Top 100 Bollywood Movies Of All Time: No.4 - "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", The Indian Longest-Running Movie

It has become a common practice in India that any film with poor performance will be eliminated from the theatres around seven days after its launch when audiences don’t buy tickets. However, with the 1995 movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which discontinued the 20-year-run in the Maratha Mandir theatre in February, it is an opposite problem.

There is no denying that DDLJ was so popular in India. Especially, it brought about a significant change throughout the course of the country’s film industry to become an exceptional brand and make itself the longest-running movie in the Indian cinema’s history.

Hence, what makes it so great and momentous for two decades? Check out the reasons to know why.

Sheer chemistry

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge tells a really simple story, but the simplicity creates its own alluring points and helps to give a clear portrayal of two main characters. In DDLJ, Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan played the pivotal roles and shared screen space with the other for the third time.

If you are a true cinema-goers, you would be overwhelmingly impressed by their perfect chemistry which closely bonded Raj Malhotra (acted by Rukh) and Simran Singh (played by Kajol).

Marriages

Indian movies have attracted audiences with scenes of weddings which is full of colors and sounds and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is no exception. It seems that Indian weddings have become an indispensable part in its film industry and such ceremonies are useful in flaunting the country’s traditions and practices.

In DDLJ, the family of Simran goes to India for a festive celebration, which then resulted in her nuptials, encompassing a pre-wedding ceremony, elaborate jewelry and clothing, and certainly, a lot of dance and music.

Europe

It is a vital point in making DDLJ become Indian history’s longest-running movie. And, it might also be a quite surprising fact to audiences that Bollywood films love Europe. This can be obviously seen in this Aditya Chopra directorial in which Simran and Raj fell head over heels in love with the other on global trains and among Swiss Alps.

The two built their intimate relationship from being outsiders as well as a common history of its culture that most people around them don’t share.

Family values

Family values are clearly demonstrated throughout DDLJ. To be more particular, Simran and Raj are closely attached to their family as they can share a lot of things with their mother and father in any matter of life.

Despite being more Westernized, Raj and his dad (Anupam Kher) are more like friends than like father & son. On the other hand, Simran finds it very comfortable to reveal everything to her mom (Farida Jalal); however, in her family’s patriarchy, her mom can only be a bit more than one support system.

Simran is guided by her mother with one powerful speech involving Indian women’s duties and it’s a heartbreaking speech that is true for any women in the world.

Moreover, the father of Simran is depicted as the villain in the movie and he becomes the authority figure to pay high respect for traditional values and always hesitates to allow his daughter to travel to Europe. With this point, you can understand how he would respond to her giving up her own marriage to tie the knot with another man.

To cherish their family values, Simran and Raj are forced to hide their loving relationship and rather than run away together, the duo tries to win the blessing of the elders’. Whenever Raj makes an effort to win the approval of a family member - regardless of it is his mom, sister, or other relative presents - every successful interaction is like a great victory to the love of this young couple.

All in all, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge shows all classic ingredients that belong to the quintessence of the Bollywood industry. However, it is hard to watch such a film with a myriad of things right like it.

Now, you can see the movie whenever you want as it’s available on Amazon Video, Netflix, and DVD.