Aaja Nachle
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''Aaja Nachle'' (transl. ''Come, let's dance'') is a 2007 Indian
Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
-language
dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
directed by Anil Mehta in his directorial debut, and produced by
Aditya Chopra Aditya Chopra (born 21 May 1971) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and studio executive who works in Hindi cinema. He is the Chairman of India's multi-national film, media, and entertainment conglomerate Yash Raj Films (YRF).
under the banner of
Yash Raj Films Yash Raj Films (YRF) is an Indian film production and distribution company founded by filmmaker Yash Chopra in 1970. Since 2012, it has been led by his son Aditya Chopra. The company mainly produces and distributes Hindi films. History In 19 ...
. The film stars
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (Maiden and married names, née Dixit, ; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress and television personality. She has appeared in Madhuri Dixit filmography, over 70 Hindi films. Praised by critics for her performances and danc ...
in her first acting role since '' Devdas'' (2002), alongside
Konkona Sen Sharma Konkona Sen Sharma (; born 3 December 1979) is an Indian actress and filmmaker who works primarily in Bengali and Hindi films. She has received several awards, including two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. The daughter of filmm ...
, Jugal Hansraj, Kunal Kapoor,
Akshaye Khanna Akshaye Khanna (born 28 March 1975) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. Khanna is known for his versatility, which has secured him numerous accolades including two Filmfare Awards. Born to actor Vinod Khanna, he made his acting deb ...
,
Divya Dutta Divya Dutta (born 25 September 1977) is an Indian actress. She has appeared primarily in Hindi and Punjabi language, Punjabi cinema, and has received accolades including a National Film Award and a Filmfare OTT Awards, Filmfare OTT Award. Dutt ...
, Ranvir Shorey, and Vinay Pathak in supporting roles. The narrative centers on Dia, a choreographer who returns from the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
to her hometown of Shamli, where she attempts to save a dilapidated theater from demolition by staging a large-scale musical production with the help of the local community. The film marked Dixit’s comeback to Hindi cinema after a five-year hiatus and was promoted as a celebration of dance and the performing arts.
Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...
took place in
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
and the town of Wai, with choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant and cinematography by K. U. Mohanan. The music was composed by
Salim–Sulaiman Salim–Sulaiman are an Indian music composer duo consisting of siblings Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant. The duo has composed music predominantly for Hindi films. Life and early career Salim–Sulaiman's ancestral town is Mundra, Kutch, ...
, with lyrics by
Jaideep Sahni Jaideep Sahni is an Indian screenwriter and lyricist who is known for his work in Hindi films. He has written screenplays for films such as '' Bunty Aur Babli'' (2005), ''Chak De! India'' (2007), '' Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year'' (2009) a ...
and Piyush Mishra. ''Aaja Nachle'' was released theatrically in India and the United States on 30 November 2007. It received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who praised Dixit’s performance and the film’s dance sequences, but criticized its screenplay and predictable plot. Despite high anticipation, the film underperformed at the box office and was declared a commercial failure by ''
Box Office India Box Office India is an Indian film website dedicated to tracking, reporting, and analyzing the financial performance of films released in the Hindi entertainment industry. Established in 2003, Box Office India has become a prominent source of ...
''. At the
53rd Filmfare Awards The 53rd Filmfare Awards organized by Filmfare, honored the best Bollywood films of 2007. It took place on 16 February 2008 at the Yash Raj Studios, Mumbai. ''Guru'' led the ceremony with 14 nominations, followed by '' Chak De! India'' with ...
, ''Aaja Nachle'' received two nominations: Best Actress (Dixit) and Best Female Playback Singer (
Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan (pronounced ; born Nidhi Chauhan, 14 August 1983) is an Indian playback singer. Known for her Bold vocal range, she has recorded songs for films in several Indian languages and List of awards and nominations received by Sunidhi ...
for "Aaja Nachle").


