Sovit & Satyaki of Calcutta-based dance group Mambo City 

Sovit: ABCD 2 is a dance film and that was the primary reason I wanted to watch it. The first half has more soul while the second half is jazzed up to appeal to a larger audience. The film says that dance is still not considered as a good career option. Most people can’t get into dance because of family pressure. In the second half, the film shows how one can use mental strength to get ahead in life. The last dance sequence has some of the best reality TV dancers in India. I also liked the rain dance. I was impressed by Sun saathiya, the lyrical piece that has come out well.

I was surprised to see Bolly actors like Varun (Dhawan) and Shraddha (Kapoor) dancing so well! Dance is a wide subject, contrary to what people may think. People in India know only about two kinds of dance — Indian and Western and most think that Western dance is the umbrella for anything that is not Indian.
I consider it a grossly incorrect generalisation and that reflects in our movies as well. ABCD 2 falls short of creating a holistic dance experience like the Step Up series, but director Remo D’Souza has still done incredible work. He has made a commercially successful film which appeals to dance enthusiasts and has also got reasonably good critical acclaim. That’s significant progress! 

Jai Kumar Nair, choreographer and Dance India Dance finalist 

ABCD 2 is an amazing film. There was a time in India when people hardly appreciated dancers... but that changed after shows like Dance India Dance. Everything has picked up so well. Today people are giving equal respect to the dancers and performers. It’s amazing to see my friends on screen doing so well. I was supposed to be a part of ABCD, but had to back out because I had to run my dance school. For us, our priority will always be dance as we are born to be dancers. I relate to the ABCD films because most of the dancers come from middle-class backgrounds. We’ve really struggled hard to reach where we are today. 

Natalie Pote Shaw, Calcutta-based zumba instructor 

I was pleasantly surprised at the choreographyin ABCD 2... it was done really well. I think Shraddha Kapoor is a natural dancer and my students are going crazy about the film. As far as its theme is concerned, I could relate in parts.... My dad couldn’t believe that people can dance for a living. So I did regular stuff. Then after a point, I realised that this is where my passion lies and it is never too late. I loved a strong line from ABCD 2 — “We dance to express and not to impress.” 

Vrushali Chavan, choreographer and Dance India Dance participant

Remo Sir is brilliant. He knows dance is not only about moving one’s limbs... it is also about making the heart feel and connect with the audience. He has taken ABCD at least a hundred notches up with ABCD 2. He’s got a better starcast... Varun Dhawan has nailed it and has matched up to people’s expectations. Bharatanatyam is a dance form that’s very close to me  and so someday, I would like to make a movie on classical dance. 

DEEPAK, choreographer

ABCD 2 is superbly shot. I felt it is a much better film than the first one. All the dancers in this film are my friends and I feel they have improved as actors. The film has touched me and I cried in parts too. I would like to be a part of a film like that. Remo inspires me and a lot of youngsters to make films. I am a Latino dancer so I dream of making a tribute to Dance With Me. 

As told to Ratnalekha Mazumdar