While movie moghuls are often seen competing to release their films on Diwali because it is one of the most lucrative period at the box office, ironically the festival has rarely been captured on the big screen, unlike other festivals like Holi, Ganpati or Janmashtami/Dahi Handi which are found more colourful and cinematically appealing. There are only a handful of movies that have woven in the festival of lights in their narrative, and many a times the sound of Diwali crackers has been used for creating drama in the film's story-line.
For instance, 1973- release Zanjeer, the film which was the turning point in Big B's career, opens with the birth of Amitabh's character and the death of his parents on Diwali. Obviously, it is not a festive or joyous occasion. Here we had a frightened young boy hiding in a cupboard and witnessing his parents being killed. The scene was made all the more dramatic by the noise of crackers exploding all around him. 1965-release Waqt is another film that used the Diwali festival to represent a separation. Veteran actor Balraj Sahni is shown singing the famous Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen while celebrating the start of his new business on Diwali. But just after the song, an earthquake destroys their lives when his three sons get separated. The director had used firecrackers to highlight the turmoil in the lives of lead characters. It is on Diwali night that Zeenat Aman's character in Satyam Shivam Sundaram suffers severe burns from a cracker, which leaves a permanent scar on her face. In Shakti Samanta's Anuraag, the entire neighbourhood gets together and stages a Diwali celebration to fulfil a young boy's dying wish.
There have been few happy situations as well. For instance, in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, director Karan Johar chose the festival as a backdrop for Shah Rukh Khan's entry as his onscreen parents, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan perform the puja in a grand manner. Years later, Hrithik Roshan too is seen returning home on Diwali — but this time around, Kjo gives it a sombre mood to depict the broken family. Then, to show family bonding, Diwali celebration was shown in a big way in Baabul which had the stellar cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan and Rani Mukerji in the lead.
Most filmmakers attribute low-key affair of Diwali on big screen, to music, procession and mass celebration. Says film producer Boney Kapoor, “That way, even Eid and Christmas are also not very popular on the big screen. Actually, festivals like Ganpati, Janmasthami, Holi are kind of celebrated on the streets. They are more dramatic, boisterous and staring in your face. There is music, dance, procession, whereas Diwali is a more intimate affair. It’s restricted to house with a puja in serenity. We are calling Laxmi home and then some like to play card games behind closed doors." He further adds, “Diwali is also colourful, we have shown Diwali in movies but it has not had that kind of expanse. It doesn’t have the mass appeal like other Indian festivals.” While calling it as an interesting observation, says Milan Luthria, director, “Traditionally speaking, Diwali is not a musical festival unlike Ganpati or Dahi Handi where association of music is very important. But, yes, of course, it is very good to release your film on Diwali.”