Plot

Dia Srivastav, a
dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
choreographer Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...
based in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, returns to her hometown of Shamli in India with her daughter, Radha, upon learning that her former dance teacher, Makrand, is terminally ill. After arriving, she discovers that he has already died and left her with the responsibility of saving his now-abandoned dance theatre, Ajanta, which is slated for demolition to make way for a
shopping mall A shopping mall (or simply mall) is a large indoor shopping center, usually Anchor tenant, anchored by department stores. The term ''mall'' originally meant pedestrian zone, a pedestrian promenade with shops along it, but in the late 1960s, i ...
. Dia, who left Shamli years ago after eloping with an American photographer, finds that the town still harbors resentment toward her. Her childhood friends Najma and Farooque are distant, and her family home has been sold. The only person who supports her is the kindly Doctor Saab. Determined to fulfill Makrand’s last wish, Dia petitions local politician Raja Uday Singh, who challenges her to stage a successful play using only local residents; if she succeeds, Ajanta will be spared. Despite skepticism from the townspeople, Dia begins casting for a production of '' Laila Majnu''. Initially met with ridicule, she persists and finds unlikely participants, including the rebellious Imran Pathan, whom she persuades to play Majnu in exchange for political support for his mentor, Chaudhary Om Singh. Anokhi, a spirited young woman secretly in love with Imran, auditions to play Laila. Though Dia is hesitant, she eventually casts her, believing that her passion will bring depth to the role. As rehearsals progress, Dia helps Anokhi transform both in skill and confidence, leading to a gradual romantic connection between her and Imran. Meanwhile, political opposition mounts against Dia, including sabotage from Farooque and Chaudhary. However, support returns when Najma reconciles with Dia and joins the play. On the night of the performance, the entire town gathers at Ajanta, and the production proves to be a resounding success. The townspeople, once critical, are moved by the performance, and Ajanta is saved. In the aftermath, Imran and Anokhi begin teaching dance at Ajanta, restoring its legacy. Before leaving for New York, Dia shares a lighthearted moment with Raja Uday Singh, hinting at a possible romantic future. The film concludes with him visiting Dia in New York, watching her perform, and the two sharing a smile, suggesting a new beginning.


Cast

*
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (Maiden and married names, née Dixit, ; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress and television personality. She has appeared in Madhuri Dixit filmography, over 70 Hindi films. Praised by critics for her performances and danc ...
as Dia Srivastav *
Akshaye Khanna Akshaye Khanna (born 28 March 1975) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. Khanna is known for his versatility, which has secured him numerous accolades including two Filmfare Awards. Born to actor Vinod Khanna, he made his acting deb ...
as MP Raja Uday Singh *
Konkona Sen Sharma Konkona Sen Sharma (; born 3 December 1979) is an Indian actress and filmmaker who works primarily in Bengali and Hindi films. She has received several awards, including two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. The daughter of filmm ...
as Anokhi Anokhelal "Laila" * Kunal Kapoor as Imran Pathan "Majnu" * Jugal Hansraj as Sanjay Mehra, Laila's brother *
Divya Dutta Divya Dutta (born 25 September 1977) is an Indian actress. She has appeared primarily in Hindi and Punjabi language, Punjabi cinema, and has received accolades including a National Film Award and a Filmfare OTT Awards, Filmfare OTT Award. Dutt ...
as Najma, Dia's best friend and Laila's mother * Ranvir Shorey as Mohan Sharma *
Akhilendra Mishra Akhilendra Mishra is an Indian film and television character actor best known for his role as ''Kroor Singh'' in the 1990s Doordarshan fantasy television series '' Chandrakanta''. His other notable works include the character of ''Mirchi'' Se ...
as Chaudhary Om Singh * Vinay Pathak as Mr. Chojar * Sushmita Mukherjee as Mrs. Chojar * Yashpal Sharma as Inspector Sahib *
Nawazuddin Siddiqui Nawazuddin Siddiqui (; born 19 May 1974) is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a National Film Award, an IIFA Award, and two Filmfare Awards, as well as a nomination for an ...
as Dhan Kuber *
Raghubir Yadav Raghubir Yadav is an Indian actor, music composer, singer and set designer who works in Hindi films. He made his film debut with '' Massey Sahib'' (1985), in which he played the title role. He has won two International Awards as Best Actor for ...
as Doctor Saab *
Asha Sachdev Nafeesa Sultan (born May 27, 1956), better known as Asha Sachdev, is an Indian former actress who worked in Hindi films during 1970s and 1980s. She acted in a few early films as a leading lady, including the spy film '' Agent Vinod'' (1977) and ...
as Bindu *
Irrfan Khan Irrfan Khan () (born Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan; 7 January 196729 April 2020) was an Indian actor who worked in Indian cinema as well as British and American films. Widely regarded as one of the finest actors in world cinema, Khan's career spa ...
as Farooque, Najma's husband (special appearance) *
Darshan Jariwala Darshan Jariwala (born 29 September 1958) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films, television and stage. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for '' Gandhi, My Father''. He is popular for his show in which he was seen ...
as Guru Makarand * Felix D'Alviella as Steve * Dalai as Radha, Dia's daughter * Vinod Nagpal as Mr. Srivastav * Uttara Baokar as Mrs. Srivastav * Divyendu Sharma as MLA's son


Production

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...
began on 15 January 2007 at
Film City, Mumbai Film City, officially known as Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, is an integrated film studio complex located in Goregaon East, Mumbai. Established in 1977 by the Maharashtra state government, it was created to provide facilities and concessions ...
and was concluded in March 2007.


