YUVARAJ
Yuvaraj's faced stiff opposition when he announced at home that he wanted to find himself a career in dance. Despite the odds, he pursued his dream. But those hard times are a thing of a past for the choreographer, who finds his parents happy with his decision now. The 26-year-old joined Raack Academy as soon as he finished his schooling.
“Raack Academy was responsible for making me take interest in dance. I have trained Chethan and Devadarshini, Uma Riyaz and Prithviraj, Prajan and Chantra in the past. Currently, I'm coaching Priyadarshini for the new show Boys vs Girls on Vijay TV,” he explains. “Through these shows, I get a lot of opportunity to choreograph for colleges and corporates. Such shows have taught me patience,” Yuvaraj observes.Expresso caught up with them
SANDY
“Maanada Mayilaada has given me an identity,” begins Sandy, who has taught Sathish and Jayashree, Gokul and Kavi and Ram and Priya as part of Kalalaya.
This had given him so much of an identity that he was invited to be Sinbhu's choreographer in Silambattam. "It's a pity I couldn't agree ot it becuase I had not got the dance director's card from the Cien and TV Dancers and Dance Directors' Association,” says Sandy, ruefully. Yet, Sandy is happy that his creativity hasn't got unnoticed. In fact, Sandy is going to do a role in a Telugu film which, obviously, gives him scope to dance.
The popularity he got through Maanada Mayilaada made him to choreograph an album. Inspired by Prabhu Deva, Sandy wants to become the Best Choreographer and also hopes to direct movies.
MANI
He is the man behind the success of the winners of Maanada Mayilaada, Season 2 -Bala and Priyadharshini. Associated with Kalalaya for more than 14 years, Mani is completely into dancing. “I started learning dance when I was seven. In choreography, the mantra is always to give the best to get the best. Whatever be the round-folk or western- I give my best and train the couples,” he says.
Like his dancer friends, Mani too has received opportunities to act, but the dedicated dancer prefers dancing.
Presently training Azhar and Rajini, Mani feels they are giving their best and working hard. “I couldn’t believe when people call me from London, Canada and Sri Lanka and comment about the performances,” says Mani, who will be choreographing for albums and training Azhar and Rajini (contestants of 'Maanada Mayilaada').
NANDA
The choreographer is all set to debut in Pugaipadam. Directed by Selvaraghavan’s assistant Rajesh Lingam, the movie has seven heroes and Nanda is one of them. Nanda was part of the John Britto's Dance Company which has choreographed for TV jodis Deepak and Tharika, Venkat and Nisha, Prem and Pooja for Jodi No 1 on Vijay TV.
Interestingly, Nanda's passion for dance was kindled only by a reality dance show, 'Thillana Thillana' on Sun TV. This led him to become a junior dancer in John Britto’s Dance Company from where he became a dance teacher in a year's time. “Jodi No 1 has actually given me fans though my work was visible only through the jodis. In fact, I have fans in Chicago, Singapore and even Malaysia.
Nanda is also one of the contestants in the show 'Ungalil Yaar Adutha Prabhu Deva' on Vijay TV. “If you win the title you’re sure to get the best. I might be doing a remake of Malayalam movie soon. But I’m just waiting to finish the show,” he says, hopefully.
umakannan@epmltd.com