Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Uday Reddy
HIND 2441
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Review
Literally meaning “The Brave Heart Will Take the Bride”, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, directed by Aditya Chopra, is a love story that defines Indian Cinema. Raj Malhotra (Shah Rukh Khan), is a goofy but charismatic playboy brought up in London, the son of a very successful business man. He meets Simran Singh (Kajol) while she is traveling in Europe as a bachelorette present. Her father has arraigned a marriage in India (she also lives in London), and she is to marry the son of one of his friends. Simran immediately rejects the playfully immature Raj. After returning from the trip, Simran’s father finds out about her relationship with Raj and promptly ships her off to India so she cannot fraternize with Raj. This demonstrates one important theme in Indian cinema, Indian Nationalism. Raj is an “NRI” (Non-resident Indian), and because so he must be treated as a threat.
Raj, realizing that he has fallen for Simran, secretly follows them to Punjab to try to win over Simran’s father. He manages to befriend Simran’s groom-to-be, and starts to integrate himself with Singh family. Slowly but surely, Simran’s father becomes more and more friendly towards Raj. Raj even tentatively agrees to marry the sister, Preeti. Predictably, Simran’s father finds out about the two by finding a picture of them together realizing who Raj really is. He promptly disowned by the family and he and his father solemnly go to the train station. Throughout all of this, Raj keeps his faith that Simran and her father will come to their senses. Unfortunately for Raj, Kuljeet (Simran’s fiancé), also has come to his senses and he and his posy fight Raj at the train station. Raj, being Shah Rukj Khan, beats them all singlehandedly. Seeing this, Simran’s father realizes that Raj loves Simran the most because he is willing and able to fight for her love. He comes to his senses and Simran sprints to her lover as the train pulls away from the station.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is one of the most popular Indian films of all time, for great reason. Its comedic light and playful plot and unforgettable songs make Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge easy to fall in love with, but its core lessons are what make it a classically great film. The film demonstrates the idea of Indian nationalism constantly, from the traditional manner in which Simran was brought up and is treated, by how her father demands that she gets married to a Punjabi in India, and in the way that her father fantasizes about returning to India. It can also be seen through the untraditional and almost dangerous manner in which Raj lives, dangerous to the idea of a traditional Indian man. The film also highlights Raj’s foreign status by how he integrates English with Hindi, through his western clothes and style, and his loose but goofy nature.
The theme of gender is also shown in the film. One of the most notable ways is how the “Indian” men in the film treat women. The women are often silenced and disregarded especially during times of anger and controversy. Simran is also forced into marrying Kuljeet without any other options, and especially forbidden from even seeing the untraditional Raj. Raj, on the other hand, always regards Simran as an equal. The movie also criticizes Indian tradition by showing the viewers that true love transcends borders and sometimes tradition is not always right or just. Raj, though an NRI, is decidedly “Hindustani”. Despite Simran begging him to elope and save her, Raj refuses knowing that it is un-Hindu to break up a marriage in this manner.
The songs in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge also perpetuate the Hindustani theme of the movie. They help to further intertwine Simran and Raj’s emotions for each other by intimately but still conservatively developing their relationship. One song shows them fantasizing about each other, and hoping that they will run into each other, showing their feelings for each other. The songs help the viewer visualize the relationship between Raj and Simran, and the stipulations that come with it. The songs also demonstrate Indian Diaspora by using traditional Indian garments as well as traditional Bollywood music. In my opinion, the song and dance numbers in this film excellently tie the viewer in with the story, and further the plot in a meaningful and visual way. Moreover, the fantastic plot and conflicts in the film demonstrates why it is regarded so highly as an Indian film, because it leaves the viewer with a sense national pride while still leaving them with valuable lessons about Indian culture and practice.