Lord Ganesha songs in Hindi films have a history of being shot on a grand scale, complete with dance, colour, dhol-taasha and the works. The filming of these elaborate songs requires a lot of prep and detailed planning. And often these devotional and high-energy tracks lead to the film’s climax, elevating the drama and its visual impact on screen. We delve into the making of some of these beautifully shot Ganpati songs in cinema.

Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt starrer Agneepath was the remake of Amitabh Bachchan's 1990 release.

Deva Shree Ganesha from Agneepath went on to become one of the most popular Ganesh Chaturthi songs 

Talking about one of the most popular Ganpati songs, Deva Shree Ganesha from Agneepath, choreographer Chinni Prakash says, "Agneepath was Karan Malhotra's debut directorial. An entire chawl set was erected on an open ground in Mumbai's Versova for the film. We began the shoot with a Ganesh pooja of the huge idol. We shot the song over five days on a grand scale, with Hrithik playing the dhol, performing aarti and lots of dancers around. People were screaming, dancing and all of us had goosebumps. We had trials over four days to decide how the kumkum would fall over the idol. We toppled a tank filled with kumkum with six cameras rolling to capture that moment, and everyone including Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra stayed back to watch the shoot."

Don's (2006) visarjan song Mourya Re remains a favourite with Ganpati pandals. Aradhana Seth, production designer of the film Don, recalls, “Most songs take five days to shoot on a big budget film, Mourya Re took six days, if we count the real-life visarjan day. This particular shoot day was filmed much in advance as we decided to capture the real-life Ganesh visarjan. We sent out five camera crews across Mumbai to film it, viewed the footage and then decided on the idol that director Farhan Akhtar and I wanted to recreate. We also merged a couple of shots of the real crowd and the visarjan into the song. We created an 18-foot idol to match the one from the footage, tracking down an artisan who could do it. Pulling off a song as grand as this using live locations requires detailed planning and collaboration with the choreographer (Rajeev Surti) along with the director. The chawl gateway was not tall enough to take the Ganesh idol out on the truck, so there was lots of loading and unloading while moving to Juhu beach for the visarjan sequence. The shoot of the Ganpati song for SRK’s Don took place at a chawl. Multiple props were created and sourced, like an ektara, 90-100 instruments like dhols and cymbals, flags, coloured powder, flowers and pinatas.”

Sadda Dil Vi Tu, the song from ABCD: Anybody Can Dance has the leads, Lauren Gottlieb, Dharmesh Yelande and others participating in a dance competition.

Director and choreographer Remo D’souza who is a great believer of Ganpati says, “Since the time I first became a director, I ensure I have a Ganpati song in every film, and ABCD: Any Body Can Dance had two such songs in it. I've been a huge believer of Ganpati Bappa since childhood and after I got married, we started bringing Bappa home every year. In ABCD, the first song was with the typical dhol taasha, but music director Sachin-Jigar and I got rapper Hard Kaur to sing the second song Sadda Dil Vi Tu, which leads towards the climax, because it was a dance-based film and we wanted to try something different. There’s a portion in ABCD where the dancers wear Ganesha masks and form 7 tiers to create Ganpati with their bodies — every time the dancers tried, they fell and got injured. My wife Lizelle suggested they don’t consume non-veg on the day of the shoot and eventually, we wrapped up in two days."

Shivaji Satam played father to Sanjay Dutt in Mahesh Manjrekar’s crime drama Vaastav: The Reality. The aarti from the film, Shendur Lal Chadhayo, is popular with Ganesh pandals even two decades after the film’s release.

Shivaji Satam who played father to Sanjay Dutt in Mahesh Manjrekar’s crime drama says, “The utsav of 11 days is celebrated in a grand way in chawls and director Mahesh Manjrekar wanted the celebrations to be a part of the film. We shot the aarti sequence Shendur Lal Chadhayo at Parleshwar Ganesh mandir in one day. Although it may look like a simple, non-glamorous song compared to others, it required a lot of work, filming mid-shots, insets of Sanjay’s entry scene and so on. Reema Lagoo and I did not need glycerin while shooting the aarti, as our eyes were filled with tears for real."

Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 11, 2020)

In the wake of Coronavirus-induced lockdown, re-runs of yesteryear shows are keeping TV channels from going off air as fresh content has dried up. This has not only brought up a wave of nostalgia for the viewers but also the actors. Here, some of them rewind to their most memorable episodes:


Shivaji Satam, CID: ‘The Case of the Deadly Virus’ was quite similar to the current outbreak
One of the most memorable CID episodes for me was ‘The Case of the Deadly Virus’, which aired in 1998. It was quite similar to the current outbreak, in which, faced with an unknown virus threat, we needed masks and bodysuits to handle it. Of course, back then, all we could show was a vial of the fast-spreading contagion, but the premise was the same. Then, my team of detectives and I, helped save the day.

Another episode from our 20-year run that stands out in memory is ‘The Inheritance’, which made it to the Guinness Book of World Records and the Limca Book of World Records. It was a one-take, 111-minute episode. We began at the golden hour with 22 actors at an under-construction hotel in Lonavala. Car chases, bomb blasts, everything was executed in one go with military precision before we lost natural light. The reason we pulled off this feat was because we were like one big family with our director, B P Singh, leading it.


Renuka Shahane, Circus: Shah Rukh and Kundan convinced me to not let my fear come in the way
For a person who fears heights, doing a show about a circus was terrifying. I almost quit. Shah Rukh (Khan, co-star) and Kundan (Shah, director) convinced me to not let my fears get in the way of my career. It was a lovely shoot, all of us were friends bouncing ideas off each other, especially during emotional scenes.

For me, the most memorable shot was the one which had made me petrified in the first place. It was a night shoot. I had to climb up a ladder and try some trapeze moves before losing footing and falling into the net, which was about four feet above the ground. I started crying when I reached the second rung but Kundan wouldn’t relent, encouraging me and asking me to show more intensity. That day I realised that you can’t internalise grief for the camera, you have to show it.


Shekhar Suman, Dekh Bhai Dekh: At 2 am I got a call from Anand, saying, ‘Shekhar, what have you done!’
I still remember the scene where Sameer Diwan finds out there’s a drop in the share market and slips down the stairs. This happened in the first episode itself. I was wearing shoes with rubber soles and the staircase was carpeted—it was almost impossible to slip. I did my best and went home. At 2 am, I got a call from Anand Mahendroo (director), exclaiming, “Shekhar, what have you done!” He asked me to report to his office immediately. Fearing the worst, I dressed quickly and dashed there. Anand was all excited, wanting to show me the shot which he thought was flawless and looked completely natural. It became my introductory scene in the title song. The shoot in London was also very memorable.


Kanwaljit Singh, Buniyaad: The scene where Satbir learns that he is an illegitimate child was emotionally harrowing
We were working on another show directed by Ramesh Sippy, when I first heard talks about Buniyaad. At that time, buzz was, Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar would feature in this mega TV show that was set in the 1916-1978 period. Ramesh ji came to me with the role of Roshanlal, Master Haveliram’s younger son, which was eventually played by Mazhar Khan. I told him I was keener on playing the illegitimate son of his sister, Veeravali, and her lover, Lala Vrishbhaan. He had his reservations, he didn’t think I looked right for the role. I put myself on a strict diet and within 20 days I returned to his office looking much leaner and younger. He was convinced.

But it was a demanding role. The scene where Satbir learns that he is an illegitimate child was really intense and emotionally harrowing.


Sanjay Mishra, Office Office: Rekha ma’am turned to me and said, ‘I like you in the show, you’re too good’
Playing the paan-chomping peon, Shukla, in Office Office felt repulsive in the beginning. There were times when I had to spit out the betel juice at the exact moment that Pankaj Kapur’s Mussadilal Tripathi passed by. It was important to get the timing right and that called for a lot of practise. Soon, everyone started associating me with the character so much so, that the secretary of my building called to complain of paan stains on the compound wall. I got really offended that he should think I was responsible, pointing out that I came from a good, educated family. I don’t think he was convinced.

My most memorable moment on the set was when Rekha ma’am dropped by. We were shooting in Kamalistan Studio and she had to climb up the stairs to reach us. I was sitting quietly, watching her interact with everyone else when suddenly she turned to me and said, “I like you in the show, you’re too good!” For the rest of the day, my colleagues kept teasing me, saying that now that I had Rekha ma’am’s approval, there was no stopping me.

ACP Pradyuman, Shivaji Satam, on the channel’s decision to pull the plug on the crime drama series; producer–director BP Singh promises CID will be back but unsure of format, cast, budget
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 24, 2018)

Shivaji Satam who played ACP Pradyuman, the lead character of the popular crime drama CID, for 21 years is shocked by the channel’s sudden decision to pull the plug on the show. “CID has become a part of our lives. It is like someone has cut off an organ from our body,” said the distraught actor who was shooting for a Marathi film on the outskirts of Pune. He will return to Mumbai after a week, after which he plans to meet the team and discuss what is going to be their next course of action.

