Big B's culture club keeps festival alive

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br />The sound of drums, and bhaang and gujjiyas being freely distributed had the mob outside ''Prateeksha'' (one of the Bachchan bungalows in Juhu) in a frenzy.<br /></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="47.6%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:=""><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;/photopop/msid-187777,type-0.cms&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/thumb.cms?msid=187777&height=234&width=234" hspace="12" /></a>></span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">Click to enlarge</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">Food and fun were flowing as freely as the booze in the green lawns.Colour splashed the ambience as Big B danced to <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Rang barse</span> and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Chali chali</span>. <br /><br />But it were the hordes outside who seemed to be enjoying the festivities much more. Dancing, gaping, even weeping whenever their favourite star appeared every now and then to wave out. It was a festival scene at its best.<br /><br />The very best of Uttar Pradesh was brought down to Mumbai and shown off to the world (live on TV at times) from the biggest platform of them all - the Indian movie industry; and what better window to the world than from the home of the emperor of Indian cinema.<br /><br />Amitabh Bachchan has, in many ways, been instrumental in spreading regional folklore and our rich cultural heritage to the fore - spreading it like gospel to areas where the message couldn''t quite filter down.<br /><br />And like the propaganda of a culture prophet, he''s been the root messenger of India''s rich heritage. Informing the ill-informed about what was lost in translation for want of actual experience.<br /><br />Exposed as they are to the cola and denim cultural invasion, and the SMS war of text words, the youth of our metros hardly know more than some of our main festivals, some folklore and very little about the reason why we celebrate much of our culture.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal">Ask them about Janet''s bare breast or the Madonna-Britney smooch and all hands go up. But ask them why Holi is celebrated or why sherbet is distributed during Muharram and all you draw are blank expressions.<br /><br />Blame it on the idiot boxes (now also the set-top boxes atop the idiot boxes), but TV culture is the one thing that young people understand universally. Even sports have to be ''made-for-TV'' to click nowadays.<br /><br />So the Passion of Christ is throbbing with life because TV controversy became the respirator that added more oxygen to an already deep breathing issue. And even courtroom dramas appear to be ratings Goliaths when tainted with scandal.<br /><br />So where does that leave the Indian festive scenario, which is dissected by regional borders anyway.<br /><br />It needs a massive shot in the arm to filter down to the newer generations - and what''s best qualified to give that shot? Why... Dr Bollywood of course. The biggest media entertainment machinery that turns the wheels of the nation to more optimum effect.<br /><br />Be it elections being fought with tinsel stars replacing cardboard cutouts of tired politicians; or cricket matches or even industrial and business events - a star is as essential as a fir tree at Christmas.<br /><br />So, before our younger junta begin to assume that Valentine''s Day and the 4th of July are National heritage days, we need to rescue our rich cultural heritage from the jaws of ignominy. Using movies as a platform, much like AB has been doing.<br /><br />Take the song <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mere angne mein</span> from <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Laawaris</span>. A true blue folk song from Uttar Pradesh, that lay forgotten under the dust of neglect. Until the Big B sang it out loud. Today it''s an anthem.<br /><br />If there''s a Holi song for any occasion, it''s always <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Rang barse</span>. If it''s poetry from UP, it''s always <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Eir, Bir, Phatte</span>. If it''s a kid song, it''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mere paas aao mere doston</span> from <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mr Natwarlal</span>.<br /><br />Ask for a dandiya song and it''s the baton twirler from <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Suhaag</span>, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Hey, Naam Re</span>. Ask for a <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">nautanki</span> moment and you get <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Har Chhori Rani Yahan, Har Chhora Raja</span> from <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mahaan.</span> A song of drunken revelry is <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Jahan Char Yaar Mil Jaayen</span> from <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Sharaabi</span>.<br /><br />Marriage songs also bring Bachchan to the fore with <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Sar Se Sarki Chunariya</span> from <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Silsila</span>. <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Shawa Shawa</span>''(K3G), <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Ek Punjabi</span> (<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Major Saab</span>), the list goes on and on.<br /><br />Even a plain UP dialect song <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Khaiyke paan Banaras wala</span> (Don) is the best known in its category because of the overpowering charisma of Bachchan.<br /><br />Diwali songs, Eid songs, songs dedicated to <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Haji Ali</span>, to <span style="" font-style:="" italic="" text-decoration:="" underline="">Ma Sherawali</span>, to God, to any deity - there is sure to be one famous AB song to hum or play. Such is the clout of the one-man culture-conquistador called Bachchan.<br /><br />Little surprise then that his Holi bash was easily the most intoxicating in recent memory. He''s Mr Culture Curry personified himself after all.</div> </div>