An afternoon watchalong! Radical! And Dil To Pagal Hai, a movie I find dull, but SRK is charming and the songs are okay, so I will survive.
Dil To Pagal Hai
It’s on Prime, and available for rent at all the places. My second least favorite Madhuri-SRK collaberation (Koyla, Anjaam, Gaja Gamini, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Dil To Pagal Hai, Devdas), but undeniably a hit and important in the great Shahrukh Khan story.
At 4pm Chicago time, I will put up an “And PLAY!” comment and then we will all comment along from there.
dontcallitbollywood 
I’ve wanted to throw a rock at God from time to time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lake scene!!! I’m gonna get my heart wrecked here 😭😭😭 Karisma was so good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never seen Cocktail but now I kind of want to watch it because I know it is a similar plot and the “Nisha” character once again got all the acting accolades because playing the rejected leg of the triangle as a good friend and upstanding person is really really hard.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have not seen it either… does it have ranbir? I hate him
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saif, Deepika, and an actor who gets the man but not the acclaim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bingo! Although I’ve liked her in the stuff she’s done since then. Diana Penty I mean.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe another watchalong though i can’t do 5 am usually so I’ll read comments!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same! No, it’s Saif and Deepika and Diana Penty. Saif is Dips’ boyfriend in a casual way and Diana Penty is her more traditional friend and then blah blah happens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not a great Saif movie but he also doesn’t get in the way of the ladies, who are the point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s pretty enjoyable! And forgiving of lesbian readings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This communicating via cassettes was such a movie thing, not common at all in India back then at least from what I saw
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember in late ’90s it wasn’t uncommon for people to use cassette recordings in businesses–kind of like a voice memo to pass from office to office when you didn’t have time to write a real memo. But I never saw anybody using them in daily life. Mixtapes, however. . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes mix tapes so much!!!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is hard for me to grasp because I type faster than I talk (thus all the typos), and read faster than other people talk. So to me voice memos in business would be SUCH a waste of time. But then I also don’t get the appeal of all the talking heads on Tik Toc that the rest of the world goes gaga for. In general I hate listening to things, and would rather read them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The secret is to have a person like you as a secretary ( ; I think half of my grandmother’s day used to be typing up either recorded voice memos or dictation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a bad organizer, but good at analysis.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh, Madhuri’s character comes off even worse in contrast with what we just saw from Karisma. She was fearless and honest and trying to be fair to everyone’s own personal truth. And now Madhuri is trying to do the same but will FAIL because she is a COWARD.
LikeLiked by 2 people
SHe is such a coward in this movie. The final stage scene killed me, I lost all respect for her and actually wanted her to get together with Akshay because at least he understood her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
She is playing the part that will bring old fashioned Indian audience to cinema and keep them there. It is a commercial decision. Coz if she wouldn’t, they would not LIKE her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Almost that she has to look after everyone else’s feelings first otherwise she is not a good Indian woman.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This kind of self sacrifice takes the kind of strength that is the only thing Indian culture values women for. How much they can sacrifice their happiness for others / larger good etc etc
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it weird he calls Mommy but not her?
Not in India at that time but it is still PUKE.
LikeLiked by 2 people
For the sake of verisimilitude, baby Akshay also has helmet hair.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Literally Lol’d
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like how both the sequences where SRK and Madhuri have to talk to the people who have romantic feelings for them that they cannot return, who they love *platonically*, are sequenced in tandem.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Remember this plot in Dil Chahta Hai? I really like how they handle it there. Preity’s enormous survivor guilt and crushing weight of life debt. And the immediate response of her foster parents wanting to talk about how she doesn’t “owe” them anything and being very distressed about her relationship to them over the whole “I got engaged to your son because I thought it would make you happy” issue. I don’t think this movie ever really takes the second step of saying “actually, Farida wouldn’t be happy if you married Akshay, not if you didn’t love him”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
She was not doing it for Farida, she wanted approval from Akshay so it is slightly different. Akshay and her decided and he told parents. So parents came in late.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that Karisma sees this, Madhuri’s wedding announcment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
ANd she grabs his hand, she is such a good character! Even if she can’t dance as well as I would like.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Passive. She’s passive. That’s what bothers me. And Naina is totally right, it is an “Indian woman” virtue. But it’s INFURIATING!!!! Nisha takes control of her destiny and responsibility for her decisions good or bad. Madhuri is all “gee, what to do? Farida is saying this, Akshay is saying this, earlier uncle told me to be in this show, I am just an object to be shoved across the gameboard of life”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nisha has parents who live in London likely progressive. Pooja – traumatized motherless child grew up constantly pleasing others… IMO it is consistent with wat they have shown. Not that it is not frustrating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Back to Dil Chahta Hai for a second! I thought it was such a smart character touch for Preity’s uncle, her only biological relative, to come and support Aamir. Acknowledging that Preity needed that sense of belonging and having a right to someone by birth before she would be brave enough to make a move.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it was fab!!! And in this case Madhuri had noone else. Imagine if it was deciding to marry SRK means she will lose the only family she had ever known… I know from personal experience that can be a VERY VERY hard decision.
