Praying For Rains

Rainy season reminds of many movies wherein prayer song for rain plays a crucial scene in the movies. I have selected the following films for special mention because I find the prayer for rain in these movies is of more significance for the story than in any other Bollywood film:

Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain is a 2014 historical-drama film set amidst the Bhopal disaster that had occurred in India on 2–3 December 1984. It is directed by Ravi Kumar and features Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton, Kal Penn, Rajpal Yadav, Tannishtha Chatterjee, and Fagun Thakrar in important roles. In 2004, while reading Sanjoy Hazarika's book Bhopal: Lessons of a Tragedy, Ravi Kumar got the idea of making a film based on the disaster.The Bhopal disaster is considered the world's deadliest industrial disaster. Seeing that very few people of the newer generation knew about the disaster, Kumar decided to make a film based on it. The film received a market screening at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival on 16 May and 19 May. It was also screened at Pan Asia, Dingle and the Tokyo International film festivals. Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain was released in the United States on 7 November 2014 and in India on 5 December 2014. A private screening of the movie was held at the youth assembly in the United Nations on 7 August 2014.

A Prayer for Rain was added to the film's title because had it rained on the night of 2—3 December 1984, fewer people would have died.

Though highly acclaimed by the critics, since it was a low budget film and not much expense was incurred on its promotion, it did not do well at the box-office. In case any of our Ef is interested, here is a link to watch the movie on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPhoomfnwvA

Guide is a 1965 romantic drama film starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. It was directed by Vijay Anand, who contributed to the screenplay. The film is based on the novel The Guide, by R. K. Narayan.

The film was a box office hit upon release. The movie proved memorable for its award-winning performances by the lead actors and memorable music by S. D. Burman. Time magazine listed it at Number Four on its list of Best Bollywood Classics.

The prayer song for rains come as very crucial part of the climax. Raju is taken as a holy man by the village. Raju assumes the role of village holy man (Swami Ji) and engages in skirmishes with the local pandits. And drama started here. Due to drought Raju was forced to fast for 12 days so that it rains. Meanwhile, his mother, friend and Rosie unite with him and patch things up. In the end it rains but Raju dies.

Allah Megh De Song:

Allah megh de pani de

Chhaya de re rama megh de

Shyama megh de

Aankhein phade duniya

Dekhe hai ye tamasha

Hai ye vishwas tera hai

Teri asha allah megh de

Allah megh de pani de

Chhaya de tu rama megh de

Lagaan (English: Taxation) is a 2001 Indian epic sports-drama film written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Aamir Khan, who was also the producer, starts with Gracy Singh in the lead roles; British actors Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne play the supporting roles.

The film is set in the Victorian period of India's colonial British Raj. The story revolves around a small village whose inhabitants, burdened by high taxes, find themselves in an extraordinary situation as an arrogant officer challenges them to a game of cricket as a wager to avoid the taxes. The narrative spins around this situation as the villagers face the arduous task of learning the alien game and playing for a result that will change their village's destiny.

The script demanded a dry location: an agricultural village where it had not rained in several years. To depict the 1890s era, the crew also required a village which lacked electricity, communication and automobiles.[19] Kutch faced the same problems at that time and hence the village of Kanuria, located a few miles away from Bhuj, was chosen. During the filming of Lagaan, it did not rain at all in the region. However, a week after the shoot finished, it rained heavily bringing relief to Bhuj, which had a lean monsoon the previous year. People of Bhuj gave credit for the rain to the prayer song in the film, sung by all the villagers:

Kale megha, kale megha paani toh barsao - (2)
Bijuri ki talwar nahin, boondon ke baan chalaye