The pigeon is quite a star in some movies. Sometimes as the messenger of love. On others, a comedy-inducing prop. Thanks to his winged-status, he can be pretty symbolic too.we examines Bollywood’s legendary fascination with the fluttering creature.
Maine Pyaar Kiya
Postmen lack the personal touch that Bhagyashree and Salman Khan can avail of courtesy Handsome, the iconic pigeon to exchange ’pehle pyaar ki pehli chithis’ in Sooraj Barjatya’s romantic blockbuster. And so Kabootar ja ja it is.
Parinda
One of Parinda’s most memorable scenes involves Anupam Kher getting shot at the hands of a bunch of hit men in broad day light, to the horror of hundreds of pigeons as well as Anil Kapoor who plays his best friend in the film. It’s a hard-hitting moment and the use of birds only heightens its overall impact.
Bombay
The Gateway of India, a Mumbai landmark, is synonymous with the sight of pigeons. It also forms a stunning backdrop for Mani Ratnam’s dramatic visuals in the song picturisation of Halla Gulla.
Junoon
Inspired by Ruskin Bond’s A Flight of Pigeons, Shyam Benegal’s compelling classic employs a set of pigeons to convey fascinating props in a Nawabi household. Be it as the recipient of the otherwise temperamental Shashi Kapoor’s tender, love and care, Nafisa Ali’s demure fondness, a subtle bond between the two or Naseeruddin Shah’s uncontrollable wrath.
Muhafiz (In Custody)
In Ismail Merchant’s adaptation of Anita Desai’s novel, In Custody, Shashi Kapoor plays a disillusioned Urdu poet perturbed by the increasing modernisation around him. Playing upon the same are a bunch of sycophantic drink-buddies, more interested in the hospitality that follows than his actual creativity. Images of Kapoor weighed down by pigeons highlight the same.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Love me. Love my pigeons. That certainly seems to be the order of the day as far as stern Bauji Amrish Puri ’aao aao’ and wayward Dilwala’s phurr-phurr escapades with the ever-hungry pigeons go.
Jodhaa Akbar
Though bound by royal tradition, decorum and rules, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Jodhaa releases a bunch of pigeons to enjoy the high of freedom, sending the message of free will to an amazed Akbar [played by Hrithik Roshan] loud and clear in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s historical romance.
Bachna Ae Haseeno
Getting a perfect shot with pigeon food placed on your arms can be quite stressful as Deepika Padukone discovered while filming the Khuda jaane ditty in Italy.
Awarapan
It is reported director Mohit Suri set around 700 pigeons free whilst shooting a sequence for Awarapan, which featured its leading lady Shriya Saran do the same on a much smaller scale.
Delhi 6
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s latest marks the debut of the rather capricious pigeon, Masakali. Not only does the vision in white has an entire A R Rahman creation dedicated to her. But she also gets to perch herself on Sonam Kapoor’s dainty head and hog a considerable footage in the film’s promos, publicity and press.
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