April 3,2018
Multi-talented Prabhudheva, who has made his mark as an actor, dancer,
choreographer and filmmaker, turned 45 on Tuesday. He says dance is an extension
of his personality and he cannot imagine life without it.
"I think dance
is my extension. There is nothing that I can imagine without dance. I see the
visual first... I approach dance in a very raw way and then I am a bundle of
emotions. It is a very pure thing that happens between my emotions and physical
movements, and nothing comes in between.
"Everything changes when I
dance... I am a taskmaster there, I am the creator, I am high on dance, my
expression, body language... I am like a fire," Prabhudheva told IANS with his
voice exuding the passion he has for the art form.
From "Muqabla",
"Urvasi Urvasi" and "Kay sera sera", Prabhudheva has choreographed several songs
in Hindi cinema as well as in the southern film industry.
Kajol to
Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan to Varun Dhawan, he has worked with stars of
different generations. Which star gave him a tough time?
"You see, if
anyone is calling me to choreograph a dance, they know my style and they know I
am a taskmaster. They want to present themselves as a good dancer before their
fans, and that is why they want me to choreograph. So I would say no one gives
me a tough time.
"Yes, they might be doing more rehearsals than that of a
regular dancer, but I do not mind working hard with stars. For instance, in 'Kay
sera sera' for which Madhuri and I danced together.... She is a great classical
dancer and my style is different. She kept on practising until she felt
confident to go for the final take.
"I think she did more than 20
rehearsals. But I think that is how they achieve what they achieve. One cannot
achieve that level of perfection without this amount of hard work."
What
is the element that keeps the audience hooked to his performances on-screen?
"Well, I think if you people liked all my dances it is because of the
element between what it looks like and what it actually is. That is the magic.
You see, as an audience when you watch a dance, you want to see it like an easy
dance that anybody can try and do successfully. While that made you try out the
step, you cannot get it perfectly because it is slightly twisted, slightly
different and rather difficult for a commoner."
Apart from dancing,
Prabhudheva has tried his hand at acting and directing as well with films like
"Wanted", "Rowdy Rathore", "Ramaiya Vastavaiya" and "Action Jackson".
Asked if he imposes his star power as an actor, Prabhudheva said: "With
experience, I have become more focused and I have no problem taking
instructions. When I work in a film like an actor, I do not interfere or try to
use my seniority or impose anything on the filmmaker.
"That is wrong.
Unless I agree upon a director's vision, I will not sign a film. If I signed it,
I should follow his vision."
However, he said he is a completely
different person when he is directing and dancing.
"These two are two
different worlds. I may or may not be successful as a film director, but when I
direct a film, I am telling a story the way I want to say it. There I am looking
into every matter that is coming before the camera," said the actor, whose film
"Mercury" is releasing on April 13.
It is a silent film directed by
Karthik Subbaraj.
"I wanted to work with Karthik. He is a very good
filmmaker and everyone wants to work with him. When I signed the film, I did not
think too much about the story or the message of the film. If it is silent or a
talkie... all these are additional elements, and my bonus to work with Karthik
who has a strong vision," he said.
Considering the fact that the film is
addressing a serious global issue like the effect of industrialisation on mother
nature, will the silence convey the gravity of the real situation on-screen?
"After 10 minutes of the film's start, you will not feel the silence. The
audience will not miss the dialogue because it engages the audience visually. At
the end of the film, during the climax, one would sit on the edge of the sofa
and watch. One should watch it to experience what I am trying to say," he said.