After 20 years, here's why 'DDLJ' is the longest-running film in Indian history
Most movies are lucky to run for a few months. In India, a poorly performing film can be removed from theaters within a week of its release if audiences aren't buying tickets. It's the opposite problem of 1995's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which ended a 1,009-week run at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir in February.
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DDLJ (that's what the cool kids call it " because it's a mouthful) tells the story of Raj (Shahrukh Khan) and Simran (Kajol), two young Indians growing up in Britain who meet on a trip across Europe with their friends. They fall in love, because that's what you do in Bollywood, but Simran is engaged to another man, so Raj has to go to India and win back his bride.
Oct. 20 marked the 20-year anniversary of the film's release, prompting the release of adocumentary series and adorable cast reunion video.
So for the uninitiated, what is it that makes DDLJ so great? What makes a film momentous enough to withstand two decades of evolving culture and the film tastes of over a billion people? We'll tell you.
Sheer chemistry
DDLJ's story is a simple one, one that could only be executed to such phenomenal success by actors whose love feels beyond believable, but inevitable. This was not the first but the third film that Khan and Kajol did together, but something happened on that screen, a chemistry that bonded the two leads but also worked with Aditya Chopra's direction and script to make Raj and Simran come to life.
Weddings
People love weddings " especially Indian people, and Indian weddings. Simran's family travels to India for the ongoing festivities leading up to her nuptials, including an engagement ceremony, elaborate clothing and jewelry, and of course, plenty of music and dance.
Europe
Here's an important and perhaps surprising fact about Bollywood movies: They love Europe. Since DDLJ, the transformative Euro-trip has become something of a trope in Indian cinema, but it is largely credit to this film. Raj and Simran fall in love among the Swiss Alps and on international trains; most importantly, they bond over being outsiders and a common cultural history that most around them do not share.
Family values
Raj and Simran are both extremely close to their parents. Even though Raj is depicted as more Westernized, he and his "Pops" (Anupam Kher) are as much friends as they are father and son. Simran feels comfortable enough to confide with her mother (Farida Jalal), but in a patriarchal household, her mother can be little more than a support system. She gives Simran a powerful speech about the duties of Indian women " a speech which is still heartbreaking and true for many women around the world.
Simran's father (Amrish Puri) is the de facto villain of the film, an authority figure with traditional values who hesitates to even let his daughter go to Europe " so you can imagine how he'd react to her ditching her own wedding to marry another man. It's respect for family that pushes Raj and Simran to hide their love and win the elders' blessing instead of just running away together. Every time Raj win's someone's approval " whether it's Simran's mother, sister, or any random relative present (and there are plenty), each successful interaction feels like a small but palpable victory for the young couple's love.
Archetypes
This one is surprising, and might not bode well for a film produced today; but the story of the mischievous playboy who suddenly mends his ways for a simple (if sometimes uptight) woman " out of love " has proven itself repeatedly throughout film history. Sure, at the end of the day, it's Raj who does the heavy lifting like sneaking off to India and cleverly charming and manipulating Simran's entire extended family...but he'd probably still be drunk in his swimming pool if she hadn't given him a reason to clean up his act in the first place.
DDLJ has all the classic ingredients of quintessential Bollywood, but even after 20 years it's rare to see a film get so many things right. It might not be playing in a theater near you, but the film is available on DVD and streaming on Netflix and Amazon Video.
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