The fandom of the much-discussed and savoured Dilli Ki Sardi is not just limited to its own people. In recent times, Bollywood seems to have taken a special liking towards the Delhi winter. When the scenic beauty of Mumbai reached its saturation point due to excessive repetition, Delhi happily stepped in to replace the mayanagri. From low-budget productions to large-scale star-studded undertakings, all find the wintry side of Delhi appealing and marketable. Be it the scores of minarets in Old Delhi or the sprawling lush green avenues in South Delhi, all find exposure to celluloid. Gone are the days when monuments like India Gate and Red Fort contributed only via cameos. Today, filmmakers prefer shooting full-length scenes and songs at these locations. And when the weather lightens up, the wind cools down and fog paints the canvas of Delhi, filmmakers jump in to capitalize.
Many movies have captured the essence and flavour of Delhi (or at least tried to). Here, we take a look at six such movies:
Fanaa (2006)
Kunal Kohli's Fanaa is the story of a blind girl (Kajol) who falls in love with a debonair & handsome tour guide (Aamir Khan), who is a hardened terrorist in reality. The film utilizes the peace & calm of Delhi winter to perfection. The poetic intimacy and the romantic hiatus between Aamir & Kajol takes place in the backdrop of cold misty locations in Delhi. The chilly weather contributes to the overall feel of the direction.
Check out the sarees collection inspired by the sarees worn by Alia Bhatt in Gangubai Kathiawadi
Delhi 6 (2009)
A Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra product, the movie tries to capture the manifold aspects of the walled city of Delhi-6. An American-born Indian (Abhishek Bachchan) returns to his roots and is instantly charmed by the phenomenon that is Dilli 6. But soon he's exposed to the various fallacies which mar the city and its people. Delhi-6 embodies the spirit of older cities. There's a Ram Leela, misunderstood relatives, mooing of the cows, and the infamous Monkey-Man who is trending in the region. The narrow lanes and the busy life amidst the cover of winter are nicely portrayed.
Do Dooni Chaar (2010)
Habib Faisal's Do Dooni Chaar is a heartwarming journey of a middle class family (Duggals) which plans to buy a four-wheeler despite their financial woes. The overall dynamism of Delhi is well depicted under the shallow-angled sunlight of winter. Rishi Kapoor dons a fleecy sweater while Neetu Kapoor is also seen covered in wraps. The film uses montage shots of various locations in Delhi, all hazy in appearance thanks to the winter fog. Delhi University's Kirori Mal College too faces the lens a few times. The locations, costumes, and overall appearance of the subjects paint a clear picture of winters in Delhi.
Rockstar (2011)
An Imtiaz Ali direction, Rockstar is the story of a typical Delhi Jatt boy Janardan Jakhar (Ranbir Kapoor) who yearns for a heartbreak in order to ace the character of his musical idol Jim Morrison. This is when Heer (Nargis Fakhri) steps in and the story takes off. From washing down country liquor at the Hauz Khas Fort to playing audience to soft-porn movies in the underworld of old Delhi, the duo venture around Delhi in the chilly weather that decorates the city. The winter set-up further polishes the underlying blues sentiments of the male lead. The director has been wise and considerate enough to wait for the right season to shoot the flick.
Vicky Donor (2012)
Shoojit Sircar's directorial debut Vicky Donor is India's first take on the issue of sperm donation. The movie is set-up primarily in the vicinities of a foggy Lajpat Nagar and Daryaganj. Vicky (Ayushmann Khurana) is your typical next door Punjabi boy with a robust build and a loutish attitude, while Ashima (Yami Gautam) plays a gracious Bengali girl. The movie imbibes several traits of both old and modern Delhi. The lanes of Lajpat, the bubbling mall culture, a terrace overlooking the Jama Masjid and the high rise buildings with metro trains gliding away, are all captured with a generous pinch of winter. Meanwhile the songs have been choreographed in easily recognizable places like empty bus stops with a running traffic and lush green avenues of Delhi.
Kurbaan (2009)
Rensil D'Silva's Kurbaan seeks to explain the other side of global Islamic fundamentalism under the umbrella of the 9/11 attacks. Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor have played lead in the flick. The movie is mostly based in USA but it begins in Delhi. D'Silva has used the monumental beauty of a smoggy and chilly Delhi to the fullest. A panoramic view of the Jama Masjid on a cold winter morning is followed by a long shot of the famous Humayun Tomb where the song 'Shukran Allah' has been shot. Not only this, other integral aspects of Delhi winters like bonfire bonding and the usual lovebirds fooling around at Qutub Minaar also make the cut. The director has extensively used the pleasant weather in Delhi to depict genuine romanticism.
The fairly cold weather of Delhi offers a unique rapture which the B-Town guys find more than impressive. More productions are underway as Delhi winters continue to attract lights, camera, and action!