‘ACHARYA’ OF DANCE
Glory Of Ganesh At Peak

Interview by - CNB              Photo by - K.M. VEERESH    Date - 30th August  2004

If you look at this muscular man you would not say he is a dance director. When you talk to him you will know he is a magnanimous personality with heaps and bounds of achievements. He is GANESH ACHARAYA a fantastic dance director of Bollywood. He has now made his first appearance in Sandalwood. He is working for six songs in ‘Encounter Dayanayak’ a nail biting thriller getting ready briskly.

A down to earth simple personality Ganesh Acharaya spoke to correspondent of Chitraloka at the Country Club in Yelahanka. He manages to talk to us for half an hour.

Here are the excerpts of an interview:

• How do you manage to direct dance with a huge personality?

This built is God given to me. It is in no way bothering my work. For me work is worship. Work, family and relations are important to me. I am workaholic. Not alcoholic. 

• How did you get in touch with this Encounter Dayanayak film unit?

They came to Mumbai and contacted me. Producer Rammurthy, story writer Mysore Harish and director of repute D.Rajendra Babu are nice people. They gave the CD of songs. I was impressed.

• What preparation you make before coming to the sets?

I work out while hearing the song. I discuss with my assistant Daisy. I find the dance concept inside the song. I always try to take the dance to the common people. For the wider reach you have to get into the shoes of the common taste.

• What is your track record?

My master is Kamalji. I am 1971 born, 33 years old, 13 years of experience, at the age of 16 I began as a group dancer, at the age of 18 I was an assistant and at the age of 21 I became an independent dance director. 

• How may films you have worked?

In Hindi I have worked for 500 to 600 films. I have composed 1300 songs. There are many hit songs. The list is so big. The all time great is Chamma Chamma song of ‘China Gate’. The one with Lara Dutta in Kaaki is also famous. 

• What is your style and experiments……

My Bollywood Masala is made with lot of experiments. I always leave my work to speak much. I have made some experiments. My style is freak out style.

• Who is the competitor for you?

For Ganesh Acharya, Ganesh Acharya is the competitor. I always work out in such a style that my earlier song choreography should be beaten by my next song.

• Have you worked with all the stars of Bollywood?

Except Sridevi I have worked with all the stars. 

• Who are your favorites?

Govindaji is my favorite. Urmila Matandokar is the female best.
 
• What is that you have earned so far?

Love of the people. I was from a poor side. Now my name is up and I am down on earth.

• What’s the philosophy you maintain in your life?

Doing hard work is my philosophy.

• You are into social work?

I have started my dance Academy. It is Ganesh Acharya dance academy. Whatever I have earned from society I would like to give to the society. It has tie up with Los Angeles, United Kingdom, Canada and also in Bangalore. There is regular talent search. Opening is there for newcomers. 

• Are you a very expensive choreographer?

Yes. I need everything for the film not for me. You would see the production value on the screen.

• What is your ambition?

Jab tak mein jeevunga tab tak men nachunga (I want to dance till my last breath). Another ambition in life is to make my three years old daughter Soundarya a choreographer at the age of 12. This is not a difficult task.

• How do you say so?

At this age of 3 she is already into dance. She reminds me of all my work. When I go late in the night she dances and shows my songs dance work. I have made 6x4 posters in my house all in different styles. She is a born dancer. 

• Who are all there in your family?

My wife, mother and sister are living in my house. They all do not know about my work. Even today my mother does not know the hard work I have done and the name and fame I have earned. For my mother I am just Ganesha. She pours ‘Thail’ on my head and does the massage make humble inquiries. I feel so great with my mother touch.

• Have you met the super cop Dayanayak?

No. But he is such a great personality I would like to meet once. I always bless that personality. All the 24 hours he guards. He is the protector of good and destroyer of evil.

• Any awards you have won?

I have won the Screen Videocon award for Chamma Chamma song. 

• Normally the dance directors have the habit of showing their faces on screen?

I do sometime. For ‘Encounter Dayanayak’ I am appearing in a song number with Mahesh Manjrekarji.