Diwali on Silver Screen!

The formative years of Hindi cinema saw the actors crooning to Diwali songs in films. The 1965 film Guide saw Waheed Rehman dancing to the tunes of Piya Tose Naina Laage Re that was set on the eve of Diwali. Also, the 1977 film Shirdi Ke Sai Baba comprised the popular song Deepavali Manaye Suhani. With such limited coverage of Indias most premiere festival on the silver screen, we certainly look forward to more such memories of the popular fest.

The desi version of Mrs. Doubtfire successfully portrayed by Kamal Haasan, Chachi 420 encompassed a mild reference to the festival. The scene revolves around Amrish Puri who plays the role of Haasans estranged father-in-law who is on the lookout for a governess for his grand-daughter. Haasan who plays the girls father, dons the feminine attire and approaches Puri for the job. As the interview advances, an awry firecracker comes in from nowhere hurting Puris grand-daughter and Kamal rushes to her rescue.

The 2005 dud film Home Delivery featuring Vivek Oberoi in the lead role, collapsed at the box office in no time but is perhaps the only film of recent times that has its plot revolving around Diwali. The film also comprises of a song named Happy Diwali dedicated to the festival featuring little kids dancing to the tunes at a school event. The film may have faded from our memories but the soundtrack composed by the rockstar duo Vishal-Shekhar and voiced by Sunidhi Chauhan remain etched.

A cult sports drama, JJWS came in as the first of epic films from the Aamir Khan league. And just as the superstar who is famed for experimenting with his characters, the festival of Diwali features in the flick as well. The mushy high school musical features the song Sheher Ki Pariyon Ke Peeche based against the Diwali backdrop. The sequence has Aamir and Ayesha Julka at loggerheads over the boy-girl prejudice on Diwali night as the friends get together for the festivity.

An action-packed film that largely focused on gang wars and conflicts, Vaastav was a story about a young boy who dramatically ascends as the local mafia. The film showcases all major festivals throughout its narrative. One such sequence in the film representing the festive fervor of Diwali is the return of Dutt to his family as an accomplished underworld don. The chawl where he once resided is illuminated with lanterns as he showers gifts on his family members and flaunts his handgun amidst blasting firecrackers. Pachchaas Tola! Remember!

A slapstick drama, AAKR failed to generate footfalls at cinema halls but has indexed superior ratings on TV channels ever since its release. The film starring Chandrachur Singh, Tabu, Govinda, Juhi and Johnny Lever in prominent roles is one that saw the characters basking in the festive celebrations. Featuring the song Aayi Hai Diwali, Sunno Ji Gharwali which goes hand-in-hand with the films story comes in as a perfect entertainer for all comedy fans.

The Yash Chopra sagas have literally been there and done all that. From romance to drama to action, their films have also played around several festivals from Holi to Karva Chauth. Hence a Diwali sequence in their films has been a natural component. In the year 2000, Aditya Copras Mohabbatein showcased the Diwali festival in a romantic light. The sequence signifies the union of the protagonists Uday, Jimmy and Jugal with their beloved Shamita, Preeti and Kim respectively followed up by the famed song Pairon Mein Bandhan Hai.

The Salman Khan Rani Mukerji starrer Baabul came by in the year 2006. A typical Bollywood family drama, the film that also sees Big B and Hema Malini in the lead has the entire cast celebrating Diwali in a peaceful manner.

Famed for his candy floss, tradition-loving films, Karan Johar has never shied away from doing what best suits the script. The filmmaker in his 2003 release K3G commenced the films plot with Diwali celebrations. As a prominent reference point in the film, the Shah Rukh- Amitabh starrers opening sequence begins with the Raichand family performing the Diwali puja in their abode. Jaya Bachchan is seen particularly rejoicing against the backdrop of the films title track as the day marks her son Shah Rukhs homecoming.

Sonam Kapoor is famed for playing dress-up in all her films. How could we miss her oh-so pretty avatar in the Diwali scene from her 2010 film Aisha! The sequence features Sonam attending a family Diwali party and going green with envy as Lisa Haydon steals her thunder.

With Bollywood filmmakers experimenting on new genres of cinema, the Indian festivals covered on the celluloid have also changed overtime. As Dahi Handi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Eid capture the maximum screen space in films today with songs and scenes woven around them, there remains one festival that has certainly gone amiss- Diwali. With Bollywood biggies gearing up to cash on their Diwali releases- an occasion considered lucky for the industry, however the festivals depiction on screen seems to have declined. So heres commemorating some special Diwali moments on the silver screen.