DDLJ

DDLJ

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge directed by Aditya Chopra was released in late October of 1995; the film stars the dynamic duo of Shahrukh Khan who plays Raj and Kajol as Simran. This is the biggest Bollywood film to date and one can still find it playing in theaters; after fifteen years! It is recognized as one of the 1001 films you must see before you die! This film is special because it not only relates to Indian citizens but to the large Diaspora Indian communities around the world. It is broken up into two sections, the first takes place in Europe and it ends in India. Throughout the film there is an identity conflict for the both the male and female protagonists; Raj and Simran. Raj does not seem to be tied to his Indian roots in the beginning yet towards the end it’s as if his “Indian-ness” is instinctual. Then there is Simran who is torn between her commitment to her family and its traditions and her own desires.

In the beginning we are introduced to the both Raj and Simran. Raj is a kind of “bad boy” he fails school, he drinks beer, he carelessly breaks religious icons etc. Simran is a loyal daughter, she prays, follows her parents advise, but one thing we learn early on is that she is a dreamer. She dreams of finding her true love, she is a romantic so in that sense a “modern” girl. Both characters were brought up and are living in London. It is important to note that Raj’s mother died when he was just a boy so his family unit consists of his father and himself. This is important because he acts one way in London when he does not have any sort of older female influence, and his character shifts when women come into play when he travels to India; but I am getting ahead of myself. Raj first meets Simrans' father Baldev, and first impressions being everything, he blows it. He lies to Baldev to have him open his store and then proceeds to force Baldev to sell him beer and breaks his idol of the goddess. This creates serious conflict later on as one might guess. At this point we learn that Simran is arranged to marry a man in India. Both Raj and Simran go on an end of the year trip around Europe. Simran can go because she begs her father to allow her to have one month in which she lives for herself. This is where Raj and Simran meet and get to know each other in what is supposed to be a coincidental, cute, and humorous way. This whole part, for me at least, was rather annoying. Raj was childish, annoying, and painful to watch. He was like that kid in the school yard pulling some girls braids because he has a crush. Simran, being the proper girl that she is doesn’t stand for his actions, one can tell, however, that she has some sort of crush on him otherwise she would have completely blown up on him. She allowed him to tease her like he did. The trip ends after a series of trying events and both Raj and Simran are left with feelings of love for one another.

Once home Baldev hears Simran gushing to her mother about the man she fell in love with on her trip so he decides to rush the wedding and moves the family back to India. Once she gets to India the audience momentarily watches her grow defeated with the tradition of arranged marriage and keeping the words of men. Do not fear, however, because guess who is coming to dinner???? RAJ! He comes to India to win his bride and as the song says “carry her away”; with her father’s blessing of course. It is in this half of the film that Raj becomes well loveable. This is the guy that I want to see Shahrukh Khan play! While he gets invited to join the festivities thanks to Simrans’ groom to be (thanks to Rajs cunning ways), he makes his way to the bride’s side and there he stays. He is respectable, honorable, and well the very example of how a son, and a young Indian man should act. What has changed? Well he is in love, but there are also so many women around and not just any women, Indian women, and even more importantly Indian mothers! This was the missing link and why he could not behave properly in London, there was no mother to make proud. Ok so this is not some magical experience, he is trying to win them over so he can have Simran. That said Raj goes beyond convincing, he actually transforms, he grows up. With this shift in Raj we see Simran change as well. Realizing the reality of the situation in having to marry this stranger (who is of low character) she becomes defiant. She and later mother grow desperate and beg Raj to just take her away, run and never look back. Perhaps the old Raj would have gone for this, but not the new and improved Raj. Committed to make it work, and to do it properly he convinces Simran to trust him and wait it out. There were some great dance scenes in this section as well as some pretty comical scenes. While we all know how the movie is going to end it is fun to watch it unfold, and Chopra leaves you hanging till practically the last second. Raj despite having tricked both families he won pretty much all of the women over, all that’s left is Baldev (who throughout the second half goes to great pains to prove to him that he is of good character). Realizing that Raj is actually a good guy he is still stubborn and reluctant because he gave his word to another family. Luckily he comes to his senses and realizes just how much Raj really loves his daughter and how much Simran loves raj; so he lets her go and board a train to. . .well we don’t know let’s just say they lived happily ever after! The second half of this movie saves it and makes the film, I actually would watch it again!