Revealed: Why Bollywood is obsessed with flowers and what they represent
They've been the poet's companion for centuries, and archives are brimming with songs that reference the precious 'phool' (flower). Bollywood songs, too, frequently bring up flowers. But not all flowers bask in glory – some are reserved for mausoleums. As a famous poet once said, ' Har phool ki qismat mein kaha naz-e-uroosa, kuch phool toh khilte hi mazaron ke liye hain. ' (Not every flower is destined for a lover's gaze; some are meant to bloom in the graveyard). However, on Valentine's Day, let us present some of the best songs that reference flowers.
1. Dekha Ek Khwab Toh
This song is from the film Silsila, released in 1981, sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. The romantic track, picturised in the vibrant tulip fields of the Netherlands, has become the go-to song for anyone in love.
2. Phool Tumhe Bheja Hai Khat Mein
From the movie Saraswati Chandra, this classic is brought to life by the iconic duo Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar. The song features Nutan who is sending flowers through a letter as a token of affection. It remains one of Bollywood's most beloved romantic songs.
3. Likhken Jo Khat Tujhe
This romantic ballad from Kanyadan features Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. It is sung by the legendary Mohammed Rafi, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar and music by S.D. Burman.
4. Phool Gendwa Na Maaro
Featured in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, sung by Barnali Chattopadhyay, this song is a modern take on a classic from the 1964 film Dooj Ka Chand. Originally sung by Manna Dey and set in the haunting Raag Bhairavi, this piece blends rural dialect with Hindustani classical music beautifully.
5. Phoolon Ka Taron Ka Sabka Kehna Hai
A true anthem of sibling love, this iconic track from Hare Rama Hare Krishna features Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. The carefree spirit of the song, backed by the duo Dev Anand and Zeenat Aman, has made it unforgettable for generations of brothers and sisters.
6. Phoolon Ke Rang Se, Dil Ki Kalam Se
This evergreen romantic number from Prem Pujari is a heart-stealer. Sung by Kishore Kumar and picturised on Dev Anand, the song captures the essence of love through its poetic lyrics and timeless melody.
7. Rajnigandha Phool Tumhare
From the 1974 film Rajnigandha, this heartfelt song by Lata Mangeshkar captures the charm of a love story beautifully. Directed by Basu Chatterjee, the film stars Amol Palekar and Vidya Sinha, with an enchanting composition by Salil Chowdhury.
8. Phir Chhidi Raat, Baat Phoolon Ki
Written by Makhdoom Mohiuddin, this lovely ghazal featured in Rajnigandha is sung by the legendary Talat Aziz and Lata Mangeshkar. With Khayyam's evocative music set in Raag Baageshri, the song brings together the innocence of love and the ethereal beauty of the night.
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What's On
30-06-2025
- What's On
Review: Mr Chow brings a slice of London snobiety meets Dubai bling
One thing is for sure about Mr Chow – the legacy is inimitable. Born in 1968, the baby of artist, actor, and famed restaurateur Michael Chow, this famed Chinese spot opened doors on Valentine's Day, of all days, in London, and the rest is history. Now sitting on a cool eight locations, including this brand new one in Dubai, Mr Chow is serving up status and exquisite Beijing cuisine to diners in Beverly Hills, New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Riyadh and beyond, making regular appearances in the backgrounds of celebrity-gram. The story The ethos of Mr Chow comes from the communal nature of Chinese cuisine – every meal is a social event, with plates to be exchanged, flavours to be shared and the harmony of satiation. Dishes are served 'family style' to ensure all guests get a taste of everything, and the order is traditionally placed by a single person, typically the host. While Chinese cuisine is as vast and deep as the land and the culture where it stems from, here you'll find a very specific version of it – Beijing food, an art whipped up to please the elite, the Imperials and the aristocrats, for over three dynasties. The space The formula to a space that feels lavish is quite simple – high ceilings, low lighting, and Mr Chow gets that just right. While the floor itself is not massive, occupying a small corner of DIFC with stunning skyline views out of floor-to-ceiling windows, the whole restaurant is decked out in tonal shades, with dark walls, dark furniture, feather white table cloths and minimal white centrepieces. Everything is shiny and polished, from the reflective ceiling to the severe, starched white tuxedos of the servers, and it all feels intentional – a perfectly moody reimagination of the essence of Dubai's nightlife. The food On the menu, you'll find sharing-style dishes with a combination of old authentic Beijing recipes and Mr Chow's signature creations such as the chicken satay, Mr Chow noodles, and Ma Mignon. For our meal, we are started off with glazed prawn with walnuts (Dhs164), a sweet, nutty, earthy concoction of perfectly cooked prawns with