Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Now what can I possibly say about this film that hasn’t been said before? The fact that it is the mother of all Bollywood romances? Or that even a decade later we still have mainstream Bollywood dishing out tributes to it? I’m looking at you, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya and Chennai Express (among others).
I may not be a big believer in the whole sham of the knight in shining armour (more like the douche in a tin can!), but DDLJ may have a lot to do with why I haven’t completely sworn off the idea of love. The movie single handedly managed to evoke enough sighs and cries out of even the most stone-cold audiences when Raj and Simran’s love won over the blazing, unflinching eyes of Baldev Singh.
Like I already said, what can I possibly say about this film that hasn’t been said before? So here’s an attempt to list out the 10 things without which DDLJ just wouldn’t have been the same.
1. THE Red Car
Missed your train in a foreign country and need to catch it on the next stop? Why, you rent a red car with charming stranger and prepare to fall in love Yash Raj style. The way the initial awkwardness between Raj and Simran melt away in the red rental car, which eventually runs out of gas causing them to spend a night together in a barn… it wouldn’t have been half as special in any other vehicle. Of any other colour.
2. Bottle Of Cognac
How many times have you been with a guy by yourself and hoped that a bottle of cognac appears out of nowhere so that you can get jiggy with him? Our couple here definitely has cognac to thank for any progress in their relationship!
Also, Rishi Kapoor had told Sridevi in Chandni, “Cognac sharaab nahi hoti…” Trust Yash Raj to do it right!
3. Cowbell
Remember the cowbell? Of course you do! The same one that Simran bought in Switzerland, that Raj finds outside Simran’s door and that he brought back to her in India. Why, of course you do! In DDLJ, cowbell spoke louder than words.
4. Sarson Ka Khet
Okay. I was 4 years old when the film released. But I am ready to bet that teri baahone mein marr jaanaa is only legit in the midst of a sarson ka khet. Where else could they have done it? In the middle of a Bombay road? I think not!
5. Beer
The first time Raj meets Bauji is when he’s trying to buy some beer after Bauji has shut his shop. Also, Raj told Kuljeet (Simran’s fiance) that he’s in India for setting up beer ki factory. I love how beer is tying everything together. Gimme some beer!
6. Pigeons
Salman Khan may have introduced the humble kabutar in Maine Pyaar Kiya (kabutar ja ja…), but it was SRK’s DDLJ that put the kabutar on the map. Feeding the kabutars not only made Bauji reminiscent of his desh while he was in vilaayat, it was also a little bonding session between Raj and Bauji. Aww.
7. Towel
So just how long are you going to go on in life pretending that you didn’t rock the above towel move in the privacy of your rooms all your growing up years?
8. Train
#Duh
9. “Jaa Simran, Jee Le Apni Zindagi!”
*goosebumps*
10. KJo!
I truly believe that Karan Johar is my celebrity spirit animal. But I digress.
DDLJ marked the acting debut of KJo as Paunchy, one of Raj’s friends. You know why this is important? Except for the fact that I absolutely adore KJ0, it’s important because the film is where SRK Kajol and Karan met. They became best friends and went on to make Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham – the two movies that you still watch week after week on your television. There’s another love story in there somewhere.
11. Mandira Bedi’s Dance
I feel not enough articles have been written about Mandira Bedi‘s dancing skills. Mandira was the first celebrity intervierw I ever took so obviously I love her. She’s great at a lot of things; dancing, however, isn’t one of them. Case in point – the following song:
Do you think DDLJ would be complete without any of these things?