Editorial

The role of radio in Dum Lage Ke Haisha

February 13 (today) is World Radio Day.

Though the direct use of radio in mainstream Bollywood films is less, it plays an important role in Sharat Katariya romantic-comedy-drama Ayushmann Khurrana-Bhumi Pednekar starrer Dum Lage Ke Haisha (2015). The opening shots of the movie establish that Prem (Ayushmann Khurrana) in his video cassette shop spends time listening to the radio which plays melody king Kumar Sanu’s songs. He is certainly out-of-job and his shop is very rarely visited by customers. The film, set in Haridwar in 1995, is all about Prem and his educated and overweight wife Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar).

There comes a moment in their lives when they stop talking to each other. The role of radio here assumes a mighty form. It plays a very important role in carrying out their messages. Both of them are not on speaking terms as they have a serious argument. Prem goes out for bathing (non attached bathroom) by playing sad songs. Sandhya comes in, stops it, and plays another sad song. She plays ‘Woh Meri Neend Mera Chain’, he plays ‘Abhi Zinda Hu To’, she plays ‘Bin Saajan Jhula Jhulo’, he plays ‘Saamjota Ghamon Se’ and then she plays ‘Kagaj Kalam Dawat La’.

The importance of radio gets enhanced in this scene as both the hero and the heroine use radio for conveying their ‘messages’.

About the author

Shanku Sharma

Shanku Sharma is a journalist and film-buff. Being a Film Studies student (Master of Mass Communication and Journalism), he likes to read books on cinema and film studies. He also likes to pen down his thoughts on world cinema.

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