"My greatest strength is my creativity."
In the realm of Indian choreographers, Remo D’Souza shines as a beacon of talent and energy.
Remo has been working actively for over 25 years, adorning several Bollywood songs with his exquisite routines.
When asked what his greatest strength is, Remo replies:
“As a choreographer, my greatest strength is my creativity.
“What I have learnt as a dancer which actually makes me a good choreographer is patience.”
This creativity glimmers in all of Remo’s songs, which are a treat to watch.
DESIblitz showcases a curated list of 10 great songs that Remo D’Souza has choreographed.
Disco Song – Student of the Year (2012)
Karan Johar’s blockbuster is where it all began for three promising actors.
‘Disco Song’ is a lively number that shows Sidharth Malhotra (Abhimanyu ‘Abhi’ Singh), Alia Bhatt (Shanaya Singhania), and Varun Dhawan (Rohan ‘Ro’ Nanda).
All of them shake a leg in a discotheque.
Kajol also makes a guest appearance, as well as choreographers Vaibhavi Merchant and Farah Khan.
The actors nail Remo’s steps as he pushes the youngsters into the deep end with the challenging routine.
Sidharth, Alia, and Varun are charismatic and confident.
‘Disco Song’ helped Student of the Year become a classic.
Badtameez Dil – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
‘Badtameez Dil’ presents Ranbir Kapoor (Kabir ‘Bunny’ Thapar) at his best.
Dressed in a dapper black suit, Bunny is surrounded by attractive women as he belts out the steps.
The hook step of Ranbir gyrating and shaking his limbs has become very popular among viewers.
While promoting Animal (2023), Ranbir joked: “The song was released in 2013.
“However, wherever I go, it still follows me. I am now 41 years old. I can’t do it anymore – my back breaks!”
‘Badtameez Dil’ certainly has demanding choreography, but it is a testament to how talented Remo D’Souza is.
The song is also brilliantly performed by Ranbir.
Balam Pichkari – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
Continuing with Ayan Mukerji’s Yeh Jawani Hai Deewaani, this chartbuster is an epic representation of Holi.
As Kabir and his friends dance in splashes of red, orange, and blue, the energy in the routine is infectious.
The chemistry between Bunny and Dr Naina Talwar (Deepika Padukone) underlines the enthusiasm.
Divulging her feelings about the song, Deepika says:
“If I may say, ‘Balam Pichkari’ is like ‘Rang Barse‘ of our generation.
“Nowadays, every Holi party starts with ‘Rang Barse’, and the second song has to be ‘Balam Pichkari’.
“So, it’s become a new-age Holi anthem. It feels nice to have been part of such an iconic song.”
Raghupati Raghav – Krrish 3 (2013)
Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish franchise is famous for being Bollywood’s first official superhero series.
Hrithik Roshan headlines the series. In Krrish 3, he plays the titular superhero, as well as Krishna Mehra and Rohit Mehra.
‘Raghupati Raghav’ depicts Krishna happily dancing with his wife Priya Mehra (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) after learning of her pregnancy.
Hrithik is a loved dancer and many fans desire to seem him dance in all of his films.
Director Rakesh Roshan speaks about Remo’s imagination in ‘Raghupati Raghav’:
“Remo D’Souza is excellent. We had kept seven days to shoot this song.
“Because he was so clear in his mind, we finished it in five days. He is very imaginative.”
That is evident in this song which displays Hrithik as fans love to see him.
Iski Uski – 2 States (2014)
Abhishek Varman’s 2 States stars Arjun Kapoor (Krish Malhotra) and Alia Bhatt (Ananya Swaminathan).
In ‘Iski Uski’, Krish and Ananya dance with such great force that it is hard to look away, lest you miss a single moment.
Remo oversees a true portrayal of energy and fervour.
Coupled with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s upbeat score, ‘Iski Uski’ is the most captivating song of the album.
A fan on YouTube comments on Alia’s charm in the film:
“Everytime I watch this movie, I cannot help but see Alia as an Indian Snow White.
“The blue top and yellow skirt in the saree she wears makes me immediately think Disney Princess and she is absolutely, stunningly beautiful.”
