Tamannaah Bhatia and Sidharth Malhotra’s upcoming film Vvaan is bringing the traditions of Bihar’s Chhath festival to the big screen, and its newly released song, Chhathi Maiya, has already attracted significant attention online.
Released on Thursday, the song crossed more than 8 million views within its first 24 hours. But beyond its early digital numbers, the response has been driven largely by what the song represents for audiences who have grown up celebrating Chhath.
Chhath gets a prominent place in a mainstream film
Chhath is one of the most important festivals associated with Bihar and is also widely observed in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and parts of southern Nepal. The multi-day festival is marked by prayers, rituals and offerings, with families passing its traditions from one generation to the next.
For many viewers, seeing those customs represented in a mainstream film has become a source of pride.
Social media reactions have described the song as a celebration of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, with viewers praising the way Vvaan brings the cultural atmosphere of Chhath and Bhojpuri traditions into a cinematic setting.
Some fans are already imagining the experience of watching the song in theatres, including the possibility of audiences singing along during screenings.
That response indicates that Chhathi Maiya is resonating for reasons that go beyond its performance as a film song. For people familiar with Chhath, the visuals and rituals can evoke memories of family celebrations, community gatherings and traditions that remain deeply connected to their roots.
Some viewers wanted a stronger Bhojpuri touch
The response to the song has been overwhelmingly positive, although a few viewers suggested that it could have gone even further culturally.
One recurring observation was that the lyrics are primarily in Hindi, with some fans saying a Bhojpuri version or stronger use of Bhojpuri language could have made the song feel even more rooted in the region.
The suggestion also highlights the expectations that can accompany cultural representation in mainstream cinema. When a film chooses to place a regional festival at the heart of its promotional music, audiences naturally pay close attention to language, customs and authenticity.
Even so, the conversation surrounding Chhathi Maiya shows that the song has already established an emotional connection with viewers who see their own traditions reflected on screen.
What is Vvaan about?
While Chhath provides an important cultural backdrop, Vvaan is not simply a festival-centred story.
The film follows a contemporary young man who returns to his roots and finds himself drawn into a conflict involving dark supernatural forces. At the centre of the story is the idea of reconnecting with one’s origins while confronting forces beyond the ordinary world.
Director Deepak Kumar Mishra has described the film as the journey of a young man returning to his roots and rediscovering himself.
Mishra and writer Arunabh Kumar had earlier narrated the story to Ektaa Kapoor, who suggested that the concept had the scale and potential to be developed as a theatrical film.
With Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia leading the cast, Vvaan combines a contemporary supernatural narrative with a setting deeply connected to Bihar and its cultural landscape.
Why the Chhath song matters
For Hindi cinema, regional festivals have increasingly become opportunities to explore stories and traditions that audiences recognise from their own lives. Vvaan appears to be taking that approach by placing Bihar’s cultural identity alongside a supernatural storyline.
The early response to Chhathi Maiya suggests that the festival’s presence is one of the film’s most distinctive talking points. Whether the full movie succeeds in delivering the same sense of cultural connection remains to be seen, but the song has already opened a conversation about representation, language and regional identity.
Vvaan is scheduled to release in theatres on September 25.
