Review: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Stars: Shahrukh Khan, Kajol
Released: 1995
Directed by: Aditya Chopra


This film is a classic, possibly the most famous film ever to come out of Indian cinema and is known all around the world. For the children of parents who have actually lived in Hindustan get a glimpse of what their parents lives were all about. The great thing about this movie, is that it is able to do that all while giving it a very modern take.

So we have Simran, the daughter of convenience store and dedicated Indian Chaudhary, or Babu-ji as she calls him and a strong but meek mother, Lajo. They're not very wealthy, but Simran and her younger sister Chutki have always felt a lot of love from them. Raj Malhotra is the goof-ball son of a very wealthy widower, Dharamvir Malhotra. He goes to college and fails - which his father is surprising proud of. Combine that along with Simran's sensual and heartfelt dance to Mere Khwabon Mein, and you already have a pretty good understanding of their characters.

About twenty minutes into the movie, Simran gets a marriage proposal from her father's best friend's son, Kuljeet. Simran isn't too crazy about this, but wants to make her father happy, so she agrees to the marriage. However, she wants to travel Europe before she goes to India to get married and reluctantly, her father agrees. Who would happen to be going on this trip along with her and her friends? Well none other than Raj Malhotra of course. The two share a very interesting meeting when they both rush to catch the train and Simran's clothes - including her bra - end up all over Raj. Raj, being a ladies man, immediately starts to put the movies on Simran, all of which she rejects.

As their trip through Europe runs its course, it is obvious that the two young people are getting closer and closer, but still want to try and hate each other. It's not until they're leaving each other when they are back in London that they realize they have feelings for each other. When Simran expresses these feelings to her parents, her father is outraged and promptly packs the family up to take them to India and get Simran's marriage on its way. When Raj comes looking for Simran and discovers that she's gone to India to get shaadied off, he of course rushes after her.

Simran is going through with the wedding and her father's wishes, but is not at all happy about it. She doesn't see how she could ever be happy when she's in love with Raj and can't be with him. That is, until she hears a mandolin playing a soft, familiar tune... It is none other than Raj, whom she runs to through a thick field of yellow flowers. He assures her that he has a plan on how to get them to be together, and tells her to trust him.

I'm going to stop here - that's right, you don't get to know how it ends unless you watch it, which I advise you to do... NOW! I don't think you're a true Bollywood fan until you've seen this movie. SRKajol is Bollywood's Kate and Leo x 10000 and this movie made it for them both. This movie is responsible for all the cliches we see in Bollywood movies. This movie has inspired so many other movies. This movie has been referenced several times in other movies throughout the years and is, from what I've seen, the most popular Indian movie ever.

The acting is top notch. Both SRK and Kajol won Filmfare awards for their roles and it was very much well deserved. Their chemistry is perfect and their comedic timing is priceless. Scenes that would normally make you roll your eyes (running through a field of flowers to each other) is sweet and romantic in this movie and a lot of that is thanks to the amazing acting powers of SRKajol.

The songs are also amazing. My two favorites are, of course, Mere Khwabon Mein and Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna. This is a movie not to be missed by anyone. I mean it. If you haven't already stopped reading this review to go watch it - do it. Now!!!

Rating: 10/10