Raveena Tandon: 'Aaja Gufaon Mein Aa' is about women power, not horror
Synopsis
Raveena Tandon dropped a quiet but pointed correction on 'India's Best Dancer' — the iconic 'Aaja Gufaon Mein Aa' was never a horror song. Choreographed originally by Raju Subramaniam as a women-power statement, its modern reimagining as something sinister, she argues, misreads the whole song. One guest appearance, and a decades-old misperception is back in the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Raveena Tandon appeared as a special guest on the semi-final episode of 'India's Best Dancer' Season 5 .
She called the performance by contestant Geetanjali and choreographer Anuradha 'flawless' but raised one complaint about its horror portrayal.
Tandon clarified that 'Aaja Gufaon Mein Aa' was originally conceived as a women power anthem, not a horror number.
Original choreography of the song was done by Raju Subramaniam , according to Tandon. 'India's Best Dancer' Season 5 airs on Sony Entertainment Television and streams on Sony LIV .
Actress Raveena Tandon has pushed back against a widely held perception, asserting that the classic song 'Aaja Gufaon Mein Aa' was never intended as a horror number — and that its repeated recreation in a dark, frightening format does the original a disservice. The actress made the remarks during a semi-final episode of the dance reality show 'India's Best Dancer' Season 5, where she appeared as a special guest.
The Performance That Sparked the Conversation
Contestant Geetanjali and choreographer Anuradha took the stage with a combined act set to 'Aaja Gufaon Mein Aa' and 'Ye Raat', two songs closely associated with Tandon's screen legacy. While the performance drew widespread appreciation — with Tandon herself calling it 'flawless' — the actress noted one significant reservation about how the song was portrayed.
Raveena's Complaint: 'Why Make Her Look So Terrifying?'
Speaking on the show, Tandon said: 'Ye bachche itne khubsurat hain, mujhe ek hi complaint hai poore performance se. Otherwise, mere liye yeh performance flawless tha, par ek complaint hai, itni khubsurat bachchi ko tumne itna bhayanak kyun banaya?' (These children are so beautiful, I have only one complaint about the entire performance. Otherwise, for me, this performance was flawless, but I have one complaint: why did you make such a beautiful girl look so terrifying?)
She went on to explain that contemporary choreographers tend to reimagine the song through a horror lens, which she believes misses the original spirit entirely. 'Yeh gaana actually bahut hi khubsurat gaana hai jis tarike se gaya gaya hai,' she said (This song is actually a very beautiful song the way it has been sung).
A Song About Women Power, Not Fear
Tandon was emphatic that the song carries a message of female strength. She credited Raju Subramaniam with the original choreography and noted that the number was conceived as a celebration of women, not a vehicle for fright. 'Wo ek women power ke baare mein hai. It doesn't have to be negative in that,' she added.
She also underlined the song's uniqueness: 'Aisa koi aur gaana kabhi nahi hua' (There has never been another song like this), suggesting that its distinctive quality is precisely what gets distorted when it is forced into a horror format.
About India's Best Dancer Season 5
The semi-final episode of 'India's Best Dancer' Season 5 features high-stakes performances and intense competition as contestants vie for a spot in the finale. The show airs on Sony Entertainment Television and is also available to stream on Sony LIV. Tandon's appearance added a layer of emotional authenticity, given her personal connection to the songs performed.
The remarks are likely to reopen a broader cultural conversation about how Bollywood's classic songs are reinterpreted across generations — and whether those reinterpretations honour or reshape the original intent of the artists involved.
Point of View
With its appetite for dramatic effect, is particularly prone to this kind of aesthetic drift. That a lead actress had to correct the record on her own song, decades later, says something about how thinly the industry documents its own creative choices.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Raveena Tandon say about 'Aaja Gufaon Mein Aa'?
Raveena Tandon said the song 'Aaja Gufaon Mein Aa' was never a horror song and that modern choreographers wrongly give it a frightening format. She described it as a beautiful song about women power, originally choreographed by Raju Subramaniam.
Where did Raveena Tandon make these remarks?
She made the remarks during the semi-final episode of 'India's Best Dancer' Season 5 on Sony Entertainment Television, where she appeared as a special guest.
What was Raveena Tandon's complaint about the performance?
While calling the overall performance 'flawless', Tandon objected to the horror-themed portrayal of contestant Geetanjali, arguing that the song's true spirit — women power — was lost in the sinister staging.
Who originally choreographed 'Aaja Gufaon Mein Aa'?
According to Raveena Tandon, the original choreography was done by Raju Subramaniam, and the song was conceived as a celebration of women, not as a vehicle for fear or horror.
Where can viewers watch India's Best Dancer Season 5?
'India's Best Dancer' Season 5 airs on Sony Entertainment Television and is available for streaming on Sony LIV.
