Shoma dances the ‘Talkies’ way!

[1]

Come May 3, and the country will celebrate the essence of Indian cinema that completes 100 years. Bombay Talkies, a collaborated effort of four film makers Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee, pays tribute to the tenets of cinema. Danseuse Shoma Kaikini from Bengaluru has directed some of the dance sequences in the film and she is excited about her classical Bollywood debut.
Shoma, who runs dance school Nrityanidhi, was going about her business like any other day when she got a call from Excel Entertainment — the production house run by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. “I get several calls from reality show productions and event management companies and thought this was one more. I’m clear about my goal — I want classical dance to be appreciated and my school aims to achieve that. I feel that our heritage should be preserved but presented in a way that people can relate to,” says the dimpled dancer, who teaches Kathak, Bharatanatyam and folk dance fused with Bollywood.
She admits she couldn’t recollect who owns Excel and tells us how she almost turned down the offer. Later, when she learnt Zoya Akhtar is directing the film, she was ecstatic. “I had heard about Bombay Talkies and it sounded interesting. To be called to work in it was an indescribable feeling!” Shoma and her students appear in the short film, which is about a 12-year-old boy, who is inspired by a film star and defies convention to follow his dreams. “There are a series of Kathak sequences which I was roped in to choreograph,” reveals Shoma adding, “I had several notions about the industry but I was glad to be proven wrong. The entire production unit was so accommodating and professional.”
She recalls meeting Zoya Akhtar, whom she describes as a ‘warm, well-spoken and downright professional’. “I appreciate how they trusted me enough to direct the portions involving the dance. Zoya never interfered with my work and gave me complete freedom.”