Love is in the air during the Valentine’s season, and Hindi Cinema is here to entertain every audience this week. While the youngsters have Loveyapa, millennials enjoy a string of re-releases, ranging from Sanam Teri Kasam to Jab We Met. For serious souls, Thandel is a perfect option, while Himesh Reshammiya fans can indulge in Badass Ravi Kumar. Love and cinema always go hand in hand, where romance remains the most crucial element, showcasing various shades—from the teenage Ishq Wala Love to Pyaar Dosti Hai in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, the lust in Lust Stories, and the revenge in Karz. Indian cinema has explored it all, and Hindi cinema romances are often incomplete without physical affection.
While scrolling through the internet, one can discover plenty of on-screen kisses that spark curiosity about their origins. Surprisingly, the first kiss in Hindi cinema dates back to 1933, featuring Devika Rani and her husband, Himanshu Rai, in a film titled Karma. Although the movie flopped at the box office, the kiss is said to be the longest in Indian cinema. However, as per a BBC report quoting author Kishwar Desai in her book, “The kiss is obviously not the longest ever in a Bollywood film. To begin with, it was not one kiss; it was a series of kisses. And the kiss was not a selling point of the film at the time.” This statement highlights how the narrative around cinematic kisses evolved over time.
This first kiss created an uproar and was eventually banned. Following the Indian Independence, when the Censor Board gained significance, the first kiss that faced censorship starred Rekha in Anjana Safar. The Umrao Jaan actress was just 13 years old, and although the kiss was banned, it shockingly appeared on a magazine cover. As censorship tightened, flowers began to replace kisses until bold film industry figures like Raj Kapoor, featuring his son Rishi Kapoor, dared to show a kiss with Dimple Kapadia in the rebellious love story Bobby, thus reviving the era of bolder romance.
Among the most controversial pecks in Hindi cinema history is undoubtedly the kiss shared between Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in Black. This moment blurred the lines between a teacher and a student, leading to various opinions on the appropriateness of the scene, despite Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s artistic vision often defending it. In a fascinating tidbit, the maximum number of kisses recorded in a single film was an astounding 150, showcased in the 1936 movie Shoke Dilruba!
Exploring these iconic kisses is not just a look back at cinematic history; it reflects shifting societal norms and evolving artistic expressions in Indian cinema. As we reminisce about these memorable moments, the significance of physical affection in storytelling continues to resonate with audiences today. Love in cinema remains timeless, captivating audiences and reminding viewers of the beautiful complexities of romance. For more such intriguing throwbacks, stay tuned to Koimoi.
