Choreographer Sandip Soparrkar shared that he is “very hurt” by the “politics being played” in the selection of the Indian delegation that represented the Indian film industry at Cannes. This year, India was named “country of honour” by the Marché du Film – festival de Cannes, for which Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur led the Indian delegation on the red carpet at the prestigious festival.
Soparrkar stated that even though there were actors, actresses, directors, cinematographers, musicians and singers as part of the Indian delegation, no choreographers were present. He argued, “Our films are famous all over the world for our Music and Dance… every indian film is called a Musical … and looks like the Information and Broadcasting Ministry forgot to include choreographers who contributes majority to the popularity…”
In a post titled ‘Hurt’, Suparrkar, who is a well-known choreographer and ballroom dancer in Bollywood, questioned if choreographers are a part of the film legacy in India.
He wrote, “And as always there is no one who will answer this…… honourable Shri Narendra Modi… honourable Shir President of India… and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.. Why there is no choreographer in the list of delegates at the Cannes Film festival??? Are we not a part of the legacy of India cinema???”
Celebs like R Madhavan, Nawauzuddin Siddiqui, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, Grammy award-winner Ricky Kej, CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi and CBFC member Vani Tripathi, music maestro AR Rahman, and folk singer Mame Khan were a part of the Indian contingent at the marquee event.
The disgruntled choreographer went on to tag Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministery of Information & Broadcasting in his open letter. “Very Hurt and upset with the Politics being played… and with the treatment given to choreographers during the selection of Indian Delegation at the on going Cannes Film Festival..,” he wrote.