LikeLiked by 2 people
He would need to seek husband’s permission to meet her… patriarchy continues to reinforce itself. Two men discussing giving her permission. Nobody asking her what she wants.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A question on this ideal of womanhood – But Kajol was such a huge star, and even in her submissive roles, she is always fighting for what she wants. So Kajol is NOT the Indian ideal of womanhood, and yet she is adored all the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kajol is a different generation of movie star than Madhuri. Madhuri’s fans are used to seeing her as the one with the highest virtue. See all her movies
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is that why she always seems so matronly?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Possibly
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like in hahk agreeing to marry her brother in law
LikeLiked by 1 person
It might also be a little more important for Madhuri because she is sooooooo sexualized. It’s this odd combo of The Perfect Saintly Indian Woman and also Sexiest Dancer Ever.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The sexy mom lady. I guess everyone really wanted to MAKE her a mom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In “didi tera dewar deewana” there was a whole “sexy pregnant Madhuri” thing! So, yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah… almost Goddess-like. She doesn’t make selfish human decisions 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m kinda also remembering how important Saroj was to that conceptualization of Madhuri. Because Madhuri herself was such a fantastic dancer, and Saroj often liked to combine an innocent face juxtaposing with a sexy body (I remember her saying something to the effect once about how for certain dances you should let the “body” do the (implied: sexually charged) talking, but your expressions should showcase perfect innocence. And Madhuri often embodied that esp in the work she did with Saroj.
LikeLike
She was not really a coward, she tried to talk to him many times. She just wasn’t going to have that out in public on the stage.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will watch for these talking tries now.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was really frustrated with SRK continuously dismissing her. So common from how men behave in India and then having a big tantrum later. IMO she isn’t the coward but he isn’t switched on / attuned to her… disregarding her
LikeLiked by 2 people
She isn’t like him… she won’t raise his voice. So many Indian homes, women aren’t allowed to speak UP
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh oh! Another movie that did this better! KKHH! Kajol WAS in charge of her own life, that was the problem, she made all the decisions in the Salman engagement which made it that much harder to go back on what she had decided. Although in that one it is SRK who is the cowardly passive wimp afraid to talk.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ok Akshay that’s one of the weirdest way to intro yourself to people at your fiancee’s work and invite them to your wedding.
LikeLike
Very usual for India… almost rude to not say it while mentioning your wedding
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a trope of movies about performers and I love it: a song that used to be private and heartfelt becomes something you don’t really believe in anymore but have to keep performing for an audience.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Durng the performance Karisma looks both scared of and scared for SRK, but then she knows his unpredictable streak during performances.
LikeLiked by 2 people
MORE overalls. What have we done to deserve this?
LikeLiked by 2 people
The red outfit in this Arre re arre is good!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t want Karisma and SRK to fall in love after this movie is over, but I kind of want them to become roommates and star in a sitcom. Wouldn’t this be a great extended pilot episode? She loved him and had her heart broken, he loved someone else and had his heart broken, they are still best friends? And maybe they have a wacky landlord?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Monica and Rachel lol!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! If Monica was in love with Rachel.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The background dancers with the drums – I don’t like their black stockings
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, Karisma and Akshay are definitely the best characters in this drama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish we got to see a little more of Akshay, actually.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like Naina I do love the meta-ness of THEIR personal songs winding up in “performance” and getting too real for them…to the point where they have to move away just to get away from the bigness of it all.
LikeLiked by 2 people
In the cassette scene see when Akshay presses stop, it ejects. So it means it was not in “Play” mode. Another blooper!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe his finger slipped and he hit two buttons at once?
