In the vibrant world of Indian cinema, choreography holds a special place, breathing life and energy into films through the universal language of dance. The dynamic duo, Sumesh Sundar and Jishnudas, are among the leading names steering this artistic force. They have once again captured the spotlight with their latest collaboration in Amal Neerad’s upcoming film, ‘Bougainvillea,’ slated for release on October 17.
This promising film is the latest feather in the cap for Sundar and Jishnudas, who previously choreographed widely appreciated dance sequences for ‘Bheeshma Parvam,’ a film celebrated for its iconic portrayal of a mafia story by Mammootty. Much of its allure, apart from Mammootty’s charismatic presence, came from Sushin Shyam’s gripping music and the imaginative choreography by this Thrissur-based pair.
At the heart of ‘Bougainvillea’ is the promo song ‘Sthuthi,’ already creating waves on social media with over 2.5 million views. This song, featuring Kunchacko Boban and Jyothirmayi, showcases an eclectic mix of dance styles such as hip-hop, house, whacking, and Afro. “The challenge was to blend these styles seamlessly to match the song’s darker tone,” Sumesh shares. The duo ensured that even though ‘Sthuthi’ is not your typical fast-paced number, the fast footwork used in the choreography speaks volumes and keeps the energy high.
Jyothirmayi, a seasoned performer known for her exuberant dance numbers like ‘Chingamaasam’ from ‘Meesha Madhavan’ and the sensuous track ‘Osama’ from ‘Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded,’ brings a new layer of intrigue to ‘Sthuthi.’ “Jyothirmayi delivered her performance with flair, trying something new,” Sumesh says, reflecting on the experience of working with her.
On the other hand, Kunchacko Boban’s performance in ‘Sthuthi’ is a revelation. Sumesh and Jishnudas have long admired Boban’s dancing skills. Having previously collaborated on a song that regrettably didn’t make it into their last joint venture, this latest opportunity allowed them to finally bring their creative visions together.
. “Amal Neerad had committed to doing a movie with both Chackochan [Kunchacko Boban] and us, and more than a year later, he kept his word with ‘Sthuthi,'” Sumesh recalls.
The process of crafting the choreography for ‘Sthuthi’ was not without its challenges. Initially, the duo found themselves in a creative conundrum. “When you hear words like ‘Karthavinu sthuthi’ (Amen to the Lord), it’s quite daunting to develop dance routines that both honor the lyrics and meet director Amal Neerad’s expectations for uniqueness,” Jishnudas explains. However, their innovative moves, synchronized to the song’s rhythm, resulted in a standout production, although performed under the constraints of a hand injury for Kunchacko Boban.
The comfort and camaraderie the choreographers share with the film’s crew—a team unchanged since ‘Bheeshma Parvam,’ including luminaries like Sushin Shyam and Vinayak Sasikumar—greatly contributed to the fluidity of their work on this project. Friends since their school days, Sumesh and Jishnudas founded ‘Myself and My Moves,’ a dance studio in Thrissur launched in 2016. The studio, which started as a dance community, now operates a thriving YouTube channel by the same name. Their creative content first caught Amal Neerad’s attention, leading to collaborations for ‘Bheeshma Parvam’ songs such as ‘Parudeesa’ and ‘Rathipushpam.’
Not limited to ‘Bougainvillea,’ their filmography is extensive, with contributions to notable films like ‘Paltu Janwar,’ ‘Oru Thekkan Thallu Case,’ ‘Anchakkakkollan,’ ‘Anuragam,’ and ‘Malayalee from India,’ some of which feature Jishnudas’ solo choreography work. Balancing their studio commitments with film choreography is a continuous challenge for the team. “It’s challenging for both of us to manage both realms, the studio and film choreography simultaneously,” Sumesh explains.
Jishnudas’ acclaimed skill recently earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Choreography for ‘Sulaikha Manzil,’ marking a significant milestone in his career. Their future holds more enigmatic projects, including an exclusive dance-oriented movie, yet to be officially announced, promising yet another burst of creativity from this talented pair.
As their dance journey continues to inspire and evoke admiration, ‘Bougainvillea’ and its much-anticipated release on October 17, hold the promise of further highlighting their unique creative flair and establishing new benchmarks in dance and choreography within Indian cinema.
