Bhavna SomayaOne hour ago
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Every year as soon as Ganesh Chaturthi arrives, the pandals on the place become resonant with songs and hymns made on Ganapati. But the situation is different this year due to the Kovid epidemic. There is neither pandal, nor the songs playing in them. But this disease cannot stop us from remembering the songs of Ganapati and their celebration in Hindi films.
Who can forget the song 'Deva Ho Deva' from the 1980 film 'Humse Badar Kaun' or the song 'Murti Ganesh Ki, Daulat Desh Ki' from another film 'Bump' that came out this year. Surprisingly, whether it is songs or other scenes involving Ganesh Wijerson, his filming in films has more to do with dramatics, less of devotion.
In 1981, Shyam Benegal's film 'Kalyug' was the first film in which Ganesh Visarjan's procession was displayed with such grandeur. The film's hero Shashi Kapoor gets caught in the procession crowd. The uproar on the streets resonates as a disturbance in the heart of the hero.
Sunil Dutt's film 'Dard Ka Rishta', which came in the year 1983, was inspired by his own personal life. In the film, his daughter Khushboo is facing cancer in the hospital where she sees Lord Ganesha coming to her house. The father keeps Ganesha's statue near Khushboo's bed in the hospital and in this way Khushboo leaves the world with peace.
The climax of director Mukul Anand's 1990 film Agneepath also reaches a climax with a Ganesh immersion procession when Amitabh Bachchan is stabbed in the midst of a huge crowd at the beach.
Similarly, in the 1998 Ram Gopal Varma's 'Satya' immersion procession, the noise of the immersion procession reveals that the hero of the film is a real criminal and his girlfriend Urmila Matondkar continues to stare at him with gleeful eyes.
Ganesh's idol becomes a medium of love in the 1997 Aditya Chopra movie Dil To Pagal Hai. In the film, Madhuri's dance teacher Aruna Irani learns that Madhuri and Hero Shah Rukh are in love with each other, but are unable to express her. Aruna Irani then gives a separate Ganesh idol to both of them and says that Ganapati will show the path of love to both of them.
Bhavana Somaya is a well-known film writer, critic and historian.
While 'My Friend Ganesha' showcases the amazing bonding between the Ganesha idol and the child, Ganesh Utsav for filmmakers Farhan Akhtar and Karan Johar in the remake of the films 'Don' and 'Agneepath' for Shah Rukh and Hrithik Roshan. An excuse is made.
Many people of the film world have been installing the Ganesh idol every year. Some in his home and some in his workplace. Without any fanfare, with peace, some do Ganesh installation with pomp.
Nitin Mukesh's house is visited by all the celebs and his entire house is filled with the aroma of music melodies and dishes. Similarly, Anil Kapoor's wife Sunita also organizes a special evening on Ganesh Chaturthi. On this day, Sanjay Leela Bhansali organizes a special Gujarati lunch. There have been special dresses in special designs for 'Bhansali Ganesha', which has been arranged by his mother Lilaben.
I have been visiting Neetu and Rishi Kapoor's house since the 90s to participate in the Ganesh festival. He first founded Ganesh when Ranbir and Riddhima were very young. Within a few years, he moved to live in his new bungalow. For the past two years, he was living in one of his temporary apartments. However, Ganeshji's house i.e. that silver temple never changed. Two years ago, Rishi Kapoor had a lot of tests during the festive days. Last year was the first time in years, when there was no one at home to welcome Ganeshji.
Will Ganeshji come to Neetu Kapoor's house this year? I do not know that. But whether Ganesha comes to his house or not, I will definitely go to meet him. But without Rishi Kapoor, will the festival remain the same as it used to be every year. I do not think so.
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