5 Bollywood films where Holi played a crucial role
We are just some days away from Holi and this year, people will celebrate it in full glory after two years of lull. The festival of colors is an important occasion in India and naturally finds mention in Bollywood films. In some movies, however, Holi played a much bigger role than just being a show of colors, bhaang, etc. We list the top five.
'Silsila' (1981)
In Silsila, everything changed after the Holi sequence. The entire celebration in the Bollywood film went from pure fun to relationships developing cracks, all in a span of almost ten minutes. It was during Holi, Shobha Malhotra (Jaya Bachchan) and Dr. VK Anand (Sanjeev Kumar) understood that their respective spouses, Amit Malhotra (Amitabh Bachchan) and Chandni (Rekha), were much more than mere acquaintances.
'Damini' (1993)
For now, let's forget the impact Damini has on a viewer and focus on the catalyst behind that: Holi. In the film, Damini's maid-servant Urmi gets raped by her husband's brother and his friends on the occasion of Holi and this changes the entire course of her life as she is ready to face any ordeal, even crass insults, to bring justice to Urmi.
'Sholay' (1975)
"Holi kab hai? Kab hai Holi?" has become a part of common parlance, like many other dialogues spoken by Gabbar in Sholay. Otherwise as well, Holi played an important role in Sholay. The sequence brought Basanti and Veeru closer and allowed Jai and Radha (a widow) to share glances. It is also immediately after Holi that we learn about Thakur Baldev Singh's tragic backstory.
'Darr' (1993)
Shah Rukh Khan played a maniac in almost all his earlier films, like Deewana, Darr, Anjaam, etc. In Darr, Rahul Mehra (Khan) is at his menacing best in the Holi sequence. In it, he enters Kiran's house, covered in colors as a disguise. Kiran dances to his drum beating and his actions thereafter terrify her. The ensuing chase sequence changes the film's narrative altogether.
'Waqt: The Race Against Time' (2005)
In Waqt: The Race Against Time, Ishwarchandra Thakur wants to teach his irresponsible son Aditya Thakur how to be more mature. He fails, and Aditya makes it worse by eloping to get married. It's only during Holi that Aditya learns his wife is pregnant. Soon after, Ishwarchandra throws Aditya out of the house to teach him about responsibilities, and this time, he succeeds.