Controversy

Upon its release, ''Aaja Nachle'' faced controversy over a line in the film’s title track that was perceived as casteist. The lyric, ''“Mohalle mein kaisi maara-maari hai, bole mochi bhi khud ko sunar hai”'' (transl. “There is such chaos in the neighborhood, even the cobbler calls himself a goldsmith”), prompted protests from
Dalit Dalit ( from meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. They are also called Harijans. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold var ...
groups who argued that the line implied the inferiority of the
mochi A mochi ( ; Japanese ) is a Japanese rice cake made of , a short-grain Japonica rice, japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The steamed rice is pounded into paste and molded into the ...
(cobbler) caste to the sunar (goldsmith) caste. As a result, the film was banned in
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
on the day of its release, with
Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
and
Haryana Haryana () is a States and union territories of India, state located in the northern part of India. It was carved out after the linguistic reorganisation of Punjab, India, Punjab on 1 November 1966. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with les ...
following suit the next day. The bans significantly affected the film’s opening weekend box office performance. Following public outcry and intervention,
Yash Raj Films Yash Raj Films (YRF) is an Indian film production and distribution company founded by filmmaker Yash Chopra in 1970. Since 2012, it has been led by his son Aditya Chopra. The company mainly produces and distributes Hindi films. History In 19 ...
issued a formal apology and removed the offending lyric. It was replaced with the line ''“Mere dar pe deewano ki bahaar hai”'' (transl. “There is a parade of lovers at my doorstep”). Subsequently, the bans were lifted in all three states. However, the city of
Patna Patna (; , ISO 15919, ISO: ''Paṭanā''), historically known as Pataliputra, Pāṭaliputra, is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and largest city of the state of Bihar in India. According to the United Nations, ...
also imposed a ban on 2 December 2007. The issue was raised in the
Parliament of India The Parliament of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the supreme legislative body of the Government of India, Government of the Republic of India. It is a bicameralism, bicameral legislature composed of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok ...
by RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, who demanded a nationwide ban. In response, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi stated that censorship and regulatory action on such matters fell under the jurisdiction of individual state governments.


Soundtrack

The soundtrack of ''Aaja Nachle'' was composed by
Salim–Sulaiman Salim–Sulaiman are an Indian music composer duo consisting of siblings Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant. The duo has composed music predominantly for Hindi films. Life and early career Salim–Sulaiman's ancestral town is Mundra, Kutch, ...
, with lyrics written by
Jaideep Sahni Jaideep Sahni is an Indian screenwriter and lyricist who is known for his work in Hindi films. He has written screenplays for films such as '' Bunty Aur Babli'' (2005), ''Chak De! India'' (2007), '' Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year'' (2009) a ...
and Piyush Mishra. It was released on 16 August 2007 under the YRF Music label. The album features a mix of classical, folk, and contemporary sounds in keeping with the film’s theatrical theme. Notable vocal performances include
Sunidhi Chauhan Sunidhi Chauhan (pronounced ; born Nidhi Chauhan, 14 August 1983) is an Indian playback singer. Known for her Bold vocal range, she has recorded songs for films in several Indian languages and List of awards and nominations received by Sunidhi ...
, who lent her voice to the title track picturized on
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (Maiden and married names, née Dixit, ; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress and television personality. She has appeared in Madhuri Dixit filmography, over 70 Hindi films. Praised by critics for her performances and danc ...
;
Shreya Ghoshal Shreya Ghoshal (; born 12 March 1984) is an Indian singer. Noted for her wide vocal range and versatility, she is one of the most prolific and influential singers of India. Often referred to as the "Queen of Dynamics'' for her remarkable voc ...
for
Konkona Sen Sharma Konkona Sen Sharma (; born 3 December 1979) is an Indian actress and filmmaker who works primarily in Bengali and Hindi films. She has received several awards, including two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. The daughter of filmm ...
’s character, and
Sonu Nigam Sonu Nigam (born 30 July 1973) is an Indian playback singer, music director, dubbing artist and actor. He is one of the most versatile singers and widest vocal ranges in the history of Indian music. His songs vary from romantic to break-up, cla ...
for Kunal Kapoor. Other featured artists include
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (, ; born 9 December 1974) is a Pakistani Punjabi singer, primarily Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music. Khan is one of the most popular and highest paid singers in Pakistan. He is the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Kha ...
,
Kailash Kher Kailash Kher (born 7 July 1973) is an Indian playback singer, live performer, and composer. He sings songs with a music style influenced by Indian folk music and Sufi music. He was inspired by the classical musicians Kumar Gandharva, Hrida ...
,
Sukhwinder Singh Sukhwinder Singh (born 18 July 1971) is an Indian playback singer who primarily sings Bollywood songs. He sang " Jai Ho" in the film '' Slumdog Millionaire'', for which he won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Televisi ...
, Richa Sharma, Sonia Saigal, Marianne D'Cruz, and Salim Merchant. The title track, written by Mishra, received particular acclaim and was central to the film's promotion. While several songs from the final stage sequence, including "Yeh Ishq," were not part of the official soundtrack release, the album was generally well received. It debuted at number nine on Indian music charts in its opening week. The song "O Re Piya," performed by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, gained popularity beyond the film and was later featured in the 2009 Malaysian film '' Talentime''.


