
The evolution of Holi songs in Hindi cinema: From Bachchan to modern hits
Rang barse' and 'Hori khele Raghuveera' so often that I have Bachchan coming out of my ears. For the uninitiated, both songs are based on traditional numbers that were reimagined for Hindi cinema. Amitabh Bachchan sang 'Rang barse' in Yash Chopra's 1981 film Silsila, and is one of the singers for 'Hori khele Raghuveera' from 2003's Baghban directed by Ravi Chopra.
Up to the 1980s, songs and dances revolving around Holi were routine in Hindi cinema. While the colours and energy intrinsic to the festival were its primary attractions for filmmakers, they also often steeped Holi set pieces in symbolism, or used them as a segue into high drama in the plot.
Sometimes these songs contained expressions of longing and sorrow, emotions that were underlined by their contrast to the unbridled joy of most of the characters present. Sometimes they were an excuse for either consensual romance or sexual harassment. In Mehboob Khan's 1957 Mother India, heartache, flirtation, and misconduct were all packed into 'Holi aayi re Kanhai' picturised on Nargis, Raaj Kumar, Sunil Dutt, and Rajendra Kumar.
In Shakti Samanta's 1971 Kati Patang and Ramesh Sippy's 1975 Sholay, the gulaal used by revellers was juxtaposed against the white sari worn by Asha Parekh and Jaya Bhaduri playing widows, as the songs 'Aaj na chhodenge' and 'Holi ke din' respectively rang out around them. The latter ended with Gabbar Singh's gang attacking the innocent villagers.
By the time Baghban came to theatres, the appearance of Holi in Hindi films had been