What would Bollywood be without the Indian Railways? | Firstpost

For many years trains have lend a quaint romantic charm to many Bollywood films. The rhythmic sounds of the train, with its shrill whistle punctuating its motion have fascinated many a filmmaker, so much so, that Indian railways, which an integral part of life for common man, has been immortalised in many films over the decades.

A screengrab from the film Parineeta. Courtesy: Youtube

Just imagine how pretty Sharmila Tagore looked at the window of a toy train, deepening her dimples and smiling coyly at an irresistible Rajesh Khanna as he sang ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani Kab Ayegi Tu‘ , ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ would not have been so much fun if Shah Rukh and Malaika were dancing at just any beautiful hill station and Kareena’s nagging bad dreams about missing a train would not have made sense in Jab We Met. And what would have Kajol done, in the climax of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge had their been no train to run after?
Trains have featured prominently in many a song as well. Just before the railway budget,  here is our pick of the top five song film songs which would have been incomplete without the trains:

Aashirwaad (Ashok Kumar’s railway rap)


Solva Saal (Dev Anand’s classic)


Aradhana (One of the most memorable songs filmed with Rajesh Khanna)


Dil Se (SRK and Malaika Arora show you can dance even if you don’t have a reserved ticket)


Parineeta (Saif Ali Khan taps into some old world charm)