Birthday Special: Farah Khan's 10 BEST moves

We celebrate Farah Khan's 50th birthday by re-visiting her best choreography.

From filling up as a back-up dancer in films like Saamri and Jalwa to getting Bollywood’s biggest and best dance to her tune, Farah Khan’s turnaround of fortunes is remarkable.

Without any formal training to boast, Farah’s talent for rhythm and mood rendered a refreshing approach to song picturisations, first introduced to the world with Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’s dreamy Pehla Nasha.

After that, there was no looking back.

Be it atop a train or a glitzy nightclub, the choreographer challenged her potential to the hilt. While her oft witnessed love for kitsch and pop-culture emblazoned her progression as filmmaker.

Fiery on surface, fun on the inside, Farah is somebody who gives as good as she gets. Whether it’s dishing out groovy moves for superstars, directing money-spinning multistarrers, replacing Salman Khan as host for the on-going season of Bigg Boss or raising triplets Anya, Czar and Diva, she is quite the wonder woman.

The super successful and multifaceted Farah Khan turns 50 today.

Perfect occasion, we thought, to list our favourite numbers choreographed by the birthday girl.

 

Chaiyya Chaiyya, Dil Se..

Dancing vigorously on top of a moving train is harder than it looks, dangerous too.

But Shah Rukh Khan, Malaika Arora Khan along with a big group of dancers accomplished the feat in an unforgettable manner under Farah’s direction for Dil Se's most whistle-worthy sequence.

 

Ek pal ka jeena, Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai

Nothing matters more than a first impression for a newcomer in Bollywood.

Hrithik Roshan, with a little help from Farah’s iconic hand gesturing step, established his reputation as a flawless dancer from the word go.

 

Munni badnaam hui, Dabangg

“Farah is a brilliant choreographer and she knows the kind of person I am. She gives me steps that compliment me,” Malaika Arora Khan once said in an interview to rediff.com.

From Chaiyya Chaiyya girl to Dabangg’s seductive Munni, it’s been a fruitful collaboration.

 

Pehla Nasha, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

It’s not really about the moves but the mood Farah creates on screen to project the tenderness of first love in the silky, slow motion frames of a ecstatic Aamir Khan, starry eyed Ayesha Jhulka and sassy Pooja Bedi.

Game changing stuff.

 

Tumse milke, Main Hoon Naa

A vibrant splash of colours, pulsating beats, high-pitched drama and what have you got? Dhoom tara, Dhoom tara, Dhoom tara!

Farah goes all out to fashion a Bollywood style qawaali with winsome jhatkas and matkas from the underrated albeit magical jodi of Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen.

 

Woh ladki hai kahan, Dil Chahta Hai

Songs need not be about steps alone, they can tell a narrative on its own.

Farah carries that thought with flourish and zing by embellishing the influence of movies on the popcorn-chomping junta through the decades in Saif Ali Khan and Sonali Kulkarni’s various entertaining takes in the song Woh ladki hai kahan from Dil Chahta Hai.

 

Sheila ki jawani, Tees Maar Khan

Katrina Kaif bids adieu to her ‘butter won’t melt in mouth’ image with a scorching turn as the belly shaking Sheila in Farah’s rollicking creation for a rotten movie.

 

Chunri Chunri, Monsoon Wedding

While the original in Biwi No 1 had Salman Khan and Sushmita Sen going through the motions rather mechanically, Farah recognises the true mettle of Anu Malik’s catchy Chunri Chunri in Monsoon Wedding’s sangeet ceremony.

There’s a sense of bonhomie in Chunri’s vibe and our lady celebrates it like only she can through this infectiously groovy, intimate sequence.

Bole Chudiyan, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Kareena Kapoor flaunts her peach pink lehenga and trademark adas in Farah’s grand, festive dance sequence keeping with Karan Johar’s opulent vision, which sees participation from all the six main members of its cast like Hrithik Roshan, Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan.

A to Z of lavish, this.

Dhoom Taana, Om Shanti Om

Farah uses a dash of technology and tact to create something marvel worthy on screen with her version of old meets new in Dhoom Taana in Om Shanti Om.

Deepika Padukone shaking a leg with Sunil Dutt or SRK doing a Shammi-style shimmy, it’s all there in this glittery, gorgeous ode to showbiz.