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the indian tape player – stop and eject are the same button so it can’t happen. He pressed it once and it should have stopped not ejected 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, Akshay! Should have let her talk a little earlier, but he’s being really nice now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He never says I love you too!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
But he did the big arms thing! It’s the same.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes yes I know… I like words
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah it is almost over. I will have to go back to watch the Madhuri sweaty dancing in the white again, and the children in the rain song that glitched out for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wait, so if Karisma and Akshay fall in love after having loved SRK and MAdhuri, that means the whole “one love, one soulmate” argument is FALSE. Also, has Indian film ever done a “we both want to break up this relationship so we pretend to be dating” storyline?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I think recently…???
ONE love ONE soulmate is false anyway… they like to sell this idea to Indians… most of whom live loveless lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is one thing I think KKHH did well, coz tho SRK did keep spouting the “one soulmate” line, the film itself was having him question him when he realizes he loves Kajol.
Nothing comes to mind yet for this scenario tho!
LikeLike
THANK YOU FOR THE WATCH A LONG Margaret and Naina. – Always remember, that the man who wrote “Someone somewhere is made for you” got married twice!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bwahahahahaha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And is apparently sleeping with Vaani Kapoor!! 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
WHAT!?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that’s the news on the internet…. Also that apparently he sleeps with new talent. And he encourages them to have plastic surgery…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems believable to me… but who knows?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, someone somewhere is made for me! That’s nice, I guess I should just hang out and wait for the universe to send the Perfect Person to me and if it isn’t fireworks and fate and amazingness, then it isn’t Perfect.
Or, I accept that this is a romantic fantasy written by someone who ended up getting a divorce a few years later.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hahaha lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, all! I hope this cheered you up a little, Naina. Please don’t hesitate to write if there is any help I can give.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so so much!!! I love this movie because of how I love SRK and Madhuri, songs and dance.
Thanks for enduring it for me Margaret!!!
Yes, it has been very helpful, I was looking forward to watchalong so much and talking about it with my favourite peeps!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yknow I’m now remembering the intro credits song “Ek Duje ke Vaaste” and how Aditya and his former wife were in that song as one of the “match made in heaven” couples and…that does hit very slightly different after they parted. Not in a super bad way…but def a bit of an irony.
LikeLike
Apparently it was edited out of the streaming version? I sped past it today so not sure
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad I got to catch the last hour of the film with you all! Hope you’re feeling better Naina!!
LikeLike
Thank you!!! Good to have you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Weekend WatchAlong: Dil To Pagal Hai! 4pm Chicago Time! Let’s Get DANCEY!!!! - MAHARASHTRA.online
I read all the comments again. So much fun!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am going to repeat my comment from a discussion post.
*In DTPH, Rahul and Pooja both had this desire for more in their life and their love satiated that desire. It was also the fact that both were extremely loyal to their friends and family to the point it was hurting them. The ending just showed me their acceptance that their families would love them no matter what their choices and they care more about them as people. DTPH could’ve easily been the prequel to KANK if there was not that change.*
To me from the start, I feel Yash Chopra’s direction overthrew Adi’s script of one true love blah blah. I viewed it from the start as SRK and Madhuri being really tied into the cultural norms and just living life as it was expected them too. They both wanted their love to be something they chose themselves which didn’t happen at the right moment. SRK reminds me of Fawad in Zindagi Gulzar Hai where everyone wants him to be married to Nisha or a Nisha-like girl and live life a certain way. I think his choice to fall in love with a girl like Madhuri is more his choice to live a way which is not expected of him. Madhuri’s choice is explained more in the film of course but I really understood Madhuri’s passiveness as I think it makes sense in an Indian context. She doesn’t want to lose the only family and her best friend because of her love so she feels this sacrifice is worth it.
LikeLike
I really wish we had gotten more background on Shahrukh’s character. We know Nisha’s family is in London, obviously we know everything about Madhuri’s background. But Shahrukh gives a strong vibe of selfmade man, can’t stop because he only has himself, etc. etc. etc. It would make it easier to understand him if we knew, for instance, that he came from poverty and was estranged from his family. And therefore resisted any connections in anything except work.
LikeLike
I think that’s where Yash Chopra’s direction came in for me atleast. I could just understand that through Shahrukh’s eyes and the way the scenes were performed I could just see that aspect. However I totally understand if others don’t see that aspect. Heck I feel the same way about Jab Harry Met Sejal, where I cannot see the movie in the same way you do even after your beautiful writing on the film. I think thats the beauty of films in a way is they affect us all so differently.
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekend WatchAlong: Dil To Pagal Hai! 4pm Chicago Time! Let’s Get DANCEY!!!! - News Hour 24/7