Movie Masti Magic !

One of my friends wanted an article on "What is your favorite movie?" and that's where I had to prepare him one. So I wrote about mine and posted here, just to keep a copy of it।

Directed in 1999 by one of the veterans of Indian cinema, Sanjay Leela Bansali, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is one of my favorite movies.

This one stars Aishwarya Rai as Nandini, in love with charismatic Salam Khan in the role of Sameer (a.k.a. "Hawa ka Jhowka") with power-packed & National award winning performance by action-turned-romantic Ajay Devgan as Vanraj.

The feature film starts with interactions between Nandini and Sameer, who has come all the way from Italy to learn classical music from Nandini's father. First part of the feature elaborates on how the chirpy & innocent couple fall in love. Nandin's whole extended family is unaware of their liaison when Nandini's strict & principles oriented father promises her marriage to Vanraj, son of their family friend.

Most part of the movie was shot in Gujarat-Rajasthan and the latter part in Budapest which was passed off as Italy in the movie. Cinematography and music were also notable and my favorites. Authenticity to cultural references and costumes were carried out with elegance, which makes it a "Picture Perfect" for me as well as the critics.

If I am allowed to elaborate on the plot and summary, I would like to add that this one could be considered one of the memorable romantic movies of Indian Cinema. Here the makers tried to depict the notion that love is all about sacrifice. Of course, this was mainstream cinema and meant solely for entertainment, nevertheless this is considered an art judging on how the film was made and the commercial and critical acclaim it attained.

Continuing on the plot, Nandini & Sameer are by now deeply in love and their innocuous loves comes out on every frame. Soon, Nandini's father finds out and banishes Sameer from their villa. Sameer has no where to go in India and returns to Italy. In between he had written letters to Nandini to join him, but she never receives them. Nandini is married off to Vanraj who is deeply in love with her. One day Nandin's mother visits them along with their domestic help who brings Sameer's letters to Nandini. Vanraj finds Nandini reading of those letters and though initially angry at her for lying to him, takes her to Italy to have her reunited with Sameer. This is one instances of "sacrifice for love" and another is delivered at the climax with loads of irony.

The scenic beauty of Budapest and its surrounding villages are shown as Vanraj and Nandini have set themselves in search of Sameer. Nandini is indifferent to Vanraj & only wishes to be reunited with Sameer. But as their quest for Sameer advances, they both reach a point where they define their building relationship as friendship. Gathering information about Sameer, Vanraj closes in but Nandini meets with an accident, just when they were about to meet him. Despite many difficulties, Vanraj takes good care of her and she secretly falls in love with him.

When it's time for Nandini to be with united with Sameer, she realizes that "love is about sacrifice" and parts with Sameer to be with Vanraj who was willing to ... Sacrifice "his love" for "his love".

And that's how the "Irony" crumbles !