25 Years of Dil Chahtha Hai

Bollywood has gone to the gutters. I cannot recall the last time I was in a theatre to watch a Hindi language bollywood movie; it was probably 3 Idiots , back in 2009. Its surprising that despite being the industry that makes the worlds highest number of movies, the bulk of what is produced is essentially garbage. Is there a hope for something better ?

Well, 25 years ago , a movie did release, which gave us a glimpse of an alternative future. It made us think, made us cry, made us laugh. But mostly it made us dream. Despite being headlined by 3, top nepo-baby actors of the time, and being the directorial debut of another product of nepotism, it captured lightning in a bottle. Showed us that it is possible to create simple movie, with simple themes, without the need for flashy commercial ingredients.

That movie was Dil Chatha Hai.

A slice of life movie about three urban, rich , college graduate friends living in Bombay, this movie was a breath of fresh air (especially considering it took place in the city). While staying grounded in the reality of the time, it also poked fun at contemporary cinema by playing in a few cliches ( Woh Ladkee hain kahaan comes to mind). And it surprisingly avoided the overused cliche of the love-triangle in storytelling. It featured strong, independent women characters, making their own choices, and are never sexualised in the movie. There are scenes set in clubs and touristy Goa, but there are no scenes of alcohol or drug abuse.  And it did not have a big, bad bad-guy villain , a typical role in Indian cinema of the time. Instead the obstacle the characters have to overcome are their own egos.

So it is sad that director Farhan Akthar gave us this one gem, and went back to typical indian movies with the rest of his offerings. And although the industry later gave us further movies about friendships in the city, none of them would ever come close to the nuanced story telling that is seen in DCH.

Substantial parts of the second half of DCH was shot and set in Sydney, Australia. At the time, I had no idea that I would eventually move to the very places we glimpse in Akash's loneliness. The Sydney harbour bridge, many train stations.. Martin place.. it was fun retracing those places in the city.

But the most iconic of shots and places in DCH is the chapora fort, a place relatively unknown till that time, and is now the most famous landmark of Goa.  And who can forget Akash's famous hairstlye with the goatie ?

Thank you, Farhan and team, for giving us this glimpse. And , its been 25 years, time to make another one.