Makar Sankranti, the first festival of the year, is also known as the Kite Festival and is known by several names in India, including Sankranti and Pongal. It is a national holiday that is celebrated with great fanfare and zeal. Furthermore, no festival in India is complete without the flavor of Bollywood. So, here are a few films that celebrate the undeniable joy of flying kites, eating candy, and welcoming the new year with a smile!
Kai Po Che
‘Manjha’ from this film become one of Bollywood’s most popular kite-flying songs. ‘Kai Po Che’ is a Gujarati phrase that means ‘victory’ during a kite-flying session. The film Kai Po Che is based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel The Three Mistakes of My Life. Manjha tells the touching story of three friends, played by Amit Sadh, Sushant Singh Rajput, and Rajkummar Rao.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, revolves around a Gujarati family, and the song ‘Dheel De’ focuses on the preparations for a kite-flying competition. The entire song, which stars Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, focuses on how kite-flying is an essential part of Makar Sankranti.
Earth
Partition was the backdrop for Deepa Mehta’s ‘Earth’ which was released in 1947. During the song Ruth Aagayi Re, the filmmaker showed how Indians come together during a festival (Makar Sankranti) regardless of religion. In this son, Aamir Khan teaches Nandita Das how to fly the kite.
Rashmi Rocket
Rashmi Rocket’s ability to run like a rocket is revealed for the first time during the Makar Sankranti festival. Rashmi, the young girl, runs extremely fast and catches a kite. At the backdrop, the ‘Rann Ma Kutchh’ is played in reference to the festival. The film stars Taapsee Pannu in the lead.
Raees
Released in 2017, ‘Raees’ portrayed Shah Rukh Khan as a ruthless and daredevil gangster. The film is loosely based on the life of a bootlegger in Gujarat. In this film, SRK and Mahira Khan celebrate Uttaran by joyfully singing to ‘Udi Udi Jaye’. Revolving around their characters’ love, this song, set against the backdrop of the festival, serves as an effective medium for portraying their love story.
Yeh Khula Aasmaan
Another film in which kites play an important role is Yeh Khula Aasmaan. Avinash performs poorly in school and struggles under pressure. He finally finds his haven when he visits his grandfather. His grandfather used to be the best kite flier in his youth, so he teaches Avinash how to fly kites while also imparting wise words on life.
