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Review: The Making Of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

It's been 20 years since Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge released. In these two decades the film has become an integral part of Indian culture. There's a Sholay and there's a DDLJ and between the two, you have a whole manuscript for everything Indian cinema and culture stand for. So on the occasion of their twentieth anniversary, makers of DDLJ, Yash Raj Studios have released a documentary on the iconic love story. But this should have been called Finding Aditya Chopra. The man is a mystery. But The Making Of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge features so many insights and revelations on the man who made that iconic film. Not only do you meet the talented Mr Chopra, you also unravel facets of his personality.

The film features a lot of behind-the-scenes footage from the sets and locations of DDLJ. It also features candid interviews with the cast and crew of the film. For the average DDLJ aficionado, this film is a holy grail of nostalgia and candour.

Through a series of scenes you are introduced to the cultural impact of DDLJ. You have shots of people watching the film at Maratha Mandir, singing the songs at random public places and everyone just has a persistent grin plastered on their face. Some seem so enamoured that you'd think they're watching the film for the first time. But then you realise everyone and their uncle has watched this film more than a dozen times. And just then, you have the likes of Manish Malhotra, Uday Chopra, Farah Khan, Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan reminiscing about the days of making DDLJ.

The movie also records the opinions of common folk, like those watching the movie, the manager and projectionist at Maratha Mandir and a lot more enthusiastic fans. Through these non celebrity interviews and a few insights like DDLJ merchandise the movie tries to paint a picture. But these efforts are lacklustre. One would expect a little more flair from a film endorsed by a production house like YRF.

But what the movie lacks in filmmaking finesse it more than makes up with the wit and emotions of its star interviewees. Karan Johar (who was an assistant on DDLJ) is the pick of the lot. His views and opinions on the making of DDLJ and the good time they spent as young friends is fantastic. Karan articulates the feeling of the film and the people who made it with great effect. Pamela Chopra (who was also the producer) is fantastic in her memoirs. Her appraisal of Aditya and Uday Chopra, as well as Yashji is candid and engaging. Inputs from Anaita Shroff Adajania and composers Jatin-Lalit are fantastic as well.

The best part of this film is the actual footage shot on locations by myriad crew members like Uday Chopra, Karan Johar, Kajol and others. So when SRK says, a bunch of young people came together to make a special film, you can actually see all unfold in real time in the video footage. You don't need to use your imagination. That spectacle is right in front of your eyes. And it's fabulous.

When the history of Indian cinema will be written, one movie will definitely have a dedicated section to itself. Yes, we're talking about DDLJ. As the world celebrates #20YearsOfDDLJ, here are 10 reasons why the longest running film in Indian history is also the best film ever.

Coming-of-Age

There have been love stories, but none like this one. Two people meet on holiday, and while trying to discover themselves, also end up discovering each other, growing up and falling in love. Their love grows so organically that we connect with Raj and Simran in ways which make us feel they're our own.

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Humour

There are bouts of humour evenly spread throughout the film, so it never feels like the drama is bogging us down. Raj and Simran's escapades in Europe in the first half, followed by the Punjabi wedding in the second half, all make DDLJ a joyride unlike any other.

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Family

Seldom have movies depicted relationships as real as they are in DDLJ: when the mother and daughters dance away when the strict Dad is out, when father and son get together to drink some beer, when the mother tells her daughter to run away to avoid the fate she suffered - the emotions were all too real.

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Europe

Arguably one of the first movies to have made its viewers experience a complete European holiday on screen, DDLJ took us to some of the most beautiful locales while still staying truly Indian at heart.

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Punjab

Talking about being truly Indian, the flavor of Punjab which comes out in the second half is simply delicious. Be it the lassi drinking or ladoo making, the morning walks in the khet or the midnight munchies on the terrace, Punjab was a character by itself throughout the second half.

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Supporting Characters

Every supporting character in the film was so good that they could each have a movie of their own. Be it the submissive Farida Jalal, or the staunch Amrish Puri. The shy Mandira Bedi or the rugged sher-e-Punjab, Parmeet Sethi. The naughty Himani Shivpuri or the uber-fun Anupam Kher, DDLJ's characters were like our very own extended family.

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Music

Every song, and we really mean EVERY SONG from DDLJ is a classic. From Mere Khwabon Mein to Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna to Tujhe Dekha To Yeh Jaana Sanam, DDLJ's music is evergreen and still on loop on our iPods.

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The Train Scene

Movies have tried to replicate the experience of that climax scene that is still vividly etched in our minds. Kajol's trying to catch up to the train, inching closer and closer to grab SRK's hand - this scene still remains as THE most iconic Bollywood scene of all time.

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Dialogues

Amrish Puri's phenomenal father-act and his spell-binding dialogues like "Jaa Simran, jee le apni zindagi" or Shah Rukh's love test of saying "palat" multiple times before Kajol turns to look back and proves him right; we not only remember DDLJ's dialogues by heart, they've set the standards for dialogue writing a little too high.

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SRK & Kajol

And the most important thing that makes DDLJ what it is, is the chemistry between its lead pair, Shah Rukh and Kajol. Their love seems real, emotions believable and chemistry so magical that we watch not a movie but an experience unfold in front of our eyes.

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Tell us in the comments section below what the DDLJ means to you?

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