DDLJ

The thing about Bollywood is that it always makes you feel good about life. Thats one thing not even the greatest Hollywood romantic comedies or romances can do.

We went to watch DDLJ yesterday morning in Maratha Mandir with a largish group. Now if you're thinking - "that's weird" or just simply a "Waste of time" you're probably right. But to a group of 20 somethings who live life one day at a time it seems like a great idea.

It is by far - and yesterday only reconfirmed my faith - the greatest Hindi movie made. I know there will be Sholay fans going wild over this but I want to go to the theatre to be entertained, to be moved and to feed some strange romantic delusions of mine. and DDLJ does all that and more.

When Simran's father allows her to go for the Euro trip after the begging, it reaffirms your faith that parents are reasonable after all... to a tiny extent but its there.

When Raj puts his hand out of the train to bring her on board (which will NEVER happen in real life because all trains in the UK start only after the door closes) it always leaves me wondering if one day when I'm late for a train there will be some stranger's hand to bring me on board!

When you realize why you love Shah Rukh Khan that much (at least I did!) during the song "Na Jaane mere" when she imagines him in the London metro in a black t shirt just before the door closes and in a red & white pullover just before the song ends on her front lawn... I mean I will wait for as long as it takes to have that!

Although my actual favourite part in the movie is right at the end when Simran's father lets her go... we give too little credit to our parents. Finally, he is the one who will have to face the rest of the family, society and everyone else to answer to this. Its easy to say that he doesn't have to care but its only normal in India. Again I say - parents are reasonable. After all he says - no one will love you as much as this boy... and what more does a father want for his daughter after all?

This post seems too silly and delusional but perhaps we need this in life from time to time. To save ourselves from being too realistic and to avoid the ordinariness that sets in to daily life.To pay 20 rupees, buy cheap fryms & popcorn and samosas and watch a too-good-to-be-true movie. It actually happens in life I've realized. But it requires a very open mindset towards love and life. Everyone' story is not as glamorous or as romantic. But the most mundane stories are special to the ones in it. I'm pretty sure I will have a mundane love story. No drama, no fights and definitely no opposition from my parents. But in my head - it will be my own personal DDLJ.