Bollywood has time and again used rain as a major narrative theme.
There's something magical about rains - especially the soothing sounds and the fragrance of the soaked ground. And getting drenched in rainwater is one of the best feelings ever! On the other hand, what's particularly special about rain is it can evoke a wide range of emotions. For most, it is romance (which is why monsoon is called the "season of romance"). It brings a sense of comfort as well, making us appreciate the little things in life. And it can also trigger nostalgia, making us reminisceabout all the good old days. Also, for some, it can bring sadness!
This is why Bollywood has had a love affair with monsoon for long. In many films, the rain ends up being nothing but a mere backdrop. But there are some examples where it’s more than just visual aesthetics and becomes an important part of the narrative. If we trace the history of Hindi cinema, we would find a number of scenes that capture the monsoon magic brilliantly, leaving a lasting impact.
As the rainy season is currently going in full swing, let's revisit some of those scenes in this article.
Mumbai ki Baarish (the monsoon in the city of Mumbai) is really something to die for. 'Wake Up Sid', starring Ranbir Kapoor and Konkana Sen Sharma, pays a beautiful homage to that.
In their first meeting, Sid describes to Aisha just how beautiful Mumbai becomes during the monsoon. The two get closer with time, become friends, and later drift apart for some time. And when they finally reunite and become more than friends, there's the first rain of the season outside. It just drowns all the sorrows away and marks the beginning of a new chapter. The scene makes us fall in love with rain every time we watch it.
A still from ‘Wake Up Sid’ featuring Ranbir Kapoor and KonkonaSensharma
Anurag Basu's 'Life In A... Metro' is another film that captures the monsoon in Mumbai beautifully. Although it may sound cliche, the rain actually appears as a character in the film, serving as a catalyst for the main characters' stories.
There are particularly two scenes that hit the bull's eye. One is when Shilpa Shetty's character is struggling to find a seat in a packed bus while holding an oozing umbrella in one hand. And the other one is when Kangana Ranaut's character gives Sharman Joshi her umbrella's shelter during the rain. It's beautiful, and more importantly symbolic in several ways.
Kangana Ranaut and Konkona Sen in a still from ‘Life In A… Metro’
In 'Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India', the entire narrative is based on the lack of rain in a Rajasthan village during the British Raj. The villagers fail to pay taxes due to droughts and eventually get into a battle (in the form of a cricket match) with the British officials to secure their future.
The villagers eventually win the match despite all the odds. And at this moment, it starts raining, and how! This, in some ways, is nature's prize to them for their hard work and determination. And it also marks the end of their struggle, and the beginning of happy times.
Aamir Khan and others in a still from 'Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India'
Well, there are so many iconic rain scenes in Hindi films that it's impossible to cover them all in a single article. Besides the above-mentioned films, it also includes ‘Shree 420’, 'Mohra','Mr. India', 'Taal', 'Jab We Met', 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', and 'Raavan' among others.
