The internet has found its latest target for relentless trolling, and this time it is Ananya Panday’s “fusion” Bharatanatyam sequence from her newly released film, Chand Mera Dil.
The backlash escalated from a routine social media roast to a full-blown cultural debate after Congress spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed, along with prominent classical dancers, publicly criticized the performance, calling it an insult to the ancient art form.
The Spark: What Happens in the Scene?
The clip circulating online features Ananya’s character, Chandni, performing a stage routine. According to the film’s creative team, the sequence was never meant to be a traditional recital; instead, it was written as a deliberate Gen-Z fusion piece blending Bharatanatyam-inspired posture with contemporary hip-hop, locking, and “robotic” modern movements.
However, the juxtaposition of rigid, mechanical choreography in front of a traditional Lord Nataraja idol (the cosmic dancer) deeply upset purists and viewers alike.
“Can’t Be Manufactured”: The Political and Art World Backlash
Congress leader Shama Mohamed—who trained in the classical dance form from age seven to thirteen and performed her arangetram (debut stage performance) in Kuwait—took a sharp dig at the actress on X (formerly Twitter):
“Ananya Panday has killed my favorite dance form — Bharatanatyam!… Classical dance needs to be studied over a period of time and can’t be manufactured for Ms. Panday! Please don’t ever insult such a beautiful art.”
Acclaimed classical dancer and choreographer Anita R. Ratnam echoed similar sentiments, writing:
“Watching this clip felt like Bharatanatyam being held hostage by a catastrophic misunderstanding of the form. Somewhere between the flailing arms and random camera moves, the dance quietly packed its bags and exited the building.”
The Internet Reacts: Memes vs. Defenders
The internet did not hold back, with critics comparing her stiff movements to a “vibrating washing machine” and joking that a 2,200-year-old dance form survived historical invasions only to be “cancelled” by Bollywood in 2026.
However, a significant portion of the audience and crew stepped in to defend the actress, dividing the internet into two distinct camps:
-
The Critique Camp: Argued that even if the script demanded a fusion dance, the execution completely lacked the fundamental “grace, geometry, and expression” (abhinaya) essential to classical arts. They argued actors have the responsibility to push back against “cringe” creative choices.
-
The Defender Camp: Pointed out that the character is performing a casual college cultural/reunion skit, which isn’t supposed to look professional. Others strongly noted that the onus lies entirely on the director (Vivek Soni) and the choreographers, rather than penalizing an actress who simply executed the script she was given.
Assistant choreographer Ananya R. Kurup quickly came to the actor’s defense, sharing behind-the-scenes rehearsal clips and praising Panday for “absolutely nailing” the challenging choreography during the demanding shoot.
