Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Jab We Met, from the band Baaja Baaraat

Valentine’s Day might not be the best time to bring this up, but dear reader, I can’t think of any more memorable moments in recent Bollywood romances than the screen romances of the late 90s and early 2000s. would be difficult. Perhaps it’s the nostalgia reignited by the re-release of beloved classics such as: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenji (DDLJ1995) and Jab We Met (2007) in theaters this week as part of PVR’s Valentine Film Festival. Or maybe the Hindi film industry has offered better love stories in the past. There’s something about these old movies that stands the test of time, making them a refuge to turn to when you need a little escapist solace. What makes the romances in these movies so simple, powerful, and timeless?

From friends to lovers

‘Love is friendship’ declares Karan Johar’s directorial debut Kuchikuchi hota hai (1998) marked a sharp shift towards modernity in mainstream Hindi cinema. Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, Johar is about a couple who start out as high school friends. Only in the third act of the film do romantic feelings run through the film, with the gazebo sequence redefining the concept of seduction for at least his second generation of Bollywood lovers.

In a secluded corner, far from the children who anchor Rahul (Khan) and Anjali (Kajol) in their current reality. He is a widow and a single father. She is planning to get married, and her two friends take shelter from a sudden heavy rain. When Anjali tries to dry her hair, Rahul gets down on one knee and asks his girlfriend Anjali to dance. Amused, Anjali whispered, “I don’t need music.” Rahul smiles and plays the air piano. Kuchikuchi hota hai” theme song will fill the hearts of Azumaya and viewers. It’s a welcome nod to Hindi cinema’s decades-long tradition of song-and-dance sequences that throw realism to the wind, imagining a world where awkward silences are instead filled with music that makes you feel every emotion. I admire your drive.

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s an electric sensuality as Rahul pulls Anjali closer, leaves whispers of caresses on her neck, and casts smoldering glances at her while holding her wet red saree in his hands. Desire candidly burns in his eyes, and that moment when he looks straight into the camera and turns the audience into a stand-in for Anjali is better than all the passionate lip-locks we’ve seen in the past few years. It’s romantic.

kiss index

Mr. Imtiaz Ali Jab We Met (2007) is a little less chaste, but it is one of those films that used music and the relationship shared by Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan to bring to life their bouncing chemistry. The film is packed with charming little banter moments that show the audience how close Geet (Kareena) and Aditya (Shahid) are. Geet is with another man for most of the film, but that doesn’t stop her from gently flirting with Aditya early on. The song ‘Yeh Ishq Hai’ has a scene where Geet dances with the locals during a road trip to Manali. Aditya just looked at her, mesmerized by her exuberance and lost in his admiration for her. The music also enhanced the film’s climax, with Geet’s confession to Aditya accompanied by a euphoric orchestral symphony. “I’m going to listen to my heart now,” she told him, and her music soared. The kiss that followed, with toes curling and butterflies fluttering in the stomach, was an exciting novelty at the time, and still has the power to make you dreamy and sigh.

Kisses are a staple in Hindi films today, but few can match the intensity of Shruti (Anushka Sharma) and Bitto’s (Ranveer Singh) monumental first kiss. Band Baajaa Baaraat (2010). It happens at the end of a long night of celebration. Alone and tipsy in a small office in Delhi. In a clumsy but determined effort to keep the party going, the two dance as hard as they can, fighting exhaustion as “Bachna Ae Haseeno” plays in the background, eventually collapsing on top of each other. Bittu puts his arms around Shruti and hugs her lovingly. The camera watches them, holding their breath, recording the change in atmosphere from camaraderie to passion. The moment their lips finally touched, a gentle piano sound rang out. As the intensity of the kiss increases, so does the score, creating the most romantic one-night stand ever.

Please give me more of this

Each of the three films reflects the prevailing ideals of the time they were made, while at the same time feeling refreshingly original.characters of Kuchikuchi hota hai Burdened by societal pressures and traditional notions of marriage, at that moment when the rain creates a dreamlike liminal space where they are alone in the world, their love is transgressive. It feels like. Geet and Aditya play on the traditional romantic comedy trope of opposites attracting each other, but the film shows them genuinely enjoying each other’s company. Even though Aditya thinks that her love for him has no chance of being reciprocated, she does not expect anything in return and she always cares for Geet. “I really like you,” he confesses. “But that’s my problem. There’s nothing to worry about.” Band Baajaa Baaraat ” was released, the depiction of premarital sex was still an unusual choice for a mainstream Hindi film, but the film passed no moral judgment on either Shruti or Bittu.

As viewers, these movies gave us dreams and vicarious pleasures. There is no better world to escape to, where love is the most powerful force and where you are seen and loved for who you are. No wonder these age-old romances continue to resonate with Indian audiences. We hope that Bollywood can take a cue from its past and add to this glorious tradition by giving us some epic and hilarious love stories.