Reception


Box office

''Aaja Nachle'' opened to a lukewarm response, hindered by bans in several states due to controversy over a lyric in the title song. The film underperformed across most domestic territories and failed to gain traction despite heavy promotion and media attention around Dixit’s return to cinema. It collected ₹207.5 million (equivalent to ₹630 million or US$7.4 million in 2023) and was declared a commercial failure by ''
Box Office India Box Office India is an Indian film website dedicated to tracking, reporting, and analyzing the financial performance of films released in the Hindi entertainment industry. Established in 2003, Box Office India has become a prominent source of ...
''.


Critical reception

''Aaja Nachle'' received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, with praise largely directed at
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (Maiden and married names, née Dixit, ; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress and television personality. She has appeared in Madhuri Dixit filmography, over 70 Hindi films. Praised by critics for her performances and danc ...
’s performance and the choreography, while criticism was aimed at the screenplay, pacing, and underdeveloped supporting characters. On the
review aggregator A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...
Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, ''Aaja Nachle'' holds an approval rating of 67% based on six critic reviews, with an audience score of 72% from over 4,000 ratings. In India, the film received mixed-to-negative reviews.
Taran Adarsh Taran Adarsh (born 13 June 1965) is an Indian film critic and trade analyst. He is best known for giving trade figures and box office updates on social media, as well as his reviews for Bollywood Hungama. Career Taran Adarsh started his journ ...
of ''
Bollywood Hungama Bollywood Hungama (lit. "Bollywood Madness" in Hindi), previously known as IndiaFM (or IndiaFM.com), is an Indian entertainment website, owned by Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, which acquired the website in 2000. The website provides n ...
'' wrote that the film failed to live up to expectations, citing a weak screenplay and uneven pacing. He praised Dixit’s performance and screen presence but concluded that “despite its noble intentions, the film lacks emotional impact.”
Khalid Mohamed Khalid Mohamed is an Indian journalist, editor, film critic, screenwriter and film director. He worked for The Times of India for 27 years and then DNA followed by Hindustan Times and was the lead editor for Filmfare magazine. He is the s ...
of ''
Hindustan Times ''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English language, English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media Limited, an entity controlled by the Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia, the daughter o ...
'' criticized the script as “filled with more potholes than a post-monsoon road,” calling the film a disappointment despite Dixit’s return. Conversely,
Rajeev Masand Rajeev Masand (born 13 March 1976) is an Indian film critic and journalist. He has worked for Noida based English language news channel CNN-Indian Broadcasting Network (CNN-IBN). He usually reviews Bollywood films and major Hollywood films rel ...
from ''
CNN-IBN CNN News18 is an Indian English-language news television channel founded by Raghav Bahl based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is currently co-owned by Network18 Group and Warner Bros. Discovery. CNN provides international coverage for the c ...
'' was more appreciative, highlighting Dixit as “the one and only star of the film.” He praised
Konkona Sen Sharma Konkona Sen Sharma (; born 3 December 1979) is an Indian actress and filmmaker who works primarily in Bengali and Hindi films. She has received several awards, including two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. The daughter of filmm ...
’s performance as “fearless and uninhibited,” stating that the film’s sincerity and thematic focus on community and art helped compensate for its structural shortcomings. Tanmay Kumar Nanda of ''
Rediff.com Rediff.com, stylized as rediff.com, is an Indian news, information, entertainment, and shopping website. Founded by Ajit Balakrishnan in 1996, it was the first Indian website to become a mainstream news media organization. It is headquartered i ...
'' noted that the film “is high on gloss but light on substance,” though he acknowledged Dixit’s charisma and dance as the film’s emotional core. Internationally, the reception was similarly mixed. Rachel Saltz of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' described ''Aaja Nachle'' as “a musical fairy tale” with strong visuals but felt that the story “hovers uneasily between the real and the ideal,” ultimately lacking narrative depth. Dennis Harvey of ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' acknowledged the film’s “spirited cast and heartfelt drama” and praised its musical sequences, especially the climactic ''Laila–Majnu'' performance, but noted the film relied heavily on formula.


Accolades


References


External links

* * {{authority control 2000s Hindi-language films Yash Raj Films films 2007 directorial debut films 2007 films Indian dance films Race-related controversies in music Film censorship in India Censored films 2000s dance films Indian films set in New York City Films shot in Mumbai Films shot in New York City Race-related controversies in film 2007 controversies