting rounds termed as rustic village numbers, comedy, wedding special, it's time to disco, romance, wildcard special, choreographer's choice, and regional spice has created much sensation as the during every episode when one jodi is voted out.

The celebrities with their choreographers presented sizzling performances creating a stir among the audience. Their costumes, accessories, emotions, dance steps are prudently evaluated by the judges and commented upon. The USP of the show the patient hours of waiting, the swelling up sentiments, spur-of-the-moment reactions of the contestants, and the expressive drama of emotions that ensues are indeed worth a watch. The fun filled dramatic episodes of Nach Baliye 2 makes viewing a wonderful experience as long as the head and heart are not in synchronization. Akin to daily soaps much spicy episodes are offered with regard to the elimination rounds, the performances and their pent-up feelings. The jodis voted out over the time period were Narayani Shastri and Gaurav Chopraa in the comedy round, Ketaki and Rasik Dave in the village round, Gurdip Kohli and Arjun J Punjj in the romance round, Keerti Gaekwad and Sharad Kelkar in the wedding round, and Shweta Tiwari and Raja Chaudhary who were eliminated in the western dance round to be voted back in the choreographer's choice round and to eventually quit after Shweta performing with their choreographer in the regional spice round due to Raja's failing health.

Whatever be the result much hoopla has been raised over the results, judges's comments, the shady sms and sim card episode linking Manav and Shweta, and not to forget Malaika's sexy dresses. The contestants exhibit competitive spirit despite publicly proclaiming that pure masti is their sole aim and results hardly matter. Nach Baliye 2 is slowly drawing near its fag end with the jodis eliminated one by one, public interest building up and new events like solo performances coming up. As the dance and dancers reach a state of frenzy, results appaer hazy, but the excitement is still soaring high!