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Tamannaah Bhatia has successfully made a space for herself across cinema in various languages and is now a Pan India star. She's also known for her dance numbers lately, which have hit the popularity charts but in a recent interview she opened up on why she chose to do these dance tracks, and why she prefers to not call them 'item songs'.
In recent times, there's also been a discussion on objectification of women in cinema after the makers of 'Peddi' faced backlash for the way Janhvi Kapoor was portrayed in the film. Tamannaah also opened up on the male gaze and objectification of actresses. Reflecting on some of the most iconic dance numbers in Indian cinema, Tamannaah praised actors Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif for their memorable performances. She said in an interview with Forbes, “Like when I see Kareena or Katrina do songs in a film… You might not remember those movies, but you will always remember a ‘Chammak Challo’, ‘Shiela Ki Jawani’ or ‘Kamli’.
You remember these songs that these wonderful women have done. They look like goddesses, they move like goddesses. They are just beauty personified. They are graceful and they really celebrate themselves.
”Tamannaah revealed that while she was never formally trained as a dancer, she has always enjoyed performing. According to her, songs like these transcend films and become a part of celebrations across generations.
Sharing her personal observations, she said, “I have seen everyone, from elderly uncles to grandmoms to kids to everyone just dancing on them. It’s a party number, it’s a dance number. So for me, that’s how I look at this space.
I don’t look at it like an item because I feel these eventually become party songs.” She also shared that she and her team often dance to
Himesh Reshammiya
's tracks whenever they need a mood boost during stressful days.The actor also spoke candidly about her relationship with glamour, describing it as an integral part of her personality. “For me, glamour is very innate. I wake up wanting to feel glamorous. It’s not something that I am doing just for the camera because now I am just like… This is a part of me. I can’t get rid of it. This is a great way to channel it. And I enjoy it and love it,” she said.Discussing the effort that goes into creating popular dance numbers, Tamannaah explained that she approaches each song as a character performance rather than simply a dance routine.
Recalling her appearance in Stree 2's hit track ‘Aaj Ki Raat’, she said she performed while embodying the character Shama. She also reflected on ‘Ghafoor’ from The Ba***ds of Bollywood, a song used only for promotional purposes and not included in the final series.
“It’s borderline comical because ‘Ghafoor’ did not have sexy steps, but it had a very glamorous vibe, but the steps were not like that,” she said.The conversation also touched upon the differences between the Hindi and south Indian film industries.
Tamannaah noted that Bollywood often allows actors to define their own creative path, whether commercial or performance-driven. “In the Hindi film industry, there are two kinds of actors. Those who have a little more artistic take on things, are better off playing certain kinds of characters. They might not certainly do a glamorous song and dance.
The Hindi film industry actually gives you the opportunity to do either/or, and the ones who do both inevitably become superstars,” she said.Comparing that experience to her journey in southern cinema, Tamannaah acknowledged that commercial filmmaking there often comes with its own expectations. “When I entered the south industry, I understood why people might call it many names. Like it’s a very specific gaze. It’s a patriarchal sort of vibe or it’s a gaze that’s not very complimentary. I felt like I had understood the musical aspect of it.”She further explained that maintaining longevity in commercial south Indian cinema requires a particular blend of star power and versatility.
“The south needed to have that star quality to be able to pull that off, so I personally feel like that cinema is as or more restrictive in that sense. I am talking about when you sort of want to make it from a commercial standpoint. This is my personal experience. I am sure it’s different for different people, but I am talking about people who have had a long career even within female actors who have extended for say 10-15 years.
They have been able to fit into performance-oriented roles and at the same time, they have been able to do commercial song and dance.”Tamannaah's remarks come shortly after
Ram Charan
and Janhvi Kapoor's upcoming film Peddi faced criticism online over the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor in certain scenes that many viewers considered overly sexualised. Following the backlash, some sequences were reportedly modified, and director Buchi Babu Sana issued a public apology on social media.
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