The imagery of 'shakha' (branches), saffron flags, and cultural patriotism has gradually become a recurring motif in Bollywood to depict characters rooted in Indian traditions and values. This shift is notably present in Salman Khan’s blockbuster film Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), directed by Kabir Khan. The film’s protagonist, Bajrangi, shaped early on by his father—the head of a shakha—reflects values of patriotism and social service. His childhood memories include attending the shakha regularly, where saffron flags, pictures of Bharat Mata, and chants evoke a strong cultural ethos.

Similarly, in the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), the young protagonist Prem Tiwari, portrayed by Ayushmann Khurrana, is shown as a devotee of the shakha’s discipline and principles. The movie beautifully depicts morning shakha scenes with saffron flags and traditional rituals, highlighting cultural pride and a disciplined lifestyle.

Bollywood in 2015 also showcased the seepage of the saffron color into its visual language with Dilwale, where Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s love story is enveloped in the iconic song "Rang De Tu Mohe Gerua." Despite the film’s foreign setting, the saffron dupatta symbolically resonated with cultural pride and “Rang De Tu Mohe Gerua” became an emblematic melody representing new expressions of love and identity on screen.

This cinematic renaissance extends beyond individual films. Movies like Kesari and Tanhaji reinforced saffron as a color of valor and sacrifice. Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of the Maratha warrior Bajirao in Bajirao Mastani called for an India painted in saffron, portraying a hero who champions the Hindu empire against oppressors.

These films mark a cultural resurgence where the symbolism of shakha, saffron, and its hues embodies the spiritual and nationalist ethos within Hindi cinema. The depiction of protagonists’ affiliations with shakha represents a reclaiming of cultural identity, blending faith, valor, and patriotism to resonate deeply with audiences.

This trend is also reflected in the works of filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who uses color symbolism masterfully in movies like Devdas, contrasting the red and green hues to portray love, peace, and turmoil.

Thus, the infusion of shakha symbolism and saffron imagery in popular Hindi films signifies not just aesthetic changes on screen but a broader cultural renaissance in Bollywood’s storytelling style.