Bollywood, famous for its glamorous and aesthetic choreography, typically masks its misinterpretations under the label “fusion”, conveniently normalising flimsy, unclear movements, depleting the essence of classical dance. 

The public outrage after witnessing Ananya Panday’s “Bharatanatyam” dance scene in the movie Chand Mera Dil has set the Internet ablaze, with some blaming the actor, while others blaming the choreography. In the film, Panday’s character, Chandini, is the daughter of a veteran Bharatanatyam dancer and is expected to carry on the art form as a legacy. However, she chooses the “experimental” route, disappointing many. While choreographers didn’t intend for the dance to follow traditional Bharatanatyam, its execution fails to do justice to both the classical and fusion dance forms.