This attraction is underscored in ‘Iski Uski’, which is a number you must dance to if you seek a good time.
Sun Saathiya – ABCD 2 (2015)
Remo D’Souza not only decorates ABCD 2 with his choreography, but he also directs the film as well.
‘Sun Saathiya’ shows Vinita ‘Vinnie’ Sharma (Shraddha Kapoor) and Suresh Mukund (Varun Dhawan).
They breakdance together as they both seem to be in their element.
Shraddha, in particular, is the epitome of grace and sex appeal, as she takes to the routine naturally and effortlessly.
Delving into the song, Shraddha says:
“Remo sir wanted longer takes throughout the song so he has kept seamless takes the way he wanted to.
“We had to keep dancing till he called cut. He wanted me to change and look like a dancer.”
Shraddha certainly looks the part and Remo’s professionalism makes the song a great result for all to see.
Deewani Mastani – Bajirao Mastani (2015)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani is a spectacle of grandeur and opulence.
In the chartbuster ‘Deewani Mastani’, Bajirao I (Ranveer Singh) watches pleasurably as his second wife Mastani (Deepika Padukone) sways and glides.
His first wife Kashibai (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) also watches the performance.
Deepika is elegant and classy, melding classical dance with an unmatched appeal.
Remo D’Souza talks about how the song matches Deepika:
“This song is made for Deepika as it matches the way she is and her body language.”
Bhansali is a director famous for his regality on celluloid.
‘Deewani Mastani’ undeniably highlights that.
Jawaani Song – Student of the Year 2 (2019)
Remo returns as the choreographer for the standalone sequel of the aforementioned Student of the Year.
Student of the Year 2 stars Tiger Shroff (Rohan Sachdev) and introduces both Tara Sutaria (Mridula ‘Mia’ Chawla) and Ananya Panday (Shreya Randhawa).
Tiger is a dancer of epic capability and he proves that as he performs the complex routine in the song.
Meanwhile, Tara and Ananya are real finds as they showcase their unique moving skills and confidence.
‘Jawaani Song’ is inspired by Kishore Kumar’s classic number from Jawaani Deewani (1972).
Speaking about this, Tiger opines: “I won’t say that it is a remake, we were wanting to pay a tribute to the old legends.
“I know it is bound to happen but in no way can there be any comparison to the old version.”
The energy in the choreography is reminiscent of Kishore Da’s energy, which makes ‘Jawaani Song’ all the more relatable.
Ghar More Pardesiya – Kalank (2019)
This enriching dance sequence from Kalank shows Madhuri Dixit (Bahaar Begum) and Roop Sami (Alia Bhatt).
Roop approaches Bahaar for dance instruction and in the song, Alia gives Madhuri a run for her money.
A dancing icon, Madhuri also encapsulates the challenges of the routine with vigour and strength.
Speaking about the routine, Alia reveals: “The spins were the toughest part; the weight of the lehenga made it difficult to spin fast.
“I was worried about how I had fared, but once I finished the take, Remo sir gave me an okay.
“That was reassuring.”
Kalank may not have done well at the box office, but ‘Ghar More Pardesiya’ remains an evergreen visual experience.
Nachi Nachi – Street Dancer 3D (2020)
As Remo D’Souza returns to the director’s chair, we arrive at Street Dancer 3D.
‘Nachi Nachi’ capitalises on the gorgeous aesthetics and breathtaking dance.
The song features Mia (Nora Fatehi), Sahej Singh Narula (Varun Dhawan), and Inayat Naazi (Shraddha Kapoor).
All three artists perform their steps with passion and potential.
Using the floor as an aid for the routine, ‘Naachi Naachi’ shimmers with originality and depth.
It is a song every dance aficionado must watch and learn from.
Remo can expertly craft and design groundbreaking dance sequences via his choreography.
These routines may pose a challenge for the people performing them, but when they get it right, the results are amazing.
What follows are evergreen sequences that help these songs become the evergreen chartbusters that they are.
So, get your dancing shoes on and prepare to embrace the legend, Remo D’Souza.
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