The dance shows and talent programmes on television definitely pave the way in shaping the careers of hundreds of people. Javed is one such youngster who came from a small town in Andhra and had made it as a choreographer in the Telugu film industry. Though he has a long way to go, he has made considerable progress and has composed dances some for singles and some (as a single card) entirely for few films. In a chat with Y.Sunita Chowdhary of Klapboardpost.com, Javed recollects his salad days and rise as a dance master in the Telugu film industry.
Javed is 28 year old and he hails from Guntur. His first trip to Hyderabad was during the year 2010 and that was for a performance. He says, “I came to Hyderabad when I was in the fifth grade, there were dance shows being aired on television and I was the winner in every show held by these channels. We would travel to Hyderabad and shoot at Annapurna Studios. Auditions would be held in every city and after performing, we would get a letter after a week informing us of our selection. Actually, initially I never had a teacher and would peep at the dance practise done by my brother. I would then come home and repeat it in my mother’s presence and she would thoroughly enjoy it. In the school, they recognised my talent and organised special performances just to showcase my work. It was during this time, my first guru Arun Master saw my work and asked if I would join his troupe. I was in the third class then and was with him throughout. I would travel to Hyderabad frequently to perform. In Guntur he had a dance school and we would get trained over there. It was during these travels I got to know that dancers have a career in Hyderabad. I must have performed in 2000 events.” Javed would study well in school but he tells honestly that he was just an okay student, not great. After intermediate, he studied journalism in Hyderabad in (EMS) Electronic Media School in Jubilee Hills and worked as a review writer of films for various websites. His course did help him in film appreciation.
His father and grandfather also work in the media. His father Babu Khan is an editor of a newspaper and he ran his own channel in Guntur. He is the president of the human rights protection committee in Guntur. His grandad was a poet and also at one point an editor in Deccan Chronicle. Javed further says, “I began working with Satya and Vijay Master as an assistant and decided to take up dance as a career but didn’t know the process. I commenced dancing from the third standard onwards and in 2010 I moved to Hyderabad. Satya Master and Vijay master took me in their group. There was another master and his name was Sudheer. I participated in a dance competition and the prize money was 51 lakhs. The best seven went to the finale and ours was one of the teams. We stood third and Satya master asked if I would work with him. I was onboard as a dancer in his team and then as his assistant. I was given freedom to work for other groups as well.”
Javed says there are at least 570 dancers in the Telugu cinema industry and in it, 200 are Masters with card holders. Not all have work but they try. Everyone has a certain period when they shine, when they have continuous work.For some time, card holders were considered but later on, it didn’t matter if you had one or not. Any alternate source of work? Yes, the choreographers keep themselves busy by holding dance classes, personal training, sangeet, events, corporate events etc. Javed quips, “Due to the pandemic, there isn’t enough work but otherwise I am hopeful about things getting back to normalcy soon. I focus on shoots usually but when I find no time, I delegate my assistants to take over..for personal training classes. My good moment was when Venky Mama released, I choreographed a song wherein uncle and and nephew get drunk and dance on the bridge. Once when I performed in the dance show and it became a hit, it fetched two crore views. NTR saw the show and appreciated me. He told me to get trained and meet him after two years. Director Bobby saw the show and apparently enquired about me; I met him and he said he liked my work and offered me Venky Mama. Then I choreographed for Mr and Miss, a crowd funded project.”
He adds, “I am also doing anchor Suma’s project (Keeravani musical )as a choreographer and a Hebal Patel (single card), Chandini Chowdary project. There is one called Ananya Tutorial to be produced by Arkaa and Aha. Puri Jagan’s co director (Naga Vyas) is working with Naga Shaurya and I am composing one number for that movie and one for BVSN Prasad. When a film has different choreographers, the audience gets to see a number of variations. Recently Sunny Leone released a teaser, I did that number. All in all, I stress talent should be accompanied by luck.”
