MONSOON DRAMA

Indian monsoons share a tempestuous relationship with the behemoth that is Hindi cinema. Sonali Shah reflects on their rendezvous

- Sonali Shah

I sat to write this article in the scorching heat of May in Mumbai—an odd setting to recall memories of rain. But little did I know, that as I put the proverbial pen to paper, Cyclone Tauktae swept the region, bringing heavy showers in the city. And then as it poured outside, my glass window turned into a mini silver screen and memories flowed. As a monsoon lover who’s into cinema, the intersection of both elements is my happy place. I found myself spending the afternoon thinking about the diverse ways in which our filmmakers have channelled this rainy element.

Rains have played a regular catalyst in romance, and being a ‘90s kid, the first one that pops to mind is of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. SRK in a black shirt, Kajol drenched in a hot red sari, and their dance in pretend music at the summer camp as they escape the downpour is iconic for my generation. Most wet-sari rain songs though, cater to the male gaze. What fascinates me in this context is the happiness and freedom that rain sometimes affords to women, sans a man. To see Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan let her hair down in AR Rahman’s Barso re (Guru) and Kareena Kapoor-Khan splashing about in Bhage re mann (Chameli) was refreshing.