On Tuesday, Sony Entertainment Television released a statement: “Having completed 20 years, CID is the longest running cult show on Sony Entertainment Television. It has been a great journey so far, along with Fireworks Productions, CID will now take an intermittent break starting 28th October, 2018. The last episode of the show will be aired on 27th October, 2018. The show will gear up for a renewed season with a lot more contextual cases keeping alive the thrill that the audience has experienced so far.”

Satam revealed that they have banked three-four episodes, shot around 15 days ago. "Now that the channel has decided to abruptly end the show, I don’t know if they will even be aired,” he rued, admitting that the decision has come as much as a shock to him as it has to the many CID fans going by the calls and messages he has been inundated with since the announcement. “Everyone is equally stunned by the news. I don’t know if the channel will want us back. We weren’t even officially informed that it's going off air,” he groused. Reflecting on the show's two-decade run, Satam sighed that it is the fans they will miss the most. "We've been entertaining them all these years.”

Creator, producer and director B P Singh told Mirror that he plans to bring the show back in a few months. "We will propose and the channel will decide in what format it will return. It may not be episodic anymore. The cast too will be decided depending on their decision," he pointed out, adding, "Though we have a strong fan base, we are now competing with the web series. The most crucial thing is the budget which will not be as much as before,” he concluded.

HIGHLIGHTS

♦ CID started airing from 1998 even though the pilot episode was shot five years before. The longest running television series in India, it completed 21 years in April 2018.

♦ The crime drama entered the Guinness Book of World Records and the Limca Book of Records in November 2004 for the longest single shot of 111 minutes without any cuts. The episode, The inheritance, was shot in Lonavala on October 8, 2004, and telecast without a break on November 7, 2004.

♦ The show has been dubbed in various Indian languages, including Telugu, Tamil and Bengali.

♦ Many actors have made an appearance on CID to promote their upcoming films, including Salman Khan, Emran Hashmi, Sonakshi Sinha, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ajay Devgn, Aamir Khan and Sunny Deol .

♦ It aired in Pakistan too and has been shot in countries like Uzbekistan, France and Switzerland.

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; February 7, 2018)

CID has become one of the longest running programmes on Indian TV. What do you think has kept the audience glued?
People are always interested in watching a mystery. The forensics is another aspect that makes them more engaged. We never reveal the name of the poisons on our show, lest they be misused. The writers consciously omit the surname of a criminal, to avoid associating the offender with any caste. A lot of thought goes into making this series. Plus, we make sure that the stories never get monotonous. Also, I think the show works because people look up to a person in uniform. I, too, wanted to become an air force pilot, but could not pursue it.

What is the most interesting part of the show for you?
I like the fact that all the characters are distinct from each other. ACP Pradyuman may have his idiosyncrasies, but he is loyal, blunt and principled. The relationship that the central characters share is something people hope for in real life.

Over the years, you must have forged a deep bond with Dayanand Shetty and Aditya Srivastava.
Daya [Shetty’s character] and Abhi [Srivastava’s character] are like my younger brothers. They are an extension of my family. Daya is as big-hearted as his built. He is a foodie and knows what all of us love to eat. Abhi may look serious, but is mischievous.

Has there been any case that has been memorable?
One of the cases revolved around my teenage son, who gets into bad company and ends up becoming a terrorist. My character had no option but to kill him. It was a six-episode long story and the drama was wonderfully built up. In 2004, we had filmed an 111-minute-episode in a single shot from start to finish. It earned us a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Among all your iconic dialogues, which has been your favourite?
(Laughs) ‘Daya, darwaza tod do’ and ‘ Kuch toh gadbad hai’ — these have become so popular that they sparked off several memes.

What’s next for the show?
I honestly don’t know. Sridhar Raghavan, who was originally the writer of the show, is now looking into its creative aspects. His mind is constantly on the roll. I’m sure he has something interesting up his sleeve.

Lastly, you’ve played the ACP for 20 years. So, when do you get a promotion?
(Laughs) If I get a promotion, I will be stuck behind a desk, which is not something my character would want.

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 27, 2017)

Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; June 5, 2015)

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 28, 2014)

The eighth season of Bigg Boss will be launched on September 21. The show’s makers have already locked names of the celebrity contestants and are said to be finalising the contracts soon.