the perfect bite, and the Mr Chow noodles (Dhs154), an original straight from 1968, with fresh, handmade noodles and a slick, oily sauce of chicken mince flaunting fire and flavour. We also sample the chicken satay (Dhs92 each) and crispy beef (Dhs253), both surprises. The satay comes with a sweet fried coating and a rich, creamy white sauce. The beef is also sweet, chewy and with a slight hint of citrus. The Beijing duck (Dhs516 per person) is the star of the meal. Craved tableside with all the pomp and show one might expect from a Mr Chow, it comes with soft wraps, sweet, spicy and umami duck sauce and slit cucumbers and greens for a bit of freshness. Roll everything up into a wrap and enjoy. The duck is juicy and tender, thankfully not dry as is the perennial problem with roasted birds and this is a classic you can't miss. We end with a mango parfait and a delicious mix of berries served in a bowl made entirely of ice – both are fruity, fresh, light and a fitting end to the luxuriant meal we've had so far. Verdict If not for anything else, go for the legacy. Location: Mr Chow, Precinct Building 3, Gate District, DIFC, Dubai, daily, 12pm to 12am, @mrchowdifc Images: Supplied > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Hi Dubai
07-05-2025
- Hi Dubai
New Releases, Big Returns: Your May 2025 Movie & TV Roundup
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Campaign ME
25-04-2025
- Campaign ME
Enchanteur reveals strategy behind bold Valentine's move that won the internet
For Valentine's Day in 2025, romance took centre stage in Dubai as fragrance brand Enchanteur, in partnership with brand partnerships and media solutions agency Hikaya, rolled out a public activation that turned a proposal into a nationwide moment of magic. The activation featured a grand proposal orchestrated at SkyDive Dubai, curated with all the sensory beauty Enchanteur is known for — flowers, music and a touch of theatrical flair. The visual spectacle was captured and shared through a masterfully edited short-format video, spreading organically through platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Meta, and top-tier influencer handles. The campaign generated more than 9 million views — 1.5 million organic and more than 7.5 million through paid media — amplified further by coverage in more than 20 media platforms such as Gulf News, Lovin Dubai, Khaleej Times, Arabian Business Week and Filmfare Middle East. The virality drove organic pick-up across influencer and audience networks. City-based influencers voluntarily joined the wave, resharing the content and offering their commentary, underscoring the authenticity and relatability of the moment. Hikaya, the agency behind the campaign, took charge from concept to execution, handling every aspect end-to-end from the strategy and creative concept to the production and digital media rollout. All touchpoints including ideation, filming, editing and media buying were handled by them. In conversation with Campaign Middle East, Huzefa Siamwala, Founder, Hikaya, said, 'We knew emotional storytelling would be key. So rather than a typical ad, we designed a live public moment — a grand proposal — that embodied love in its purest form. Our strategy was rooted in three pillars: virality, emotional engagement, and the chery on the top was the couple who performed the stunt was a real couple originally from the UK & Mexico at SkyDive Dubai with an experience of more than 20,000 jumps under their belt.' The initiative went beyond tugging at heartstrings to light up social media feeds, trending across major news outlets and online channels and solidifying Enchanteur's status as a brand synonymous with love. Siamwala added, 'We believe in storytelling that not only sells but also stirs. This activation was a beautiful confluence of brand vision and cultural relevance. Enchanteur gave us the freedom to create an emotional spectacle, and we're incredibly proud of how it resonated with audiences across the region.' The campaign went live on Valentine's Day and continued through to the end of February, with extended coverage and audience interaction organically sustaining the campaign even post the core activation period. Influencer management and PR were managed by the brand. Nazneen Shabir, Marketing Controller, Wipro Yardley, said, 'At Enchanteur, we wanted to go beyond conventional product campaigns. Valentine's Day is about emotion — and we know the strongest stories are the ones rooted in real people. This campaign allowed us to connect with our audience at a deeply emotional level while reaffirming Enchanteur's place as the fragrance of love.' The success metrics were benchmarked on performance: reach and impressions across digital platforms, earned media value through PR pickups, and qualitative sentiment from audience comments and influencer engagement. Most importantly, it sparked conversations, reshared moments and emotional responses. Priyadarshee Panigrahi, Senior General Manager of Wipro Yardley, concluded, 'For Enchanteur, we believe romance should be nothing short of magical — just like this breathtaking proposal high above Dubai.' CREDITS: Client: Enchanteur, Wipro Yardley Agencies: Hikaya
