Madhuri has cold feet

The promos of ‘Aaja Nachle’ are out and it seems that the leading lady is not very happy about the way the film has turned out.

Madhuri Dixit’s comeback vehicle hasn’t been received with much enthusiasm by the dhak dhak girl herself, and it seems she has declined to come down to India for the promotion unless she gets some positive reviews of the film.

The folks at Yashraj are said to be in a quandary because the mainstay of the film staying away from promotions will hardly make a good impression on the audiences.

As of now, efforts are on to convince her to make a trip to India sometime after Diwali, since the film is up for release on November 30.

DNA India

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Madhuri Dixit : The biggest story of 2007

Move over Rani, Ash, Preity, Priyanka, the real queen bee of Bollywood is back and is beckoning all her fans with open arms. Literally. From atop the biggest billboards, the widest bus backs, and busiest bus stops, from street kiosks and on the small and big screen, Madhuri Dixit is inviting you to her dance fest Aaja Nachle, her arms open wide, that dazzling smile right in place. In an industry that's driven by the male ego, dominated by actors in their 40s, Madhuri is the sole actress, standing tall. And all by herself.

Aaja Nachle, produced by Yash Raj Films and directed by ace cinematographer Anil Mehta (who's earlier works include Lagaan, KANK, Veer Zara among others), is being sold solely on Madhuri's star power. And the biggest testimony of this is her larger-than-life solo hoardings standing proud in the clutter of the Bachchans, Khans and Kapoors across the country.

Madhuri was last seen as Chadramukhi in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas after which she went into a self imposed sabbatical. During that time Rani Mukerji and Pretiy Zinta dominated the scene along with Ash, Kareena and Priyanka to a certain extent. But even now it's hard to imagine any of these ladies driving a project purely on the basis of their star power. Case in point is the recently released Laaga Chunari Mein Daag which was touted as Rani's big moment of glory, but failed to generate any buzz among her fans.

"Comeback! What comeback are we talking about?" asks Jackie Shroff who had quite a popular pairing with Madhuri once upon a time. He says emphatically, "She had never left the industry in the first place and continues to look as fresh as her Ram Lakhan days."

What's the industry buzz about Aaja Nachle? Trade expert Komal Nahta agrees that the Madhuri factor is the film's biggest strength. "The masses are still crazy to see her which is why there is some optimism about the film. Yet a clearer picture will emerge only when the advance booking opens". Nahta points out that while Madhuri is Aaja Nachle's trump card, having an equally strong hero would have helped the film (a la Aamir Khan in Kajol's comeback Fanaa). Irrespective of the box-office fate of Madhuri's film, it goes without saying that Aaja Nachle will be keenly watched. Even if it is by critics who would be only too keen to write her off.

On the positive side, Nahta however feels that Aaja Nahcle is a heroine-oriented subject tailor-made for Madhuri. This leaves little scope for any of the other actors, which is why no top hero would have even touched the film. Jackie argues that actors of every generation would still be keen on working with her. In fact if given an opportunity Jackie himself doesn't mind sharing screen space with her again.

Madhuri has always been a fantastic dancer, and so when choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant was given a chance to work on the project, 'it was like a dream come true'. While her contract with the production house forbids her from commenting on her dance sequences in the film, Merchant says 'she is a diva in every sense of theword' "Aaja Nachle is a choreographers film from the word go and Madhuri fits the bill completely," she enthuses.

In the '90s Indra Kumar made a trilogy of superhits with Madhuri - Dil, Beta and Raja. Incidentally she won the best actress award for all three. Since then both have moved on, but Kumar maintains that there is no 'Madhuri Part 2' in the industry. "All this hype for Aaja Nachle is because Bollywood is still waiting for a worthy replacement". Kumar and Subhash Ghai are among the few Madhuri loyalists who claim to be looking for scripts to suite her stature.

It would perhaps be apt to sum this up with an anecdote from the Yash Raj studios. During the shoot of Aaja Nachle, Madhuri opted for a night schedule, so that she could spend time with her kids in the mornings. But there came a time when she had to shoot during the day. Yash Chopra got a custom-made play pen erected within the studio for her kids, while his wife Pam, went out shopping for toys and games for the two boys. It is not very often that production houses take such special care of an actress. Not unless you are a Madhuri Dixit, you know.

Buzz18

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How will Madhuri fare ?

With her graceful moves and her new toned, slim look, the dhak-dhak girl is all set to sizzle on the screen. And if Madhuri Dixit Nene does, her success will be an exception, rather than the rule.

For, marriage makes things difficult even for divas in the film industry. Stars like Karisma Kapur, Raveena Tandon and Sonali Bendre almost disappeared after marriage. Kajol too couldn’t do much at the box office initially, until Fanaa happened.

With Madhuri’s Aaja Nachle and Aishwarya Bachchan’s Jodhaa Akbar slated for release, everyone is waiting to see whether they will be capable of the same magic as when they were single. “I’ll definitely see Madhuri’s film.

She’s looking ravishing and is a great actress,” says actress Lakshmi Gopalaswamy. She believes the break has been good for Madhuri and she’s re-emerged as an actress of these times.

There’s a tendency with the audience, specifically men, to lose interest in an actress after she gets married. But I believe that such stupendous talent like Madhuri’s supercedes everything,” adds filmmaker Indrajit.

He feels the mindset is slowly changing and marriage is no longer an issue. “It doesn’t matter whether the heroine is married if the role and script are sound. As a director, I don’t take the marital status of actresses into account. Marriage is a non-issue and talent is the bottom line,” he adds.

Model Carun Carumbaiah agrees, saying the common perception that the male audience doesn’t accept married heroines is wrong. “It doesn’t make a difference to me whether the actress is married or not.