A source says. “Initially, we planned to start airing the show in October but now we are launching it in September and a few more contestants are being signed on. This includes Minissha Lamba and Maryam Zakaria, who will up the glamour quotient of the show. Talks are also on with Shivaji Satam and Kumar Vishwas. The opening episode will be shot at Karjat, while the rest of the show may be shot in Lonavala.”

Meanwhile, sources say that TV shows Rang Rasiya and Beintehaa might go off air. A source says, “Rang Rasiya has not been getting good TRPs and it has aroused concern among the show’s makers. It may make way for Bigg Boss. Beintehaa may go off air too, but since it is doing well so far, the channel might push it ahead to a late-night slot. The final call will be taken in the coming days.”

Maryam and the channel’s spokesperson remained unavailable for comment. Deepak Dhar, MD, Endemol India, said, “I cannot comment on speculative stories.”

Minissha replied, “No, this is not true.”

Shivaji Satam who plays CID’s ACP Pradyuman talks to the Sharma family about fighting crime and climbing ratings for 17 years
Tunali Mukherjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 20, 2014)

For a family that has been waiting for an hour-and-counting, the Sharmas don’t look upset. Then again, they’re visiting the set of their favourite show, waiting to meet Shivaji Satam, who plays the ACP Pradyuman on India’s longest running television crime show. “This is the CID Headquarters,” 62-year old Kalpana Sharma tells her daughter Neha. Husband Tarachand, is curious to find the ‘forensic lab’.

Tarachand, a retired sales professional, blames his wife for the family’s addiction to the serial, but once Satam is in the room, it is clear who the bigger fan is. Satam floors the Goregaon-based family within the first few minutes. “He is such a humble man,” Tarachand whispers to his wife, as Satam pulls up chairs so the family can be seated.

The Sharmas huddle around the 63-year-old actor who started his career with Marathi theatre. “We’ve been watching your show since it began,” beams Neha. CID took off in 1998, director BP Singh spent 10 years as a news cameraman with Doordarshan.

“I read that you worked in a bank before becoming an actor,” says Tarachand, who has clearly done his research. “Yes,” says Satam. “I had to sustain myself while finding a foothold in the industry.”

Kalpana is still star-struck. “You have no airs that one usually associates with TV stars,” she says. Satam laughs heartily. “There is no other way to be, I constantly remind myself. I’m lucky to have a career doing what I always wanted to do,” he says.

He tells them about his journey as an actor. “Growing up in Byculla, I’d watch plays during Ganpati celebrations. I yearned to be on stage. When I began CID, I had no clue of the kind of success we would have,” he says.

Tarachand inquires about the rings on Satam’s fingers. “Do you believe in astrology?” he asks and Satam grins. “To be honest, I have no clue what these are meant to do, but my friends and family have gifted them to me, so I wear them,” he confesses.

Neha is curious about what Satam enjoys more, films or TV? “I’d have loved to do more cinema, but the show keeps me busy.”

Tarachand recalls Satam’s role of a doting father to a daughter in Sooryavansham, and is surprised to learn that in real life, Satam has two sons. “That’s what acting is all about,” laughs Satam. “I do have a daughter-in-law and niece, so I know what it is like,” he adds.

The conversation veers towards the new crop of actors. Satam is not a fan. “They have more opportunity than we had to learn and grow, but I feel they’re not thinking much about their characters. They just want to deliver their dialogues on cue,” he laments.

Playing the same character for almost two decades, Satam believes that actors need to know their characters thoroughly in order to make them memorable.

Neha tells Satam about how much her mother loves his character on the show. She even dares him to quiz her. “She knows your dialogues so well, she mouths them before you do,” Neha teases.

Kalpana blushes and Satam is amused. “I love the way you tell every criminal ‘Ab toh tumhe phaasi hogi’,” says Kalpana. “I wish everyone was as efficient as you are onscreen. Then, all the criminals would be punished in real life too,” she says. “That would be a perfect world indeed,” agrees Satam.

The shot is ready and it is time for Satam to get back to work, but before he leaves Tarachand has some advice for his favourite TV star. “Remember when your character was portrayed as a criminal, before his name is cleared? I almost stopped watching the serial then. You’re too good to play a villain. Please don’t play negative characters.”

And on that note, the actor returns to his shot where he will once again save the city from fictitious criminals making millions of viewers feel safe.