BOLLYWOOD WALI HOLO: TAB SE AB TAK

This festival of colours, add these new-age dance numbers to your playlist while keeping up with the charm of iconic Holi songs

Colours, water balloons, gujia, bhaang and thandai — surely these are the quintessential Holi staples. But, the festival of colours is incomplete without peppy dance numbers. That’s where Bollywood comes in. Year after year, Bollywood has churned Holi tracks, which end up becoming chartbusters. Jai Jai Shiv Shankar from last year’s War, starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, is the latest entrant in the playlist. However, Bollywood’s tryst with Holi songs isn’t new, and actor Amitabh Bachchan probably holds a record for starring in the maximum number of Holi themed songs including Rang Barse from Silsila (1981) which has become synonymous to the festival. Another timeless Holi number featuring Bachchan is Holi Ke Din from Sholay (1975), which also had Hema Malini and Dharmendra. Bachchan returned in the whole Holi mood again many years later in Baghban (2003) with Holi Khele Raghuveera with the same energy and fervour.

Back in 1974, Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz ’s Jai Jai Shiv Shankar from Aap Ki Kasam steadily found a place as the most favoured Holi number, especially for bhaang lovers.

Shah Rukh Khan has also had his share of Holi fun on screen with Ang Se Ang Lagana, featured in Darr (1993).

Taking a cue, the new-age filmmakers, too, know what a good Holi song brings to a film. Do Me A Favour (Waqt: The Race Against Time; 2005) infused an English hookline and caught on like wild fire. However, for the new generation, Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone’s Balam Pichkari (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani; 2013) is the Holi anthem.

One more Holi song in Deepika’s repertoire is Lahu Munh Lag Gaya (Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela; 2013). A sensuous, romantic song, this one is for the lovebirds. Subverting the trope of two lovers celebrating the festival, Hrithik and Tiger faced off against each other, and celebrated their mentor-protégé relationship in War. To sum it up, you can’t miss one fact: old or new, every Holi song has a taker!