Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

A Movie That Defined A Globalized Generation

Diwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ)  is a Bollywood movie that was released in October 1995. The general plot is of a man and woman who live abroad in London and end up taking a trip around Europe before they move on with their lives: the heroine to her marriage to man she's never met and the hero waiting for the next big adventure in his life. DDLJ recently hit a milestone for completing a 20 year run at a theater in Mumbai -- the longest running film in the history of Indian cinema. What makes it the still worthy of playing two decades later since its release?

A still from DDLJ

This post entitled, "The Magic of DDLJ" sheds some light as to why the movie is still so popular today. One of the biggest reasons that stood out was perfectly explained by the author:

It is not easy being a Non Resident Indian or Person of Indian Origin. Whether you are the tenth generation abroad or fresh of the boat, you are perpetually trapped between two worlds; never belonging anywhere completely. It is easy to understand why it is difficult to fit into a whole new country and culture... It has always been popular to show NRIs/PIOs as out of touch with Indian culture and values. Even today Indians assimilated into western countries are often depicted as being morally and culturally inferior.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge changed that by narrating a story revolving around the lives and perspectives of NRIs. The film didn’t just depict NRIs, but made great effort to show diversity amidst NRIs as well... 

In Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, neither way is right or wrong, neither way is superior or inferior. It emphasizes that being Indian is a state of mind, an affiliation of the heart and is not reflected by clothing or lifestyle. It showed that assimilation in a foreign culture does not mean abandoning everything Indian or being out of touch with Indian values. It presented a best of both worlds scenario where it is possible to be British or American as well as be Indian at the same time. It encouraged balancing Indian culture with foreign culture instead of pitting them against each other as rivals.

 Here is a clip of a famous scene from the movie where the hero declares his love for the heroine,

Facebook Vs. Blogs

This is an interesting article which gives insight into the differences of Facebook or a blogging for a business. Overall, the point Andrea Miller seems to make is that a quality blog may outdo a Facebook page.

 Facebook Versus Blogging

In the case of a mega million dollar industry such as Bollywood, keeping Facebook pages for major movie companies such as Sony and Yash Raj Films is the easiest way to connect viewers to the latest happenings on the scene. But one way to make a unique and personalized experience for fans and viewers is to maintain a quality blog. Perhaps a behind the scenes blog following an actor or crew member may actually be more of a personal connection for the viewer. This may be a better way to promote upcoming films and movie soundtracks. Like Miller states,the more popular Facebook becomes, the less likely your audience is to see your posts.

Either way, a die hard fan will engage on any platform you choose to use. Why not make it more meaningful for the user?

Welcome to Bollywood!

Welcome to my blog! This blog is designed for a beginner to get a taste of the Bollywood industry, from music to movies and everything in between! To start off here is a great article to get a general understanding of what "Bollywood" means:

INTRODUCTION TO BOLLYWOOD

Feel free to browse and get ready to enjoy and learn! You can find a playlist of songs at the bottom of the page.