Flowers and Indian cinema

As we celebrate the centennial year of Indian cinema, let’s look back and see the contributions of the two elements: human and nature. We all know that the contributions of iconic artists like Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, etc. They have been phenomenal, but nature has also played a huge role in framing what Indian cinema is today! When we talk about nature, the first thing that comes to mind are flowers! Let’s take a look at how flowers have contributed in different eras of Indian cinema.

1898-1950: It all started in 1898 with the first short film ‘Flower of Persia’ directed by Hiralal Sen. Back then, the heroine widely used ‘Gajras’ (flower garland) to adorn her hair. In those days, the word ‘phool’ (flower) was also used very prominently whether in movie titles such as kamal ke phool (1950), kagaz ke phool (1959), dhool ka phool (1959) or character names. like ‘phoolchand’, ‘gulabsingh’ or even actress names like Nargis (which means Narcissus, a daffodil flower), Vyajantimala (which means garland).

1960: This was the time when, for the first time, flowers were used as symbols to represent the love between the lead actor and the actress. With censorship entering Indian cinema, directors switched to using symbols and metaphors in their films. How can you forget when the camera used to suddenly turn towards two nodding flowers that portrayed the romance between couples? Symbolism took control in full swing and made a presence in evergreen songs like ‘phool tumhe bheja hai khat mein’ from the film Saraswati Chandra (1968) where the flower symbolizes the heart and ‘gulabi aankhein’ (meaning pink eyes ) from the movie The Train. (1970).

1970-1980: This decade brought the scenic beauty of Switzerland to the big screen! The flower-carpeted gardens where the couple sang and danced to romantic melodies, the protagonist dressed in a beautiful sari dancing in the middle of the flower field in a beautiful European location were simply a treat for the eyes. The masses fell in love with Punjab’s ‘sarson ke khet’, where the villagers sang and danced in harmony! It was also the era of flower power in terms of fashion. Floral prints dotted everywhere, not forgetting Zeenat Aman’s floral print kurtis in Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971) or the actresses flaunting their floral print blouses.

1990s – 2013: This era showcased Indian wedding celebrations with grandeur and style. Lavish floral decorations were displayed complemented by dazzling lighting. Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994) was a wedding epic that covered all wedding occasions with glitz and glamor. Perennial hits like Dilwale dulhaniya le jaayenge (1995), Chandni (1989), Jodha Akbar (2008), Band baaja baaraat (2010) showcased weddings in North India with flowery pomp and extravagance that added grace and charm to the events. .