It's gonna be 'World Milk Day' in a couple of days and we have a few ideas of honouring this traditional and natural drink. A fan or not, one can never really stay away from milk. Directly or indirectly, we end up consuming it.
Just like us, even Bollywood doesn't seem to get enough of it. Here is a list of movies which would have been rather incomplete without milk to support the script:
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
The movie stars Farhan Akhtar as the legendary athlete Milkha Singh, who was the first to represent India at the Olympics. Remember that iconic scene where soon after he joins the Indian Army, the jawans are asked to participate in a cross-country race, the winner of which would be awarded a glass of milk? Milkha ran the race chanting "doodh, doodh, doodh" and won, all for a glass full of milk.
A glass of milk, for people in rural areas, is a source of natural energy which is easy on the pocket and is easily accessible. Most of the rural households keep cattles inside their homes to meet their daily needs of milk, cottage cheese and ghee. For athletes like Milkha, who hail from humble backgrounds, a tall glass of pure milk can be a luxury. Hence, Milkha's chant to his end goal.
Milk's fluids and electrolytes, including calcium, potassium and magnesium, rehydrate the body and replenish what is lost in sweat. Additionally, the potassium in milk may help ward off muscle cramping. This explains why a glass of milk was the prize for all commandos.
Nayak
Well, you must’ve heard of exotic baths with bath bombs and bubbles but ever heard of a milk bath? Shivaji Rao Gaekwad (Anil Kapoor), who becomes the CM for a day in 'Nayak', gets attacked by goons and is covered in muck. He stumbles upon a chai ki tapri after escaping the goons. As people identify him and scatter to find water, one man picks up a milk canister and pours it all over him.
The scene is both emotionally hard-hitting and symbolic. In Hindu faith, followers of Lord Shiva, bathe him in milk and seek his blessings. Although there are two stories behind offering milk to Lord Shiva, the only one which makes sense in the movie is the reverence of Gaekwad as a god.
Gaekwad takes on the corrupt politicians and government officials in the movie and brings about a historical and a landslide change in the ways of governance in just one day's time of being the CM. Gaekwad's actions as a CM earns him the respect, love and support a God is given, beautifully depicted in this scene.
Dangal
In 'Dangal', Amir Khan plays the role of Mahavir Phogat, a former wrestler trained in the pehlwani style of Indian wrestling, and a national wrestling champion residing in Balali. When Phogat makes up his mind to train his daughters to become world class wrestlers, his wife completes their nutrition by feeding them glasses full of milk after exhausting practice and workout sessions with their father/coach.
Wrestlers in India have a different relationship with milk, a relationship others will never be able to understand. There's not a single time when milk is not mentioned while talking about the Olympic sport. But what makes it so special? Why is it that every wrestler in the country has a special milk concoction central to his or her diet?
Like explained above, milk is extremely healthy for sportspersons, especially wrestlers and athletes.
Manthan
'Manthan' is a 1976 Hindi film directed by Shyam Benegal, inspired by the pioneering milk cooperative movement of Verghese Kurien, and is written jointly by him and Vijay Tendulkar. It is set amidst the backdrop of the White Revolution in India.
True to its title 'Manthan', which literally means "churning", this film was a game changer, both cinematically and socially. It led to the formation of Amul, a dairy cooperative, which is currently co-owned by millions of milk producers in Gujarat.
Remember that beautiful song "Mero gaam khathey parey ja, dhood ki nadiya wahe ja"? This song was even used by Amul and again sung by Sunidhi Chauhan.
Namastey London
One of our favourite romantic movies where Akshay Kumar plays Arjun Singh, a resident of India and Katrina Kaif as Jasmeet. A scene where Arjun enjoys his raw milk straight from a cow does not fail to take us back to the quintessential scenes of rural India.
Is there any image of rural India where there are no cattles and milk churning? No, right? Then how could Bollywood also stay away from such a portrayal?
Well, Milk played an important role in bollywood movies, Do you know any other movie which portrayed milk in it. Let us know in the comment section below!!
