In an industry where dance and music have long been at the heart of captivating audiences, renowned Bollywood choreographer Bosco Martis has taken a stand. Known for his infectious hook steps featured in chart-topping numbers from blockbusters including ‘Main Tera Hero,’ ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya,’ and the much-anticipated ‘Pathaan’ and ‘War,’ Martis has voiced a pressing concern faced by choreographers—the lack of due credit in film marketing.
Songs and dance routines have always been emblematic of Indian cinema’s allure, often serving as potent marketing strategies that resonate with millions globally. With the forthcoming release of Hrithik Roshan’s ‘Fighter’, Martis has drawn attention to the inequity of recognition that choreographers face compared to their counterparts in film production.
After 22 years of crafting iconic dance sequences, Martis expressed his frustration through a dance reel posted on his social media handle. “My oath to the future of choreographers,” he stated, lamenting how the creators of beloved dance numbers remain unnamed on promotional materials. “It’s a struggle to put our names on any promotional material of movies. Where the song and dance are celebrated by the nation and worldwide.”
His candid post revealed a lack of acknowledgement for choreographers, even in instances when music directors and other contributors are credited. “It’s high time the choreographers should be celebrated,” wrote Martis, underscoring the need for parity when it comes to honoring all artists involved in creating a film’s magic.
He appealed for future corrections, advocating for choreographers’ names to be prominently featured across all promotional platforms, including posters and radio ads. Martis called on his fellow dance creators to demand their rightful recognition, to ensure the legacy of dance and entertainment prevails.
The sentiment resonated throughout the choreographic community, as his comment section saw an outpouring of support. Choreographer Rahul Shetty extolled Martis for championing the cause for recognition—a sentiment of immense value for any artist. Piyush Bhagat echoed these thoughts, sharing his own struggles for basic acknowledgment in the industry. He lamented the anonymity choreographers face, pointing out the popularity of songs such as ‘Kala Chashma,’ where the absence of a choreographer’s name led to widespread ignorance of the creators behind the viral moves.
This conversation strikes at the heart of a larger issue within the entertainment sector, where attribution for creative work often skews towards high-profile names, leaving equally deserving artists without the spotlight they merit. Through Martis’s advocacy, a spotlight now shines on the inequity, urging industry stakeholders to consider a more inclusive approach to credit artists responsible for some of cinema’s most exuberant and iconic moments.
The move initiated by Martis is more than a mere plea for credit—it’s a call for justice in an ecosystem that operates on the blood, sweat, and passion of all its artisans. As the era of digital media continues to grow, where creations can go viral overnight, it becomes increasingly imperative that every contributor’s efforts are acknowledged. Only then can the magic of cinema be truly celebrated in its entirety.
The dance of cinema is not just in its physicality but in its ability to weave together various threads of creativity. When the lights dim and a film commences, the dances that unfold on screen are not merely movements but are narratives woven into every beat and step. Therefore, as we catapult into the future of film-making, let us hope that the call from Bosco Martis ushers in a new age of appreciation for all the artists behind the scenes, ensuring that the rhythm of recognition beats just as loudly for choreographers as it does for others in the spectacle of Bollywood’s storytelling.
