Veteran actress and iconic classical dancer Sudha Chandran has shared her thoughts on the recent controversy surrounding Ananya Panday’s Bharatnatyam-inspired sequence in her last month released film Chand Mera Dil. The scene quickly became a topic of discussion online with several social media users criticizing the fusion-style presentation of the traditional dance form and calling it disrespectful.
Known not only for her acting career across Hindi, Telugu and Tamil cinema but also for her dedication to classical dance despite losing a leg at the age of 16, the veteran performer offered a balanced perspective on the debate.
“Don’t Turn Tradition Into A Caricature”
During an exclusive interview with Filmibeat, the actress was asked about the backlash and whether traditional art forms should be altered in the name of modernization. Responding firmly, Sudha Chandran said, “Main purist hoon, mujhe aisa lagta hai ki jo cheezein jaisi bani hain, unhe chhedo mat. In the name of modernity and trying to experiment and do something new, don’t make it a caricature.”
She further explained that while evolution in art is natural, changing its essence is different. “Involvement ek alag baat hoti hai. Jo humse pehle Bharatanatyam dancers the, woh purists the. Humne use thoda modify kiya, humne use change karne ki koshish nahi ki ki woh vahiyat dikhe. Nahi, you can’t do that,” the Mayuri film actress added.
According to her, traditional art forms carry deep cultural and emotional value, she noted, “See, some art forms are traditional. Har art form ka ek protocol hota hai, usse logon ke sentiments jude hote hain.”
Sudha Chandran Does Not Blame Ananya Panday’s Attempt
Interestingly, the veteran clarified that she does not hold Ananya responsible for the criticism. “I won’t blame Ananya Panday because she was taught that; she is not a dancer. The choreographers should take care of it.” Her statement shifted the focus toward the creative team and choreography decisions rather than the actress performing the sequence.
What Sparked The Debate?
The viral scene reportedly featured Ananya Panday’s character Chandni performing a fusion version of Bharatnatyam during a college cultural festival, while Lakshya’s character watches from the audience. Soon after the clip surfaced online, discussions began about artistic liberty, authenticity & representation of classical dance forms in mainstream cinema.
