Published By: Alfaraz Laique

Bollywood and it's obsession with waterfalls

Bollywood, the Hindi film industry, is known for its extravagant sets and song sequences, which often feature beautiful locations and picturesque landscapes. Among these, waterfalls have become a recurring motif in Bollywood movies.

From romantic scenes to action sequences, waterfalls have been used in various ways to create a dramatic effect in Bollywood films.

Classic times - One of the earliest examples of waterfalls in Bollywood movies is the iconic song sequence from the 1955 film Shree 420, where Raj Kapoor and Nargis are seen dancing under a waterfall. The song sequence became an instant hit and set a trend in Bollywood, where several movies started featuring similar waterfall scenes.  The 1975 film Sholay featured a famous scene where Dharmendra's character, Veeru, climbs up a water tower to profess his love for Hema Malini's character, Basanti. The scene has become one of the most memorable scenes in Bollywood history and was later spoofed in several other movies.

In the 1990s - The use of waterfalls in Bollywood movies reached a new level, with movies like Dil, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, and Mohra featuring elaborate song sequences shot around waterfalls. These scenes not only showcased the beauty of the locations but also helped in enhancing the overall impact of the songs.

Action - The 2000s saw a surge in the use of waterfalls in action sequences in Bollywood movies. In the 2003 film Zameen, Abhishek Bachchan and Ajay Devgn are seen jumping off a waterfall to escape from the villains. Similarly, in the 2006 film Dhoom 2, Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are seen performing stunts around a waterfall. Apart from their visual appeal, waterfalls have also been used to signify various emotions and moods in Bollywood movies.

Song - In the 2001 film Lagaan, the song sequence "Mitwa" features a waterfall as a backdrop, which signifies the emotional turmoil of the lead character, Bhuvan, played by Aamir Khan. In the 2013 film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, the song sequence "Kabira" features a waterfall, which signifies the liberation of the characters played by Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone from their mundane lives. Despite their overuse in Bollywood movies, waterfalls remain a popular motif, and filmmakers continue to use them to create an impact. However, the use of waterfalls in Bollywood movies has also been criticized for being excessive and unnecessary. Some critics argue that the overuse of waterfalls in Bollywood movies has become a cliché, which needs to be avoided. In conclusion, waterfalls have become an integral part of Bollywood movies and have been used in various ways to create an impact.