RetRo ReView----DDLJ

BollyCurry brings to you a Retro Review of a movie that continues to remain a classic and is referred back to, time and again, in almost every discussion of a typical romantic comedy Bollywood film. A film that starred one of the finest on-screen pairs Hindi cinema has ever seen, Shah Rukh Khan & Kajol Devgn, and produced by the late "King of Romance", Yash Raj Chopra; it is none other that Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.

Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, released in 1995, and commonly known as DDLJ, is a complete package of romance, comedy, and music that keeps you glued to the screen, no matter how many times you've seen the film before. It was produced by late Yash Chopra and was his son, Aditya Chopra's directorial debut.

The plot revolves around Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and Simran (Kajol Devgn), both NRIs and situated in London. The two have had completely opposite upbringings; Raj is a free bird, doing as he pleases, while Simran hails from a conservative family where even dreaming of her "Prince Charming" is not allowed. As fate would have it, their paths cross when the two go on the same Europe tour with their respective friends. Throughout the trip, Raj and Simran fight, argue, and eventually befriend one another, only to realize by the end of their journey that they are in love. When Simran's father finds out about this, he decides to move back home, to India, forever. Upon finding out that Simran has left for India, Raj decides to go after her, promising his dad that he will only marry her. From here continues Raj and Simran's love story, with some high-voltage drama, fun, laughter, and of course some heart break and tears.

The film swept away with most of the Filmfare Awards for that year: Best Movie, Best Director (Aditya Chopra), Best Actor (Shah Rukh Khan), Best Actress (Kajol Devgn), Best Supporting Actress (Farida Jalal), Best Comedian (Anupam Kher), Best Lyricist (Anand Bakshi, for "Tujh Dekha To"), Best Screenplay, Best Dialogue, and Best Male Playback Singer (Udit Narayan, for "Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna"). DDLJ, also won 3 awards at the Star Screen Awards for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor, going out to Shah Rukh Khan.

Did you know?

• During the 1996 Filmfare Awards, DDLJ received a total of 10 awards, which is the most that any single film has ever received.
  
• DDLJ continues to be played at the Maratha Mandir Theater in Mumbai, India since its initial release and has completed a total of 900 weeks, as of January 2013.
• DDLJ was ranked among the "25 Must Watch Bollywood Films" in the India Times Movies, along with being listed in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
• DDLJ was the first Hindi film blockbuster to feature NRIs as the leads.