Legendary folk singer Sharda Sinha’s iconic Chhath song Pahile Pahil Hum Kayin has struck an emotional chord with audiences after featuring in Tamannaah Bhatia-starrer Vvaan: Forest of the Forrest.

For people in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, Chhath is more than a festival. It is deeply connected to their cultural identity, with families coming together for the four-day celebration and Sharda Sinha’s songs often forming part of the festivities.

Vvaan: Forest of the Forrest, starring Tamannaah Bhatia, Shweta Tiwari, Sidharth Malhotra, Sunil Grover and Anup Soni, was released on Sept. 25.

Although the film received mixed reviews, its Chhath-related sequence featuring Sinha’s song drew strong appreciation from audiences.

Some social media users had earlier suggested that the film’s Chhath song would have been more effective in Bhojpuri. However, the filmmakers kept Sinha’s song as a surprise for viewers.

Directed by Arunabh Kumar and Deepak Kumar Mishra, the film features Pahile Pahil Hum Kayin during a scene showing Shweta Tiwari and Anup Soni preparing for the festival.

Nishant Singh, a filmmaker associated with The Viral Fever, shared a video of the scene and wrote, "What an experience it was to listen to Ma Sharda in a theatre. Do not miss this in theatres if you love Chhath Puja."

The scene prompted an emotional response from social media users.

One user wrote that the film would work because of "Chhathi Maiya," while another said the song gave them "goosebumps."

"Chhath and Sharda Sinha's voice are always a goosebump moment, every single time," another user commented.

A fourth user, who said they were not originally from Bihar, described the song as having a "magical quality" that gave them goosebumps whenever they heard it.

Another recalled childhood memories associated with the song and said it made them emotional every time they heard it.

"It's not just a feeling, it's culture," an Instagram user wrote.

Sharda Sinha’s legacy

Sharda Sinha, widely known as the "Voice of Chhath" and "Bihar's Kokila," was one of Bihar's most celebrated folk singers. She contributed to Hindi, Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri music.

Her Chhath songs, particularly Pahile Pahil Hum Kayin, have become closely associated with the festival and continue to be heard during celebrations and on social media.

Sinha received the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2000 for her contribution to music. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2018.

Born in Supaul district of Bihar, Sinha also lent her voice to popular songs including Kahe Toh Se Sajna from Maine Pyar Kiya and Taar Bijli from Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2.

However, she remained particularly popular for her devotional Chhath songs, which captured the festival’s traditions and connected with listeners across generations.

Sinha was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017 and died at AIIMS Delhi in November 2024 at the age of 72.

Her songs continue to remain an important part of Chhath celebrations and her musical legacy.

Source: NDTV