Celebrating Prabhudheva: 25 times the legendary artist danced his way into our hearts
Is there a more celebrated dancer-actor in our country? It was a rhetorical question. Prabhudheva is surely one of the most important artists in India. An actor, dancer, singer, and recently, a director, Prabhu Deva is a man with the Midas touch.
Is there a more celebrated dancer-actor in our country? It was a rhetorical question. An actor, dancer, singer, and even a director, here's someone who's excelled in every department
The first time we saw this genius on screen was in Mani Ratnam's Mouna Ragam. When everyone was dancing for Pani Vizhum Iravu, here was our PD flaunting his flutist skills
PD made his debut as a choreographer by choreographic one of India's best dancers, Kamal Haasan, in the 1989 film, Vetri Vizha. With a film that means Success Party, PD started with a bang
This didn't mean he stopped dancing in special numbers. One of his many hit numbers was the April Mayile number from the blockbuster romance film, Idhayam (1991).
In one of his most important dance numbers, PD in Lalaaku Doldapi ma from Suriyan not only impressed the audience, but director Pavithran too. PD soon made his lead debut in the director's Indhu
This was surely THE SPECIAL dance number. A song that continues to rule charts even now. Chikku Bukku from Gentleman also made PD close with a then debut director Shankar
In Indhu, PD channelised his guru, Michael Jackson, in this chic number. In the company of Kushboo, PD ensured no remotes were touched when the uber trendy Metro Channel was aired
One of his most fruitful collaborations was with actor Roja. Very few actors could match PD's manic energy. Roja was one among that elite list, and Rasaiyya's Mastana Mastana stands proof
Mukkala Mukkabula from Kadhalan. Nothing I say after this will do justice to the iconic stature of this song that cemented the fact that PD indeed was above any mukkabla. He was THE Greatest.
In Samba Samba from Love Birds, Prabhu Deva made the audience believe he could indeed bring the busy Madras traffic to a standstill if he pleases.
In the titular song from MR Romeo, Prabhu Deva makes a tall claim about how the world will stop spinning to just see him dance. Well, it isn't a tall claim if it is essentially true.
This song between two lovers realising their love under the moon was all kinds of dreamy and electric. No wonder Vennilave featured in the film, Minsara Kanavu, and won PD his first National Award
Life came a full circle for PD with Kaasumela from Kadhala Kadhala. After making his debut as a choreographer with Kamal Haasan, here he was dancing, acting, and altogether making a fine comedy film
One of the karuthu paadalgal in PD's career, Kaathadikudhu did have its share of problems, but this song from Ninaivirukkum Varai showed that there are very few people who can ace the gaana like PD
In the record-breaking Suyamvaram, PD not only danced with Roja to the highly addictive Siva Siva Sankara number, but also made his singing debut. He did the paadinde aadradhu... in style.
We've seen Roja and PD have fun quite frequently, but in Karu Karu Karupaayi from Ezhayin Sirippil, they taught us how to have fun on screen even while sharing some sizzling chemistry
Famous for a wholly different reason, Kalluri Vaanil from Pennin Manadhai Thottu, popularly known as Benny Lava number was a fun number. Though it had other lovely songs, this does touch the heart
Prabhu Deva is someone who can even make idyllic slow numbers entertaining with his quirky reactions and idiosyncratic steps. Kingu Da from Ullam Kollai Pogudhe is an example
Probably the spiritual predecessor to the hugely successful Saree Ka Fall Sa, this Naatu Katta song from Alli Thandha Vaanam was an instant earworm that was a huge success
Did you ever wonder what Prabhu Deva would have done in 60s and 70s cinema? Well, if this song from Manadhai Thirudi Vittai is anything to go by, it'd have been 'All Day Jolly Day' indeed
In some ways, the hugely catchy Chumma Chumma from Charlie Chaplin was a song that showcased the advantages of nepotism by featuring two second-generation dancers in their prime form
The three real-life brothers - Raju Sundaram, Prabhu Deva, and Nagendra Prasad, shared screenspace in the comic caper, 123, playing three friends. Also... this was one of PD's karuthu paadalgal (KP)
One more KP... Ukku Ukku Uganda from Alaudin had PD play a modern-day Robin Hood of sorts. Very similar to the Kathadikudhu number in concept, it was much better executed
After a long break that saw PD explore his directorial skills, he returned in front of the camera as an actor with Devi. In Chal Maar, there was a beautiful throwback to Chikku Bukku too.
His return to acting saw him dance with the abandon we so often connected with him. There was no more karuthu. It was just unbridled energy. Gulebaghavali's Heartukulla was vintage PD
The sequel to Charlie Chaplin, titled... Charlie Chaplin 2 had a blockbuster number. IT played everywhere. It was replicated everywhere. It was sung everywhere. Well... Chinna Machan became a brand!
