Journalism of Courage
Yesterday marked 20 years of the Bible of modern day romance in India - 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' (DDLJ), starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Let's recount and relive the golden moments from the movie with Raj and Simran.
Let's start from the start.
The first train scene: The London's Railway Station becomes the meeting point of Raj and Simran. Though everything about the meeting goes haywire, the moments surely establish the sweet-sour camaraderie between the duo.
Raj and Simran miss the train to Zurich and Simran blames Raj for it. After a small banter, Simran realizes her folly and apologizes to Raj. He tells her, "Bade bade deshon mein aisi chhoti chhoti batein hoti rehti hain."
This is an iconic sequence. Raj makes up a story about they got close, much to Simran's distress. Simran, the Indian girl, doesn't seem to take it and starts crying. To calm her down, Raj says, "Main jaanta hoon ki tum mere baare mein kya sochti ho. Tum samajhti ho ki main ek awaara ladka hoon. Par main itna bhi gira hua nahin hoon Simran. Main ek Hindustani hoon aur jaanta hoon ki ek Hindustani ladki ki izzat kya hoti hai." Classic!
"Raj, agar yeh tujhse pyaar karti hai, toh yeh palategi."
"Palat!"
"Palat!"
The first whispers of love!
Simran: Tum aaoge na meri shaadi mein?
Raj: Nahin, main nahin aaoonga.
And the fight for his love begins. 'Dilwaala Dulhaniya Lekar Hi Aayega' ;)
"Main aa raha hoon Simran"
Raj's memories keep following Simran, the tunes of his mandolin too. Then Raj too.
Aaah! The Yellow Mustard fields. And the song - "Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam." Bliss!
The karwa chauth moments! Simran had her father's genes; proved perfectly by this scene.
"Meri maa mujhse hamesha kahti thhi. Zindagi mein har mod par tumhe do raaste nazar aayenge. Ek galat aur ek sahi. Galat raasta tumhe apni taraf kheenchega, par antt mein tum haar jaaoge. Sahi raaste mein ho sakta hai ki shuruaat mein tumhe mushkilon ka saamne karna pade, par jeet tumhari hogi."
Wish there were more mothers like Raj's.
"Jaa Simran Jaa, jeeley apni zindagi." Awwww! - Legendary Amrish Puri's dialogue and the train sequence.
We have all loved DDLJ and will keep loving it.
