Director: Yash Chopra
Stars: Shahurkh Khan, Kajol.
Music: Jatin-Lalit.
The audiences had been kept enthralled by some typical Yash Chopra movies like 'Silsila' and 'Kabhi Kabhi' all these years. But by directing his maiden venture, 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', Yash Chopra's son Aditya Chopra kept luring audiences to the theatres. And it was DDLJ, which showed the way of lifting words from old hit songs to form a movie title.
The traditional Punjabi backdrop only adds spice to the already mind-boggling plot. Simran (Kajol) and her younger sister 'Choutki' are typical Punjabi girls brought up in London. They are yet to be touched by the vagaries of phoren customs. Amrish Puri and Farida Jalal are at their convincing selves. Well now, our pretty Simran, like any girl her age, has dreams of a "unknown, unseen someone" who "keeps peering at her through the clouds". That's what I call love.
But all her dreams shatter when they get a letter from Amrish's bum chum from backhome Punjab. It is learnt that his son Kuljit (Parminder Sethi) and Simran are old enough and so should get married according to their plans. But can't but has to forget all her dreams to fulfill her father's wish.
Our hero Raj Malhotra (Shahrukh Khan) is a spoiled son of a rich father (Anupam Kher). Raj is congratulated when he fails to get his Bachelors' degree and is told about the qualifications of his ancestors, which is practically nil. Here he also gets a month long holiday in Europe as bonus. On the other hand, Simran and her friends too have similar plans. She is somehow able to persuade her father and off she goes on a tour of Europe.
Its pure fun when Simran and Raj clash with each other and keep missing their buses (literally) and trains. But eventually after much more fun and fights, they are able to meet their friends. In the meantime Raj has given off his heart to Simran. It is a delight to watch the two of them arguing over silly things and the scene where Raj is all geared up to propose his lady love. After doing the same, as he bursts out laughing is really touching. But the purpose is solved and the expressions on their faces is seen to be believed.
At the end of the tour, while departing even Simran realises her love for Raj. But as she is narrating this incident to her mother, Amrish Puri appears in the scene and says something like breaking the trust and such like. So off he goes to Punjab with wife, daughters and baggage. In the meantime, encouraged by his father, Raj comes searching for her and he too buys a ticket for Punjab.
Once in Punjab, there is an atmosphere of celebration as Amrish and family have appeared in India after 20 long years. Simran is strongly advised by her father to forget about the guy she met in Europe. But she is unable to and keeps thinking of Raj and his delightful tune which he often played. One fine day she really gets frustrated of the tune and runs into the yellow lush fields. There she is amazed to find Raj because till now she didn't even know of his love for her.
They make some really intelligent plans of winning everyone's heart and becomes Kuljit's friend. He mingles with one and all trying to spread his charm. He is all charm and warmth with everyone except Amrish Puri. He tries his level best but Amrish is a hard nut to crack. To create a muddle, Kuljit's sister Preeti (Mandira Bedi of 'Shanti' fame) too falls in love with Raj. Arrives Anupam Kher and creates chaos in the confusion. But everything is sorted out for a while.
So finally the day comes when Simran is to be married off. But Raj has not been able to 'patao' Amrish Puri and to make the situation all the more worse, he comes to know of Raj's true identity. More confusions and fist fights later, the movie comes to a happy ending when Simran runs after the train to be with Raj.
There are some well meaning songs and they have been picturised quite well. One can only get these kind of product from a Yash Chopra family. The music is given by Jatin-Lalit.
