Chhath Puja holds immense significance in the states of Bihar and Purvanchal, where women offer tributes to the Sun to ensure children's longevity, good health, and family well-being. This festival is traditionally celebrated after Diwali, and in Bhojpuri films, it is often depicted with great reverence. However, recently, the importance of Chhath Puja in Bollywood films has also been increasing.
In the last month, several films featuring motifs of Chhath Puja have been released in the Hindi film industry. For instance, in the film 'The One: Force of the Forest,' which is in production with Ekta Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia are involved. This picture features a specially created track dedicated to Chhath Puja, known as the Chhathi Maiya song.
Furthermore, in the recently released trailer for Suraj Baddajja's film 'Ye Prem Mo Liya,' starring Ayushman Khurrana and Sharvari Waghm, the characters are shown celebrating Chhath Puja. At the end of the song, they are seen offering a tribute to the setting sun. Both these movies are characterized by large budgets and star casts. This raises the question: why have these important festivals of Bihar suddenly started being shown in Bollywood films?
The appearance of Chhath Puja motifs in these two films is not ordinary. There are specific reasons behind this: either it is a requirement of the script itself, or it is a way to attract audiences from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to cinemas. Regarding the film 'The One,' its plot is based on a four-hundred-year-old forest-divine temple in Bihar, which will be presented in a folkloric manner.
The significance of Chhath Puja in this film reflects a narrative need. Presenting the culture of Bihar on such a grand scale has helped Ekta Kapoor win the hearts of the local public, which will bring significant benefit to the film. Residents of Bihar, Purvanchal, and Jharkhand are likely to visit cinemas to watch this movie.
As for Suraj Baddajja's film, judging by the song, the character Sharvari Waghm may have roots in Bihar, which explains the importance of Chhath for her family, leading to both characters being depicted offering a tribute to the Sun. However, this cannot be confirmed yet; the truth will emerge after the film's release. Will Ayushman's film also manage to draw people to cinemas thanks to the Chhath Puja motifs?
