Celluloid’s perfect canvas
Durga Puja’s rich customs, inclusive nature, festive spirit and spectrum of emotions complemented by vibrant music have consistently enriched the narrative of films
In Karan Johar’s 25th directorial venture, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, the powerful moment when Tota Roy Chowdhury and Ranveer Singh groove to ‘Dola Re Dola’ against the backdrop of Durga Puja becomes a symbol of breaking down rigid gender norms and delivers a bold message of gender equality and sexual expression.
In Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Devdas’, an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s work, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan share a rare on-screen rendezvous during Durga Puja, joyously dancing to ‘Dola Re Dola’. This sequence beautifully captures the inclusive vibe, making the festival more about community celebration than religious rituals.
Durga Puja has always been an integral part of film narratives and the festival is known to create a visually stunning backdrop for movies. Hence, directors leverage this atmosphere to enhance the visual experience of the narratives. Also, the festival’s central theme of the victory of good over evil and the empowerment of Goddess Durga lends itself to various cinematic interpretations.
For example, the sight of ‘kaash phool’ immediately reminds us of the classic scene from Satyajit Ray’s ‘Pather Panchali’ where Apu and his sister Durga run through a field of ‘kaash phool’ when they hear a train whistle. In another scene, Sarbojaya, portrayed by Karuna Banerjee, breaks down when her husband Harihar (Kanu Banerjee) brings back a saree for their daughter Durga for the festival. This poignant moment powerfully juxtaposes the mundane realities of their life with the vibrant festivities of Durga Puja, offering a striking contrast. Ray’s ‘Joy Baba Felunath’ also delivers a timeless depiction of Durga Puja in cinema.
Durga Puja, an annual event in Bengal, has become a year-round theme in cinema. For example, Ranjan Ghosh’s ‘Mahishasura Marddini’, represents various aspects of patriarchy, while Rituparno Ghosh’s ‘Utsab’ serves as a canvas to unravel the intricate dynamics of an ancestral family. In Ghosh’s debut film, ‘Hirer Angti’, the opening sequence skillfully uses the rich baritone of Birendra Krishna Bhadra reciting Mahisashuramardini to set the stage for the unfolding story.
Director Mainak Bhaumik expressed his admiration for Ghosh’s beautiful portrayal of the Durga Puja spirit in ‘Utsab’ by creating a Puja ambience where family members interacted before the deity, mirroring real-life scenarios. Bhaumik also appreciated the Puja sequence in ‘Kahaani’. In Bhaumik’s movie, ‘Ekannoborti’, he explored the theme of a broken family during Durga Puja, considering it a tribute to ‘Utsab’.
Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘Kahaani’ stands out among thrillers for its brilliant use of Kolkata during Durga Puja. The film’s climax, set on Dashami, the festival’s last day, where Vidya Balan’s character defeats the villain, beautifully symbolises the festival’s theme of victory over evil. The climax was shot at the famous Ballygunge Cultural Puja pandal in Kolkata. Ghosh, in an interview, praised the crowd’s cooperation. He thanked the Ballygunge Cultural Association for delaying the idol immersion for a few hours to help them shoot. Ghosh also mentioned how the crowd treated Balan with great reverence, almost like a goddess during the filming.
Aparna Sen’s powerful feminist film ‘Parama’ is set against the backdrop of Durga Puja. In Pradeep Sarkar’s adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novella ‘Parineeta’, Durga Puja serves as the starting point for the friendship between the characters portrayed by Vidya Balan and Saif Ali Khan. The film opens with a scene where Saif participates in ‘dhunuchi naach’.
In ‘Lootera’, director Vikramaditya Motwane includes Jatra, a traditional Bengali folk theatre, as part of a sequence. What’s fascinating is that this tradition is still thriving in the rural areas of Bengal, lending authenticity to the film and the Puja sequences.
Durga Puja has played a multifaceted role in various films, contributing significantly to plot development. Its rich customs, inclusive nature, festive spirit, and an array of emotions, accompanied by vibrant music, have consistently enriched the narrative in films. From portraying power gracefully to creating a thrilling setting, Durga Puja has indeed added depth and richness to countless plots in Indian cinema.
