DDLJ

Kaely Mayes
April 5, 2010
HINDI 2441
Film Review


Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge



Aditya Chopra hit it big when he produced the movie Diwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), translated called The Lover will win the Bride, in 1995. The movie is still playing in theaters around India today with a record 750 weeks in circulation, with equals 15 years. When it came it won multiple awards and is listed in the ranks of the 25 Must See Bollywood Films and 101 Movies You Must See Before You Die. This recognition is not surprising at all if you have seen the movie. It is as entertaining as it is emotional, at times I could not help but cry only to start laughing again.

The story is about a young couple who meet on a month long train trip/tour across Europe. They are the stereotypical instant rivals; where Raj Malhotra is the annoying, spoiled and delinquent party boy and Simran Singh is the wholesome and virginal “daddy’s girl” who has been engaged to a family friend since she was in diapers. They spend much of the trip clashing personalities and morals. Their relationship slowly begins to change when, due to one of their numerous bickering matches, they end up missing the departing train. They end up basically hitch hiking into Germany to catch up with the group and in the process are involved in many misadventures. Unbeknownst to the two, they start falling in love. They finally realize that they have fallen for each other when they say goodbye at the train station, but because of Simran’s arranged marriage they know that their love is futile. Shortly after Simran’s return to London, she and her mom are talking about the trip and Simran reveals her new found love interest to her mother, but Simran’s father, Baldev, is eavesdropping and is furious at Simran’s lack of honor towards her intended. Her family flies to Punjab, India the next day, during which Raj realizes his feelings and goes to sweep her home off her feet. When he sees that she has already left he decides that he will follow her to Punjab and win her back. Once he arrives in Punjab, Raj meets with Simran privately, and assures her that he will save her from the arranged marriage and get her to marry him with the consent of Baldev. As such, he refuses to elope with Simran because he wants her family to endorse their marriage. Simran’s mother knows of the heartache and pain that Simran is suffering due to her “lost love” and vows to make Simran happy no matter the costs. So, Simran's mother tries to force her savings into Raj’s hand so that he can run away with Simran to elope, but Raj remains adamant about getting the consent of Simran’s father. Raj thus begins to befriend Kuljeet, the intended groom, and pretends to be a friend of the family. He helps with the wedding preparations and soon gains everyone's friendship and love in hope of winning everyone over. Raj’s own father travels to Punjab to help him in his quest. Things get complicated quick when everyone instantly falls in love with this wholesome Hindustani young man, to the point that Kuljeet’s father tries to marry his younger daughter off to Raj. However, everything comes crashing down when Baldev sees a photograph of Raj and Simran together when they were on their trip across Europe. He exposes Raj's true identity in front of everybody, slaps him, and angrily tells him to leave, as Simran will marry Kuljeet regardless of what anybody thinks. As Raj leaves and is sitting at the railway station ready to leave Punjab, Kuljeet and his friends follow him and nearly beat him up in anger over his deception and false friendship. However, when Raj's father tries to intervene and Kuljeet and his friends beat him as well, Raj is enraged and turns the tables on Kuljeet and his friends. Baldev stops Raj and tells him and his father to go back to London; Raj and his father bloody and broken, dejectedly board the train out of the village. Simran runs to the station to try and leave with Raj, but her father catches her and holds her back. However, as the train begins to pull out of the station, Baldev comes to his senses and realizes that no one loves or will lover his daughter as much as Raj does. He tells Simran to join Raj on the train and the three ride off into the sunset happily ever after.


This is a very dynamic film that speaks to NRI’s around the world. Through many different characters DDLJ gives Indians in Diasporic countries hope that their culture is still alive. When we first meet Raj it is easy to see that he is not the “ideal” Hindustani boy, he is rich, carefree, unruly second generation NRI who is more British than Hindustani. Yet, once he sets foot in India he is transformed into the perfect Hindustani young man, which clashes with Kuljeet’s character. Kuljeet is shown to be more the more westernized character, in his appearance and his choice of hobbies, and he is a world-class jerk, talking about being unfaithful to Simran like one talks about the weather. Also, Simran is the ultimate example of keeping traditions alive even when surrounded by western “temptations”. Simran is the perfect Hindustani daughter, she is chaste, she performs many traditional rituals (when she is singing morning prayers) and she is always obedient to her father.