Get the first glimpse of ‘kash’ flowers, and you know Durga Puja is close. Soon begins the wait to hear the ‘dhaak’. It’s a different feeling altogether for Bengalis who put their heart and soul to preparation for the five-day festivities. Puja rituals aside, there are several activities and aspects that make the festival special. New clothes, pandal hopping, devouring delicious food and watching the pujo till the early hours make up for the biggest celebration in a Bengali household.

With so much of action and emotion involved in it, the colourful and vibrant Durga Puja festival makes a great spectacle. Needless to say, this festival is a filmmaker’s delight. There have been several movies that have Durga Puja interwoven in the plot. Besides the innumerable Bengali films, there are several  Hindi flicks too that have their plots revolving around the Durga Puja festival.

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Also read: Durga Puja 2018: What is Dhunuchi Naach?

Here are a few of them. Do some binge-watching now to set the right tone for Durga Puja that begins on October 15, 2018.

Kahaani: The Vidya Balan-starrer depicted the power of a woman, by beautifully blending the theme of Durga Puja that invokes Shakti. The climax of the film is set in the backdrop of Kolkata during Durga Puja giving the audience a glimpse of the grand celebration.

Devdas: The popular Sanjay Leela Bhansali film based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel by the same name tells the tale of two lovers. Since the main characters are Bengali, the film is anyway a treat to watch if you are away from home this Durga Puja. While the two female leads never meet in the original story, the film brings the two together with Durga Puja serving as the perfect excuse.

Daman: The film narrates the story of a victim of marital violence, starring Raveena Tandon in the lead. Drawing inspiration from the legend of Goddess Durga, who vanquished the demon king Mahisharura, the protagonist of the film, also named Durga, brings his husband to his knees.

Parineeta: Another film based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel, by the same name again, has the Durga Puja celebrations grace the screen twice. The film begins with a few scenes showcasing the budding friendship between Lolita and Shekhar. Sanjay Dutt performing the Dhunuchi Naach with three dhunuchis, earthen pots with burning coconut husk, camphor and dhuno (frankincense), during the pujo is a delight to watch.

Read more: Mahalaya | Know the brains behind Mahishasuramardini recital — a timeless classic

Vicky Donor: The Shoojit Sircar directorial shows the modern day emotions attached to Durga Puja. The Bengali female lead played by Yami Gautam introduces her Punjabi boyfriend played by Ayushmann Khurrana to the festival. The film captures all the fun of pandal hopping and dressing up in Bengali traditional attires.