Rain Gods are happy..

Yoo-Hoo... Its raining cats and dogs !! At least monsoon has been fairly good in its initial spree. Days get darker much sooner with heavy black clouds crowding the skies, it thunders hard and pours mercilessly. Since 7th of June, this has been the routine.

Lavanya is thoroughly enjoying the rains. After our return from US, this by far has been the best monsoon. She is making the most of it.

Rains have been biggest inspiration for Bollywood. You can hardly find a heroin who has been spared from wearing a chiffon sari and 'maaroing Thumkaas' to some flimy beats. There are many beautiful rain songs in hindi movies right from evergreen black-n-white - 'pyaar hooa iqurar hooa' - Raj Kapoor and Nargis to 'bhigi bhigi sari mein thumke lagaati tum (zubi dubi) - Kareena and Aamir. They all have been there and done it !!

My all time favourite is 'Rimzim Gire Sawan' from Manzil and more specifically Lata's version (there is one sung by Kishore too). Now why do I like this one the best, is an unanswerable question. It definitely has got nothing to do with Amitabh and Mousumi Chatterjee. They make the most weird couple and do not have convincing chemistry on the screen (though I must agree that rains can work as a wonderful catalyst between two human beings).

But I think, its got to do with the way Bombay looks and becomes when it rains. The song is picturised on Marine drive, Bombay Gymkhana, Azad Maidan, Worli sea face, old University building, iconic double decker buses etc. The lyrics are superb and when combined with Lata's velvety voice, it becomes heavenly. I can never get enough of it!!!