Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa gets bitchy

Boy, JDJ got decidedly chilly last week. Here I was thinking the only friction on a tepid show like this could come by way of milking tension between the judges. But why bother when a number of grumpy celebrities are at hand!

Last week's highly random insertion of Prachi back into the show by way of wild card split JDJ into two camps, whether you liked it or not. And the infighting - which sadly could not be captured on camera for our entertainment - resulted in some delicious bitching during the pre-performance contestant interviews.

In the end, Ronit Roy - riding a wave of unpopularity among his peers - caught a combination of low marks and fewer votes to spin out of the show. And while he talked about his tenure on the show in the very graceful way he tends to, it was fun to watch the rest of the lined up contestants squirm behind him.

Anyway, on to the only thing I wait for on this show: Mir Ranjan Negi!

In his first dance, Negi started by teasing us by swishing his backside with a towel - an orange and red one. He twirled it around and put it around his shoulders, barely catching his balance. Then Negi proceeded to gargle, brush his teeth and put deodorant under his arms. This he did perfunctorily, like he really wanted to get back to that towel routine.

Moments later he framed himself in a mock window and in tune with "Chand ka tukda" he held up a paper mache moon. This he first held the wrong way, but was chakit enough to fix the direction in moments. This had me already laughing constantly. Yet more tremendous dancing ensued - its hard to describe, kind of like a person teetering between stumbling and dancing.

Jeetendra expressed his disappointment by saying: "This wasn't you!" I disagree my Jumping Jack. That was exactly Negi and to prove me right, he did another dance.

This time he did Shammi Kapoor's Junglee only he was dressed up as a honky tonk version of Elvis - big sideburns and all. He wore a red banyan and displayed a distinct cleavage. And at one point - I speak nothing but the truth here - he patted himself down while twisting his hips. Why? I have no idea - but it looked great!

The judges, stinging from the loss of some of their favorite contestants, tore into him. This forced Negi to play his trump card - a twisted ankle which resulted in much pain that he strove through manfully in this routine. Still, he walked away looking like he had been struck by lightening.

Thankfully Shiamak Davar was absent from the show and didn't have to see any of this - although poor fill-in judge Bipasha Basu did have to sit through both performances with a straight face. And she did it so well, my respect for her has just gone through the roof.

Also:

• Leera is thankful for a double dose of Negimania and explains why Ronit wasn't well liked by his peers



• Mind Rush is sorry to see Ronit go and loved Prachi-Deepak's Don spoof
  



• J can't bear to watch Negi dance



• Tania is pissed with the wild card entry and believes her 5 year old can dance better than Negi



• Joules finally catches up with JDJ and its denizens



• So does Saritha who notices a few interesting things



• Spruha is ticked off with Sonali's arrogance



• Bella gives props to the choreographers