Let me confess that my personal journey with Madhuri is built on 15 years of rocky path of love-hate relationship. I was somewhere around 15 years old in mid-80s when I had a huge crush on one of the most beautiful woman I know to date, Sridevi. Her films with Jeetendra in mid-80s were my daydreaming fantasy land. Although most of them I don’t adore anymore, I grew up watching Sridevi transforming into one of the colossal mega-star in late 1990s. Many of her movies like Chandani and Lamhe are still my all-time favorites.
Little I know, around same time, there is a actress named Madhuri Dixit slowly and slowly started taking away that best actress status from Sridevi with her cult movies like Ram Lakhan, Tezaab, Tridev, Parinda, Kishen Kanhaiya, Beta, Saajan, and Dil. All cine-scoops on various news channels, news Papers, magazines started debating who is best actress and most of them started ranking Madhuri way ahead of Sridevi. Today I understand that Sridevi’s film career was near the end and Madhuri’s film career was picking up in early 90s. But, little I understand at that time, I hated Madhuri dethroning Sridevi from her best actress status. It’s silly how I convinced myself that Sridevi’s movies like Chandra Mukhi and Banjaran were far better than Madhuri’s Dil and Saajan. But, that’s how teenagers are and I was one of them. It’s amazing that how a person overlook their views about someone’s ability to please their own personal fantasies.
Anyways, in mid-90s, I was growing up both in my thoughts and my personal views about film industry. It’s no longer daydreaming fantasy land. I no longer spend nights with leading Indian actresses anymore. And, here comes movies like Hum Aapke Hai Kaun(first film when I started respecting Madhuri, still hated her), Dil To Pagal Hai(started admiring her, no hate anymore), Mrityu Dand(started loving her). Later movies like Pukar, Lajja, Devdas strengthen our bond and pure hatred relationship started back in mid-80s transformed into unquestionable love in late 1990s.
I feel sorry the way I treated Madhuri in my thoughts and here is my tribute(read redemption) to one of the most beautiful charming eyes and million dollar smile, one of the best Indian dancing divas, and one of the most successful film actresses of Indian Cinema, Madhuri Dixit with the countdown of her best 10 Hindi film dance performances.
10. Kishen Kanhaiya(1990) - O Meri Jaan
Anil Kappor and Madhuri’s Kathputli and Barbie-like performance on Rajesh Roshan’s brilliant mixture of western and classical tunes is the only memory I have for this ill-fated Rakesh Roshan’s film based on twin brother’s story.
*9. Devdas(2000) - Mar Daala
*This is the time where Madhuri was no longer force as the leading actress. But you can see after watching Devdas’s Chandramukhi performance, her gorgeous moves and skills are still intact. Just watch out for knife slicing moves when she sings Mar Daala.
8. Yaarana(1995) - Mera Piya Ghar Aaya
Another powerful performance reminded me of her yesteryear classic Tezaab’s Ek Do Teen. It has so many similarities with Ek Do Teen that it’s hard to ignore Tezaab’s classic song while watching this. Who can forget Thoomka’s while she approaches audiences and first dance sequences of the song - with or without violin, with Indian or western costumes.
7. Saajan(1991) - Tu Shayar Hai
Madhuri’s masterpiece performance on the Nadeem-Sharavan’s brilliant dance number. Her smile, tied hair, facial expressions, and snake like hand movements forced me to think her as Sridevi’s biggest threat at that time.
6. Sailaab(1990) - Humko Aaj Kal Hai
Although I never seen this movie, I couldn’t ignored Madhuri’s raving Fisherwoman performance in Sailaab. How can one forget her coastal dance movements as her tribute to Bumbaiya fishing community?
5. Ram Lakhan(1989) - O Ramji
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. If it’s soulful to ears and it’s magical to eyes. When I first saw these wonderful tunes and lyrics filmed on Madhuri back in 80s, I was mesmerized by her beauty. These are the times when she was new to cinema and wasn’t threat to Sridevi’s throne.
4. Pukar(2000) - Kay Sera Sera
No one questions Madhuri’s expertise with Indian dance movements. With Kay Sera Sera, Madhuri proved that she can step into western dance as easily as classical ones. Her facial expressions and free dance movements along with elastic dancer Prabhudeva on AR Rahman’s thundering music is simply a magical gem.
3. Hum Aapke Hain Kaun(1994) - Didi Tera Devar Deewana
My take on this song is if you want to see Madhuri’s back, you shouldn’t miss this one. I am just kidding. This was one of the most impressive Madhuri’s performances especially her comical moves as pregnant lady.
2. Tezaab(1988) - Ek Do Teen
This energetic monthly countdown might seem funny when you listen but it was one of the most rocking stage performances of Indian cinema. Not only had she rocked the stage in the film, but rocked people in the theatres too. I still have the clear memory how it took away breathe of youngsters in 1989.
1. Beta(1992) - Dhak Dhak Karne Laga
Dhak Dhak is Madhuri’s best without any doubt. Although she has given her best in all of her performances, this is the one where her soul, body, hand movements matches mesmerizing Anand-Milind tunes. Most notably her performances while squeezing back and front, crawling sexy body movements was more than enough for any man to handle. I haven’t seen the Indra’s Urvashi but with this performance, even Indra would dethrone Urvashi for Madhuri.
Other Notable Performances
A. Khel(1992) - Yeh Zindagi Hai Ek Jua
B. Khalnayak(1993) - Choli Ke Peechche - Didn’t liked much although Madhuri was at her best
C. Anjaam(1994) - Channe Ke Khet Mein
D. Dil To Pagal Hai(1997) Dance of Envy
E. Devdas(2000) - Dola Re Dola
F. Lajja(2001) - Badi Mushkil
Once Saroj Khan said, I can’t answer who is the best - Sridevi or Madhuri. Both are like my two daughters and equally great dancers. I can’t choose which one is best. At this moment, I can’t be more agreeing with her.
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