Its time for Holi and today’s post is a celebration of film songs based on this colorful festival. It is probably the most favorite festival depicted in Hindi cinema. There have been some all time hit songs all the way from Holi Aayi Re Kanhai, Jaa Re Hat Natkhat, Aaj Na Chhodenge Bas Humjoli, Holi Ke Din and Rang Barse. It is a long list and the songs have continued to remain popular.
Today’s post is about post 90s Holi songs. There are some traditional and others with a modern touch in line with the times. Needless to say, the festival and theme continues to stay relevant in Hindi cinema. So enjoy, and which songs do you remember?
1) Song: Ang Se Ang Lagaana
Film: Darr (1993)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Shiv-Hari | Sudesh Bhosle, Vinod Rathod, Devaki Pandit, Alka Yagnik and chorus
Darr is the story of love and obsession. Sunny Deol and Juhi Chawla are celebrating Holi with her bhaiya Anupam Kher and bhabhi Tanvi Azmi. Everything is all right until Shah Rukh Khan enters disguised as a Dhol player. An entertaining song as you wait to see what happens next. Shiv Hari had given us the evergreen Rang Barse from Silsila, which was also a Yash Chopra production.
2) Song: Rang Di Rang Di
Film: Dhanwaan (1993)
Credits: Sameer | Anand-Milind | Nitin Mukesh, Suresh Wadkar, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Chorus
This is a melodious composition in Raag Shivaranjani. The song starts on a sombre note but becomes lively when Karisma Kapoor remembers the Holi celebrations in a flashback. Ajay Devgan and Manisha Koirala are her co-actors, celebrating in full swing.
3) Song: Jhankaaro Jhankaaro
Film: Krantiveer (1994)
Credits: Sameer | Anand-Milind| Udit Narayan, Sapna Awasthi and chorus
Krantiveer was a hard hitting film but also featured some melodious and catchy numbers. Nana Patekar forces Dimple Kapadia to tell her story. She reacts in shock and mentions one word “Holi” as she remembers this song in a flashback. In happier times, she is celebrating Holi with her lover (played by Girish Malik) but their life is going to change soon.
4) Song: More Kanha Jo Aaye Palat Ke
Film: Sardari Begum (1996)
Credits: Javed Akhtar | Vanraj Bhatia | Asha Bhosle
And now a different flavour. This is not a typical song with Holi visuals. The protagonist Kirron Kher (and Smriti Mishra who played the young Sardari) enact the song as part of a song recording scene and a stage performance. It is a thumri style song based on raag Pilu. It describes the Holi sequence involving Lord Krishna or Kanha. The lyrics, music, and rendition are all impactful.
5) Song: Soni Soni Ankhiyon Wali
Film: Mohabbatein (2000)
Credits: Anand Bakshi | Jatin-Lalit | Udit Narayan, Jaspinder Narula, Manohar Shetty, Udbhav, Ishaan, Shweta Pandit, Sonali Bhatawdekar, Pritha Mazumdar
This is a multi starrer of a song in all respects. Shah Rukh Khan enjoys the festivities with his students (Uday Chopra, Jimmy Shergill and Jugal Hansraj), and their love interests (Shamita Shetty, Preeti Jhangiani and Kim Sharma). Not to forget Anupam Kher and Archana Puran Singh carrying forward their track from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). Aishwarya Rai makes an appearance as well. The song is a combination of festive celebration, teasing with a touch of romance.
6) Song: Hori Khele Raghuveera
Film: Baghban (2003)
Credits: Sameer | Aadesh Shrivastava | Amitabh Bachchan, Sukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik
This song immediately reminds you of Rang Barse. The tune is inspired from the folk music of Uttar Pradesh and sung by Amitabh Bachchan himself. While he plays an aged character, he enjoys to the fullest with his wife (played by Hema Malini) and joined by family and friends.
7) Song: Holi Re
Film: Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)
Credits: Javed Akhtar | A. R. Rahman | Aamir Khan, Udit Narayan, Madhushree, Srinivas and Chinmayee Sripada
This song has the stamp of A. R. Rahman and you are reminded of Lagaan’s music. A good song but somehow not remembered easily today. The song showcases a boisterous celebration of Holi with Aamir Khan and Rani Mukherji participating.
8) Song: Do Me A Favour Lets Play Holi
Film: Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005)
Credits: Sameer | Anu Malik | Anu Malik and Sunidhi Chauhan
A desi song with a western twist, courtesy Anu Malik. He also lends vocals to this different number. Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra perform the song which is a mix of traditional and western elements, right from the lyrics, choreography to the costumes. Its different, but catchy.
9) Song: Itna Mazaa…Balam Pichkari
Film: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
Credits: Amitabh Bhattacharya | Pritam | Vishal Dadlani & Shalmali Kholgade
This is arguably the most famous Holi song post 1990s. The infectious tune makes you want to groove. And it is a treat to watch. Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapur add their glamour to to the setting.
10) Song: Gori Tu Latth Maar
Film: Toilet – Ek Prem Katha (2017)
Credits: Siddharth-Garima | Manas-Shikhar | Sonu Nigam & Palak Muchhal
And the final and a unique song in this list. It showcases the tradition of Latth Maar Holi from the Barsana and Nandgaon towns in Mathura. Here the women hit the men with sticks who try to shield themselves. In the movie, the heroine Bhoomi Pednekar is adamant to have a toilet installed in her husband’s house. He disagrees and she leaves him. He comes to meet her during Holi. This is an opportunity for him to seek forgiveness. Will she relent?
Cine Gaurav 