The Real Turning Point in Kaushaljis vs Kaushal: Kannauj’s Holi and the Unexpected Twist

Posted By Admin 2025-03-09 13:46:34 Comments (10)

Some time ago, a new film was released on Jio Hotstar, named Kaushalji vs Kaushal Ne Dastak. This film is directed by Seema Desai, in which Ashutosh Rana, Sheeba Chaddha, Pavel Gulati and Isha Talwar played important roles. The story of the film revolves around a family which is like a normal family.

Smita Shrivastava, Mumbai. Even though the characters are seen playing Holi on the big screen, its intoxication remains on the actors even after the shooting. The recently released film 'Kaushaljis vs Kaushal' directed by Seema Desai has a complete sequence on Holi. Some foreign guests are also seen enjoying Holi in this scene set in the backdrop of Kannauj. Seema talked to us about her experience of shooting this sequence.

Why do we tear each other's clothes on Holi

When I was thinking about the story, I was looking for where to set it in Uttar Pradesh. Many places have already been shown in films many times. Then my eyes fell on Kannauj. Many people do not know that Holi there is both strange and beautiful. Holi in Kannauj is called Kapda Phaad Holi. We have shown in the film that children will tear each other's clothes as a joke, but the idea behind it is that you should tear apart the evils within you and throw them away.

Kannauj is called the city of perfume

After this, you go out in the evening wearing new clothes, which means a new beginning. Your goodness comes to the fore. This is a metaphor in a way. I found it very interesting. This is also a city of perfumes, its Shamama attar (a rare and precious perfume made from herbs and natural oils) is exported all over the world. Shamama attar is used in all perfumes and we do not even know that it is coming from our country. So from there the story was set in the backdrop of Kannauj.

What is the turning point of the film?

In the Holi sequence in the film, Ashutosh Rana and his friend Brijendra Kala sing Qawwali. Ashutosh's character considers Amir Khusro as his Guru. There is a song in the film 'Aaj Rang Hai...' which is actually a Sufi song by Amir Khusro. I have used it on the occasion of Holi. We have picturised it very beautifully. This sequence is also the turning point of the film. Sangeeta (Sheeba Chaddha) does not like her husband Sahil's (Ashutosh Rana) singing. Sahil does not like Sangeeta making perfume. When this song ends, their differences come to the fore and the story takes a turn.

Importance of Indian festivals shown in the film

For me, the metaphor of Holi was that their life has become colorless but they are celebrating Holi. We shot this sequence in Agra. In this scene, some foreigners come. A local child gives them water from the drain of Kannauj and in the background it is said that due to the water coming out of the perfume factory, the drain of Kannauj also smells good.

In the film, Sahil's daughter works in an NGO. She has brought her own perspective to use herbal colours because she wants to help those who make these colours, but the typical Holi players want to play Holi with paint or mud. That aspect has also been included. The special thing is how the foreign guests get impressed by our culture and festivals and how they capture the atmosphere on camera. This is also a way to tell the importance of Indian festivals. We shot this sequence in two days.

Holi was played without the festival of Holi

Holi is such a festival that even if we are shooting, we cannot stop ourselves from playing it. We shot in October. There was no Holi atmosphere, but everyone was intoxicated. Ashutosh and Brijendra were enjoying that sequence a lot. They were completely engrossed in it. We even gave them the freedom to dance!