With the monsoon season in India running from June through September, rain (or lack thereof) tends to be an standard element of most Indian films. While a damp sari may attract the attention of some moviegoers, my favorite rain dances are those where the performers revel in the rain.
Choreographer Chinni Prakash is attributed with saying, "Shooting Rain songs is the most difficult! There are 99% chances of getting electrified. But the shooting style and technology hasn’t changed over the years."
Here are five of my favorite item numbers - in order by film release date - featuring Bollywood stars joyfully singing and dancing in the rain.
1. "Megha Re Megha"
Virendra "Viren" Pratap Singh (Anil Kapoor) travels to Rajasthan for the first time in years. Soon after he arrives, heavy rains begin to fall. But the monsoon season doesn't dampen the spirits of the residents, including Pallavi (Sridevi). As Viren looks on, Pallavi and her friends sing about the rain and love. This item number is delightful for the song lyrics, the dance, and the sense of joy that jumping and splashing in puddles engenders.
Film: Lamhe (1991)
Link: Official Video
Composer: Shiv-Hari (Shiv Kumar Sharma, Hariprasad Chaurasia)
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
Choreographer: Saroj Khan
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Ila Arun
Length: 4:44
2. "Tip Tip Barsa Paani"
In the rain, Roma Singh (Raveena Tandon) becomes a sultry seductress, enticing Amar Saxena (Akshay Kumar). But there is a joyful exhuberance to this dance and while Amar initially rejects Roma's advances, he recognizes the fun she's having and his walls soon come tumbling down. The music is energizing and the driving rhythm gives momentum to Roma's flirtations. Soon Amar is smiling and enthusiastically joining in the rain dance.
Film: Mohra (1994)
Link: Official Video
Composer/Lyricist: Viju Shah
Choreographer: Chinni Prakash
Singers: Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan
Length: 5:48
3. "Koi Ladki Hai"
After a long day of rehearsals, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and Pooja (Madhuri Dixit) exit the dance studio and find it is pouring rain outside. In the courtyard are a group of children singing and dancing and Rahul and Pooja decide to join in. The song is a sweet children's song about the rain. Rahul revises it by adding his own refrain, "I know a girl, when she smiles, the rains come pouring down." Not to be outdone, Pooja replies, "I know a boy, when he sings, the rain clouds mask the sky." Rahul and Pooja decide to share the dancing fun with Nisha (Karisma Kapoor), who is recovering from a injury. By the end of the dance everyone's spirits are lifted and hearts have changed.
Film: Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)
Link: Official Video
Composer: Uttam Singh
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
Choreography: Shiamak Davar, Farah Khan
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan
Length: 5:32
4. "Dilbara"
This number features Ali Khan (Uday Chopra) coming to the rescue of Sheena (Esha Deol) who is having car problems on a rainy, rainy night. As is his nature, it doesn't take long before Ali finds himself falling in love with Sheena and imagining marriage and raising a family with her. The sound of the steady rain, the percussive tapping of Ali's tools, and the occasion comment from ACP Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan) makes this item number particularly entertaining. Despite the rain, Ali invests his whole being in pursuing this potential relationship - and you can't help but smile at his zest.
Film: Dhoom (2004)
Link: Official Video (YRF)
Composer: Pritam
Lyricist: Sameer
Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant, Shiamak Davar
Singers: Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Sowmya Raoh
Length: 4:38
5. "Dekho Naa"
Casanova tour guide Rehan Khan (Aamir Khan) has been flirting with Zooni Ali Beg (Kajol), a blind Kashmiri girl who is visiting Delhi for the first time to perform in a ceremony for Republic Day. But the attraction between Rehan and Zooni runs deep and soon they are spending extra time together. When a storm interferes with their dinner plans, Zooni senses a conspiracy in the wind and the rain and Rehan welcomes it. What follows is a gentle song that is less dance and more romance.
Film: Fanaa (2006)
Link: Official Video (YRF)
Composer: Jatin-Lalit
Lyricist: Prasoon Joshi
Choreographer: Saroj Khan
Singers: Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan
Length: 5:24
Below is a video playlist featuring these Bollywood singin' and dancing' in the rain item numbers.
If you like this post, check out our other Friday Five lists of Bollywood films and music.