Chance Pe Dance

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Genelia Dsouza, Parikshit Sahani, Vikas Bhalla.
Director: Ken Gosh.
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala.


The problem is that while tragedy is an epic, success is a short story. Ken Gosh therefore spends reels and reels telling the tale of rejection, but quickly produces the success of protagonist Sameer (Shahid Kapoor) as he signs well choreographed Chance Pe Dance. The film’s screenplay (Ken alongside Nupur Asthana and Manishi Chada) is so lacking in punch that it saps the film of all energy despite having dance as its fulcrum.
There is a dirty world out there. It can snatch the dreams out of your life. It can force you into a cubby hole and force you to call it home. It can deprive you of your passion and force you into a profession where you have no energy. It can be bitchy and cruel, because the world owns a new instrument – successometer and your readings are not just doctored but embarrassing.
Chance Pe Dance is about the struggles of Sameer, the support from his lady love Tina (Genelia); the cheating of his friend (Vikas Bhalla); the challenge from his single parent (Parikshit Sahani); the chemistry with a set of school kids and finally his tryst with success.
The problem with the film is with both – content and treatment. Archaic and drifting, it lacks energy and drive.
Despite this, the film passes muster thanks largely due to Shahid Kapoor. Genelia gives him company but has very little opportunity in the script. The script is completely dedicated to the dancing skills of Shahid Kapoor. He rips off his shirt to get the oohs and aahs. Wonderful dancer that he is, he makes good use of the opportunity. The film (coming as it does, even as the young actor is basking in the aftermath of the recognition for Kaminey) reiterates that this young actor is extremely talented. He is believed to have struggled to get to his present position – making the film a near ‘bio-pic’. With Ranbhir, he is heading fast to the top slots which anyway has arguably been vacated by most Khans.
The movie is a case of lost opportunities – except for Shahid. For his fans it is a must see. For the rest it is don’t see.
Sameer somewhere in the script goes on to state that the traveller has no choice but to keep walking. I guess the viewer too has no choice. Yet he adds, that sometimes it is darker outside the theatre than within. This time round it is certainly more tiring within.

L. Ravichander.