Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge - Movie Review

Dilwale dulhania le jayenge (1995)

Dilwale dulhania le jayenga also known as DDLJ is one of the most watched movies in the Indian cinema. DDLJ is produced by the Yash Raj Films and was released in the month of October 1995. The story is based on two NRI's [Non-residence Indians] living in Great Britain. Chaudhry Baldev Singh who is one of the NRIs living in Great Britain, he still feels "Punjab" is home. He is got two daughters named Simran, oldest daughter, and chutki as the youngest. Despite the fact he lives in an English setting, Great Britain, he has still taught and brought up his daughters with Indian customs and traditions. On the other hand, Dharamvir Malhotra, who is an NRI millionair, living in Great Britain as well, does not strictly follow his Indian traditions and customs. Raj Malhotra who is the son of Dharamvir, quiet careless in character for most part of the movie, does not graduate with a degree from college. Yet, he still feels the need for a month vacation to Switzerland with his friends, which he does go on to. After convincing her strict traditionalist dad, simran finally get to go on a month of vacation to Switzerland as well. Coincidently, Raj and Simran meets each other at the train station and happens to go vacationing to the same country as well. They start talking to each and getting to know each other more in depth. Though Raj confesses that he loves Simran a lot, but she does not feel that love yet. Because she grew up in a family who follows customs and traditions strictly, she was 'engaged' at birth with one of the old pals of Baldev belonging to Punjab as well. Simran tells Raj about this matter and it's a huge shame for Indians to go against their parent's arranged choice nor they can express their feelings openly for the parents, especially the dad. In short, Simran returns back from her vacation and she realizes that she has fallen in love with Raj but finds herself helpless to do anything about it. Raj comes to her city as well, acts as stranger to her family including Simran so that he can win the dad's heart. The mom finds out about their relationship and asks them to elope because she knows the dad will never reject the childhood proposal and get Simran married to Raj. However, Raj refuses to elope without the complete approval of both parents. Both families get into a major argument and Simran's childhood proposal plans to kill Raj so that he can marry off Simran. After bloodshed battle between the two guys over Simran, Raj finally wins the heart of Simran's dad and they both leave the scene on a train. The film is quiet interesting and amusing to watch and I would recommend everyone to watch it at least once if not more.

Just like its story plot, the songs are as popular as well. I personally have not come across of any South Asian that have not watched DDLJ or disliked the songs. I adore and listen to all of the songs to date from this movie. However, for the sake of this assignment, I have chosen three songs in particular to describe in further detail. The songs that I will be covering are as follows:

Mehendi laga ka rakhna [apply mehendi (sort of temporary tattoo)to these hands].

Tuje dekha tho yeh jana sanam [after seeing you, then get yourself assured].

Zara sa joom lo main [Let me wonder around].

Mehendi laga ka rakhna, doli saja ka rakhna is one the popular songs mostly sang at any bridal/mehendi occasions to this day. Lata Mangeshkar and Udit Narayan have sung the song. In the movie it's sang during the 'mehendi ceremony" of Simran with betrothed fiancé. The song starts off not with the mukhda like most of other songs do, but rather with a start off appraisal of the boys and girls. The instrument initially starts