Follow your heart. Review on Dil Chahta Hai

At 12.30pm yesterday – Sunday, 31 August 2003, Channel 4 broadcasted Dil Chahta Hai. For me this was a poignant moment as Sunday afternoon is prime television viewing time in UK. To broadcast a regional film at this slot is an indication of how much Asian culture has become part of the English way of life. When Selfridges have a Bollywood theme at their London branch and the musical ‘Bombay Dreams’ is selling to full houses, you know Bollywood culture is here to stay!

But coming back to Dil Chahta Hai – it truly is a fantastic film and well done to Channel 4 for showing it. It is very different from most Bollywood ‘masala’ films where you have boy meets girl, girl’s Daddy hates boy and against all odds they get together and finally live happily ever after.

There is no real plot and the film effortlessly meanders in and out of the loves and lives of the three protagonists of this film – Akash, Sameer and Sid (Siddharth). Akash – played by Aamir Khan is a cynic who is convinced that he will never fall in love. And a wealthy one at that – coz not every Indian drives around in a convertible Merc and 4X4 Lexus!! Sameer (Saif Ali Khan) is the softy – or sentimental fool if you prefer plain speak - who falls in love with every woman he meets. And finally Sid (Akshay Khanna) is the thinker. He is an artiste - painter - so the depth and angst is almost inherent.

This film was released a few years ago so by now the plot is familiar to everyone. Akash who laughs at Sid for falling for a lonely, older woman with a drink problem eventually learns that you cannot plan whom you fall in love with. It just happens!! Sameer the hopeless romantic who only wants to marry for love, realises that you can find love in the most unlikely places i.e. the daughter of a family friend his parents want him to settle down with! Dimple Kapadia, Priety Zinta and Sonali Kulkarni play the female love interests. All the characters are well developed and the actors (and actresses) perform enthusiastically. But film is really made for the leading male actors, who shine through in their own individual style.

The film was a first for director Farhan Akhtar (Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani’s son) and was a mature and highly entertaining piece of work. It was ground breaking then as it explored traditionally taboo subjects like age gaps in relationships. It has a feel-good factor in it and the director has ensured that there are bits in the film everyone can associate with. The music is excellent, although I wonder where the Irish influence in the songs comes from??!! All in all a thoroughly modern, refreshing and enjoyable film for everyone.