If she looks good and acts well, I’m happy. But age matters – I just can’t accept a Karisma or Kajol acting as college kids,” he says.

Leena Ghosh,TNN

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AAJA NACHLE banks on Madhuri and Jaideep power!

After umpteen announcements and denials (about other projects), Madhuri's official comeback vehicle, AAJA NACHLE, is just about 35 -days away from release. Directed by well known cinematographer, Anil Mehta, the movie is being heavily promoted by Yash Raj.

Salim-Sulaiman's music, designed and composed as per Madhuri's image, has evoked extreme reactions. Some have loved it, others have ripped it. However, all that comes to naught because the audience has demonstrated, time and again that it has a mind of its own. Obviously, the success or otherwise of AAJA NACHLE will largely depend on the appeal of the last 'superstarni' of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit.

Another important factor that should also be taken into consideration is that it has been written by Jaideep Sahni, whose scripts have always managed to strike a chord with the audience. Just for records, Jaideep's recent project for Yash Raj, CHAK DE! INDIA, is this year's biggest hit and that augers well for the movie. Moreover, Jaideep says that the movie is about a 'new thing that comes to a small town'.

Sounds interesting, one has to admit!

Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network

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Yash Raj Films invites you to "Aaja Nachle"

Foot tapping music of Madhuri Dixit’s comeback vehicle released

“Aaja Nachle”, Yash Raj Films’ forthcoming venture has started attracting phenomenal amount of interest even though the release is still some time away. First of all it is the comeback vehicle of Madhuri Dixit after a hiatus of 7 years away from the silver screen. What’s more, it also marks her re-teaming with the creative minds at Yash Raj Films with a dance centric film. The last time this happened, exactly ten years ago, it resulted in the blockbuster hit “Dil To Pagal Hai”. And the music of “Aaja Nachle” provides ample evidence that the magic spark is still alive and kicking, courtesy music directors Salim-Sulaiman and lyricists Jaideep Sahni and Piyush Mishra!

The album kicks off with the title track “Aaja Nachle” sung in her inimitable style by Sunidhi Chauhan. Picturised on Madhuri Dixit the song is continuously up-tempo and will have you tapping your feet to the beat in no time. Don’t be surprised if you actually give in to the invitation “Aaja Nachle” and are soon on your feet dancing!

The next track “Ishq Hua” is a mellifluous romantic number sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal. Befitting the mood, lovely harmonies and intricate yet uncluttered instrumentation allow their soothing voices to transport you to a place where the breeze is cool and passions run high.

Richa Sharma, Kailash Kher and Salim Merchant take up the baton for the next track “Show Me Your Jalwa”. Picturised on Madhuri’s character Dia, the song is her exhortation to the townspeople of Shamli to join her crusade of dance. Listening to it, you can actually visualize the energy and enthusiasm of a group of people whose heart is in the right place, even if their steps are not.

The Sufiana rendition of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan infuses the next track “O Re Piya” with a soulful yearning and nostalgia for a time gone by. The heavy notes of a bass guitar and drum line complements the singers voice while never overshadowing it. And the song reaches heights that perhaps only Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is capable of reaching!

“Soniye Mil Ja” starts off with Madhuri Dixit reciting a few lines of poetry announcing the advent of “jawaani” and Sukhwinder Singh takes off from there joined by Sunidhi Chauhan. A bit of a qawwali feel permeates through the song, especially the counterpoint-ish cries of “ah ha” by the chorus, but the song is one of those that are as much at home in a disco as they are in a bhangra performance.

Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal return for the next number, another slow romantic one entitled “Is Pal”. It provides a classic example of how much a song can be ostensibly in the western tradition, but can be enriched immeasurably by the addition of classical Indian instruments like the tabla and sitar.

“Koi Patthar Se Na Maare” is a narrative song featuring the voices of Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam. A song that owes its allegiance to the old Laila-Majnu classic song. This dramatic song would be perfectly at home in an opera, yet the emotions it expresses are intense, dramatic and quintessentially Indian. Plaintive and beseeching, this is yet another song of unusual moments in an album full of them.

Sonia Saigal sings “Dance With Me”, an English number picturised on Madhuri Dixit in her avatar as a dance instructor in New York. In intonation, delivery and arrangement, the song has all the makings of a foot tapping number. It won’t be a surprise if the song makes it to dance floors not just in India but across the world!

The album concludes with “Aaja Nachle” reprised by Sunidhi Chauhan. A much faster, but equally interesting, version of the title track, it showcases once again the incredible versatility that Sunidhi Chauhan has already come to be known for.

“Aaja Nachle”, then, is music not just your ears, but for your feet as well. So what are you waiting for? Get the music and get ready to tell your friends, “Aaja Nachle”!

The film, “Aaja Nachle” releases on 30th November. It is directed by ace cinematographer Anil Mehta and stars Madhuri Dixit, Konkona Sen, Kunal Kapoor, Raghubir Yadav, Vinay Pathak and Ranvir Shorey, among others. It is produced by Aditya Chopra, who has also written the story, and the screenplay is by Jaideep Sahni.

The music of “Aaja Nachle” has been released simultaneously in Music Cassette, Audio CD and MP3 formats and will also be available in the DVD-Audio format later, with a special 24-minute music-cum-dialogue act.

The music of “Aaja Nachle” is also available for download in a digital format (as a single song or entire album) through the Yash Raj Films Website and also on popular sites like iTunes, Rhapsody, Yahoo and Amazon among others. YRF also delivers physical products to homes through orders placed online through its Website www.yashrajfilms.com.

YashRajFilms

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