On March 4, people across the country will celebrate the festival of colors. Over decades, Hindi cinema has closely connected with this vibrant occasion. Filmmakers have created memorable Holi songs that audiences still cherish. After 1950, directors often infused devotional themes into festive tracks.
Songs like “Holi Aayi Re Kanhai” and “Daro Re Rang Daro Re Rasiya” gained immense popularity. In 1950, Geeta Dutt sang “Daro Re Rang Daro Re Rasiya” in the film Jogan.
Later, in 1957, Shamshad Begum and Lata Mangeshkar performed “Holi Aayi Re Kanhai” in Mother India. That composition remains among the earliest classic Holi songs in Indian cinema.
However, one of the most popular festive tracks, “Are Ja Re Hat Natkhat,” had a challenging journey during filming.
A 67-Year-Old Song From Navrang
The 1959 film Navrang still lives in audience memory. Its lyrics and music continue to inspire people to dance. Even today, Asha Bhosle and Mahendra Kapoor’s voices touch hearts deeply. Although the song sounds joyful, the filming required precision and effort.
Director V Shantaram wanted something unique on set. Therefore, he asked actress Sandhya Shantaram to match steps with an elephant.
At that time, shooting indoors created technical challenges. Coordinating an actress and an elephant in one frame required careful planning.
Sandhya Built Bond Before Shooting
Sandhya agreed to perform alongside the elephant. However, before filming, she developed a bond with the animal.
She personally fed food and offered water regularly. Additionally, she spent hours interacting with it.
She understood that harmony with animals demands trust and familiarity. Consequently, on the shooting day, she performed confidently without fear.
No Male Lead in the Holi Song
Interestingly, the song featured no male lead. Sandhya portrayed both female and male characters herself.
Audiences may recall that she appeared half woman and half man in the sequence. While maintaining expressions, she delivered impressive classical dance movements.
By playing dual roles on one stage and dancing with an elephant, she made the film unforgettable. Even today, Holi celebrations feel incomplete without Navrang’s vibrant track.
(Disclaimer: This report has not been edited by The Bharat Post team. It has been published directly from a syndicated feed.)
