DDLJ Movie Review

Kimberly Crater

Movie Review: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), directed by Aditya Chopra, became one of the most successful films in Hindi cinema. Released in 1995, the film has run for more than 750 weeks and is in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, a book compiled by worldwide critics.

Notorious prankster Raj Malhotra meets and falls in love with Simran Singh, the devoted daughter of Chaudhary Baldev Singh who holds to traditional Indian values while living in London. After learning that Simran’s father has arranged her marriage to the son of his friend in India, Raj follows her to India to earn the consent of her father and marry Simran.

The issues of internationalism and the Diaspora play a major role in DDLJ. Baldev moved his family to London from India; however, he was worked to keep the spirit of India alive in his family. Even thought Simran and her family have been living abroad for years, Baldev treats London as more of a temporary home, one that can be left easily in the return to his “true” and more permanent home in India. Raj’s father, Dharamvir Malhotra, on the other hand, came to London from India and established himself there as a millionaire businessman. Dharamvir spoils Raj and refuses to deny him anything. Raj is able to slip seamlessly between different groups of people. He fits in with his friends in London, but he can also blend in a more traditional setting, like when he convinces Baldev to let him into his store to buy “aspirin.” During the first half of the film, Raj’s personality stands in stark contrast to that of Simran’s. His carefree and nonchalant attitude opposes Simran’s conservative and uptight demeanor. Raj tells Simran that he will only be serious after he falls in love. After Raj follows Simran to India, he proves that he has become at least more serious as he insists on earning the consent of Simran’s father instead of eloping.

Throughout DDLJ, there is a balance between opposing poles. The contrasting personalities of Raj and Simran, especially in the first half of the film, balance each other, with the help of the chemistry between the two lead actors. While Raj is teasing and joking, Simran is well behaved and obedient. Before meeting Raj, Simran is willing to marry a man she has never met because her father believes it is in her best interest. She is more than ready to, as she says; sacrifice her happiness to please her father.

There is also a balance between the foreign and the familiar. Simran’s father has never seen London as a permanent home for his family and despite living there for twenty years, he still feels like he is in a foreign land where he must defend his traditions. In contrast, upon returning to India both Raj and Simran’s fathers declare their joy at being back in their homeland. The birds in India are even more familiar, Simran’s father claims.

Concepts of modernity and tradition are also balanced in DDLJ. Simran’s father has worked hard since he moved his family to London to keep his traditions alive. As Simran reads Ajit’s letter from India, her father expresses his joy that he has kept the heart of India alive with his daughters, even in London. However, Simran’s love for Raj threatens her father’s pride in his daughter. This is balanced by Raj’s insistence on not eloping, but winning the acceptance of Simran’s father. The distinction between modernity and tradition is also evident in the fathers of Raj and Simran, especially in their clothing. Simran’s father is always dressed in traditional clothes while Raj’s father wears more modern and western attire. At one point, when Raj’s father is asked about his clothes, he replies that the clothes should not fool anyone because at heart he is Hindustani.

The skillful balance and combination of various opposing poles makes DDLJ an enjoyable film and makes the success of the film, in both India and abroad, apparent.

Works Cited

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Dir. Aditya Chopra. Prod. Yash Chopra. Perf. Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Amrish Puri. 1995. DVD.

"Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Amazon.com. Web.

Dudrah, Rajinder Kumar., and Jigna Desai. The Bollywood Reader. Maidenhead: Open UP, 2008. Print.