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MOVIE REVIEW: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

By Gitanjali Chak

October 2024

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

Starring: Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Ajay Devgn

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Music Director: Ismail Darbar

It’s been 25 years since Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic romance Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam hit the screens in 1999 and went on to become a blockbuster—the perfect time to analyze why this film still remains fresh and holds such a special place in the minds and hearts of its fans.

While a love triangle is nothing new for Bollywood, in the very able and artistic hands of Bhansali, it acquires a sublime quality. And when there is the luminous Aishwarya Rai, the endearing Salman Khan, and the intense Ajay Devgn as the lead trio, what you see and experience is nothing short of magical. Their chemistry ignites the screen, making this saga of love both tragic and beautiful.

The opulent sets, the stunning costumes, and the breathtaking cinematography transport viewers to another world, as does the music by Ismail Darbar. Songs like “Tadap Tadap Ke” and “Chand Chupa Badal” still enchant. The haunting title track sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy still gives goosebumps.

But it isn’t as if Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam met with no criticism. Some critics termed the theme regressive and even far-fetched. How could Nandini (Aishwarya Rai) suddenly forget Sameer (Salman Khan) and fall in love with her husband Vanraj (Ajay Devgn), they questioned. The film’s length was also an issue for some critics, but for most people in the audience, the emotional depth of this musical drama justified its run-time.

By the way, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam released internationally as Straight From The Heart.

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