Diwali is a time for celebrations and the films of India have had memorable themes, events, songs and tragedies in the storyline marked on Diwali.
Diwali was once the main theme of films in the 40’s and 50’s , with movies like Diwali, Diwali ki Raat and Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali. There were songs on Diwali’s joyous atmosphere like, ‘Aai re Aai re Diwali’ sung by Shamshad Begum in Sheesh Mahal and ‘Ek Woh Bhi Diwali Thi’ sung by Mukesh in Nazrana was a more depression-ridden number for those who couldn’t feel joy in the time of celebration.
Waqt, the 1965-blockbuster starts with the song ‘Ae meri Zohra Jabeen’ which was set in the midst of Diwali celebrations in the house of the family. The family gets separated in an earthquake which sets in right after the song. Here Diwali marks the start of the main storyline and the beginning of the family’s journey towards being re-unified later in their lives.
Shahrukh makes his entry in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’ during the Raichand family’s grand Diwali Puja. In the end , the lonely and empty Diwali at the Raichand house become one of the biggest reasons for the entire family to re-unite.
In Mohabbatein, the song ‘Pairon mein Bandhan’ is set during Diwali. The song symbolizes the protagonists Uday, Jugal and Jimmy breaking the rules of their boarding school and running away to be with their sweethearts in the time of celebration. This incident leads to the showdown between SRK and Amitabh and the latter ultimately bows out.
Anuraag is a movie about a blind girl and a boy who suffers from cancer, Satyajeet. Satyajeet’s last wish was to celebrate Diwali for the last time and his grandfather, Ashok Kumar, lights up the entire neighborhood, as they celebrate the festival of lights a month in advance.
Kamal Hassan initially gets rejected for the nanny-job in Chachi 420, but is hired when he rescues his daughter, whose dress catches fire while playing with fire-crackers and throws her in a pool. Here, this Diwali accident makes way for Kamal into the house of his ex-wife, so he can be closer to his daughter.
From social messages to songs of celebration to heart-lighting stories, Diwali has been a successful theme for film-makers in making some of the best films we have seen.
