It may sound strange. But a celebration as festive as Lohri has never been as popular in Hindi cinema as Holi or Diwali. This could be because Lohri is predominantly a Punjabi event.
The only filmmaker who has actually shot an elaborate Lohri song is Yash Chopra. This was for the film Veer-Zaara. The Lohri song-and-dance featured Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, none of whom incidentally is Punjabi.
But they all loved the festival.
Says Preity Zinta, “When we shot that song(Lo aa gayee lohri ve sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Gurdas Mann and Udit Narayan) we were all very excited. But most excited of all was Yash Uncle. I think it was a big moment for him to actually shoot a Lohri song. He had waited long for it.”
Yash Chopra was indeed very excited abou this Lohri song in Veer Zaara (incidentally composed by the late and great Madan Mohan). With the childlike excitement that never left his side he said to me, “I don’t think too many Lohri songs have been filmed in our cinema. I don’t know why. When the situation for this number came up in Veer-Zaara I was very happy.My artistes Amitji, Hemaji, Shah Rukh and Preity threw themselves into it unconditionally.”
Interestingly Hema Malini was to originally play a Punjabi woman in Veer-Zaara. But after her Tamilian accent got in the way,a dialogue was introduced saying she was a South Indian beauty whom Mr Bachchan wedded and brought to Punjab.
Balle balle to that.