Page 36 - Seniors Today - March Issue

Once Upon a Time | Films

The Fires of

Rebellion

The festival of Holi inevitably brings forth raucous Bollywood numbers, but

it was also the setting for a slightly more sombre film in the 1980s. Deepa
Gahlot looks back

Holi (1984)
The month of March marks the advent of
spring in India, and the festival of Holi.
In Ketan Mehta’s 1984 film, the festival of
colours is a focal plot point, as it captures
rage and revolt on a college campus.
How old must a film be to qualify for
nostalgia? Some films get dated earlier than
most, some stand the test of time, and some
suddenly acquire added relevance. Holi,
about the power of youthful dissent and
the establishment’s insensitivity to their
legitimate demands, could be playing out
now on any campus. But what really evokes Aamir Khan and Kitu Gidwani in a scene from Holi
nostalgia is when you see the young, almost then note with a jolt that Om Puri, Mohan
unformed faces of Aamir Khan (credited Gokhale, Shreeram Lagoo, Dina Pathak,
as Aamir Hussain), Ashutosh Gowarikar, Dilip Dhawan, Neeraj Vora are no more, and
Kitu Gidwani, Amole Gupte, Raj Zutshi and you become aware of your own mortality. It
are reminded of the speed of passing years; is also reassuring to see that Naseeruddin

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