Fire missing in Maharashtra legislature’s business

Mumbai: Outside the imposing gates of the state legislature, Mumbai is literally burning. The India Meteorological Department has issued heatwave alerts, with temperatures in parts of the state touching a blistering 42.5° Celsius. Mumbaikars are sweltering under a relentless sun, scrambling for shade, and grappling with the earliest, most aggressive summer heatwave in over a decade. Yet, step inside the Legislative Assembly, and the contrast is as chilling as it is baffling. While the city...

min read

Fire missing in Maharashtra legislature’s business

Mumbai: Outside the imposing gates of the state legislature, Mumbai is literally burning. The India Meteorological Department has issued heatwave alerts, with temperatures in parts of the state touching a blistering 42.5° Celsius. Mumbaikars are sweltering under a relentless sun, scrambling for shade, and grappling with the earliest, most aggressive summer heatwave in over a decade. Yet, step inside the Legislative Assembly, and the contrast is as chilling as it is baffling. While the city sweats, the House remains lifeless, deserted, and devoid of any political fire. The budget session, traditionally the most critical forum for holding the government accountable, has unfolded as a subdued, almost ghost-like affair. For the majority of the day, the benches wear a desolate look, reflecting a legislative paralysis that is starkly disconnected from the heated reality of the state outside. There are no spirited debates, no frantic floor management, and no major announcements addressing the public’s mounting crises. Instead, the political discourse has been reduced to a lukewarm blame game. Lack Of Momentum Senior minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, clearly unimpressed by the state of affairs, pointed a finger at the opposition for the lack of momentum. “Actually, it is the Opposition that drives the debates and discussions in the house during the session. But it appears as if they have lost the drive to do so,” Vikhe-Patil remarked. The opposition, however, claims the fire has been extinguished by the government’s own indifference. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil countered by highlighting the absence of leadership at the very top. “The CM is hardly there in the house,” Patil said, further accusing the ruling coalition of actively dodging debates on issues that matter to the common people—people who are currently bearing the brunt of both inflation and an unforgiving summer. Cold Opposition The irony of the situation is most evident in how “cold” the opposition has remained regarding “hot” scandals. The investigating agency has submitted its inquiry report into the controversial Rs 295-crore Pune land deal involving Amadea Enterprises, a firm linked to newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar. In any functional, high-intensity session, this would have triggered a political earthquake. Instead, the opposition has maintained a deafening silence. Neither have they demanded that the report be tabled, nor have they pressed for action. It is a political ice age in the middle of a literal heatwave. Political observers note that the treasury benches are content with the silence, as no government wants to voluntarily fan the flames of a controversy involving their own. But, the opposition’s refusal to act exposes a deeper, structural rot. Senior NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal offered a blunt diagnosis for this apathy - the opposition is “completely demoralized,” he said adding that consecutive electoral defeats in assembly and local body polls have shattered their morale, and their miniscule numbers in the House, compounded by toxic internal differences, have rendered them impotent. As the mercury climbs outside, the legislature remains trapped in a deep freeze of inertia. The state’s politicians are seemingly oblivious to the irony: while Maharashtra burns under an intense heatwave, the very institution designed to generate the “heat” of democracy has completely lost its spark.

The Missing Magic of Festival Songs in Bollywood

Abhijit Joshi
Sep 20, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

The Missing Magic of Festival Songs in Bollywood

It’s common in offices or colleges to hear someone say, “HOLI KAB HAI? KAB HAI HOLI... KAB…

KAB.” This famous line is from Gabbar Singh, played by Amjad Khan, in the classic film Sholay. In the same movie, Hema Malini and Dharmendra, who live in the village Ramgarh, dance to the song Holi Ke Din Jab Dil Mil Jate Hai. Even after 50 years, this film continues to leave an impact, showing how strong Hindi films have been across generations.

Celebrating festivals with singing and dancing is an integral part of Hindi films. But recently, songs celebrating festivals like Diwali, Karwa Chauth, and Christmas have faded from the scene, while songs on Ganpati and Holi took center stage. However, even those songs have become rare in the last few years.

In recent times, a few movies have managed to leave an impact with their festival songs. The Ganpati song from Hrithik Roshan’s Agneepath and the Holi song from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani are examples, but otherwise, festival songs are missing.

There was a time when audiences eagerly waited for festival songs, and films were often released around festivals. Many of these songs are still played during celebrations. Some of the iconic ones include:

Dahi Handi Songs: Dahi Handi, celebrated on the second day of Krishna Janmashtami, is marked with joy in many parts of India, but Mumbai’s celebration is unique. Bollywood has captured this energy in several movies like Bluffmaster, Khuddar, Agneepath, Badla, and Hello Brother. Veteran actor Shammi Kapoor’s iconic song Govinda Aala Re from Bluffmaster (1963) remains popular, but Mach Gaya Shor from Khuddar (1982), featuring Amitabh Bachchan, is an all-time hit that still gets people dancing. The song Chandi Ki Daal Pe from Hello Brother (1999) struck a chord with younger audiences and is still played today. Another favorite is Go Go Govinda from OMG – Oh My God. However, in recent years, no new Dahi Handi song has had the same effect.

Ganpati Songs: A few iconic Ganpati songs have continued to resonate with audiences. Deva Shri Ganesha from Agneepath (2012), thanks to Ajay-Atul’s music, is played throughout the 10-day Ganesh festival. The original Ganpati song from the older Agneepath didn’t have the same impact as the 2012 version. Mourya Re from the remake of Don (2006) starring Shahrukh Khan also became a hit, as did Sadda Dil Vi Tu from ABCD, which is a favorite in Ganesh pandals. However, in the last decade, no new Ganpati songs have been as popular.

Holi Songs: Filmmakers have always loved Holi songs for their ability to show love and festivity. Classic Holi songs like Holi Ke Din (Sholay), Rang Barse (Silsila), Ang Se Ang Lagana (Darr), and Holi Khele Raghuveera (Baghban) continue to be played every year. Recent songs like Lahu Munh Lag Gaya from Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and Jai Jai Shivshankar from War have added to the collection, but none have achieved the legendary status of Amitabh Bachchan’s Rang Barse. In the last 5-6 years, no new Holi song has stood out.

Diwali Songs: Despite being one of the biggest festivals, Diwali has very few songs associated with it. Only 7-10 Diwali songs are memorable. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is a rare example, where Jaya Bachchan’s character waits for her son Shahrukh Khan, welcoming him with an aarti. Films like Vastav, Amdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya, and Taare Zameen Par feature Diwali songs, but overall, the festival lacks iconic musical representation.Festival songs in Hindi cinema seem to be losing their charm, with no major releases in recent years. Hopefully, Bollywood will bring back the magic of festival songs that audiences love. Let’s hope for the best.

Fire missing in Maharashtra legislature’s business

The Missing Magic of Festival Songs in Bollywood

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