DIL HI DIL MEIN

No power knows love like the heart knows love
How does this happen? Why does this happen? When will all those know-alls tell us why all this happens when a man and a woman fall in love? Why does the heart beat faster than any machine in the world when two lovers meet? Why does the body glow in some strange light and warmth when two lovers meet? Why does the heart literally go mad when it realises its owner is madly, passionately, in love? The scientists and all those strange believers who believe that the heart is just another organ of the body made of flesh and nerves and arteries and veins which keep the heart beating and the ultimate organ which decides the moment when it wants to stop to bring death are heathens, men and women who are unfortunate beings who have never experienced the power, the magic, the miracle that love works and changes the heart into a home of love, a home where some of the most beautiful secrets of lovers and their love stories live. The heart of a lover proves that there is God, that there is goodness, that life is worth living. Only the heart knows what it is to be in love. Only the heart knows what trials and tribulations lovers have to live through. Only the heart knows what happens to a lover and a beloved when love matters, when lovers fails to live upto the high expectations of love. Only the heart knows the pain, the excruciating pain of love lost, of love losing out to all kind of evil forces who are forever looking for ways and means to come in the way of true lovers. Only the heart knows what sacrifices some of the greatest lovers have made, even given up their lives for love, only for love, because love inspired them to believe that life without love is no life, a life without meaning.

What is love? This little question has mystified poets and philosophers and prophets and they have failed miserably to find an answer because they have not loved. Only lovers, even ordinary men and women, but great lovers, can answer that question, only great lovers have the right to answer that question but lovers have no language, no words to explain what love is. They can only feel love. Only other hearts who have loved can feel love.

Sri Surya Movies’ Dil Hi Dil Mein, a film made by AM Rathnam, the young and ambitious filmmaker from the South, is one more attempt to know love, to know what the heart knows about love. The makers know of all the attempts that have been made to bring love alive but they have not given up. They have made loving efforts to glorify love, the only feeling that is forever, the only feeling that keeps the world going, the only feeling man will never give up as long as life lives. The attempt to find out more about love is made through a love story in today’s times, a modern-day internet love story. The love story revolves around the internet. Sonali Bendre and Kunal meet on the internet. Their meeting leads to a meeting of hearts. They fall in love. All is well till love is love, till love grows more and more mature, tender, a boon, a blessing. Till these lovers too like all true lovers face all kinds of trials and tribulations which arise and create various crises that cross their lives. True lovers live in a world of their own, governed by rules formed by the heart. Any interference of any kind disturbs them, creates problems, even destroys their love. Kunal and Sonali too face problems. They belong to two different communities. That’s their crime. That’s been the crime of some of the greatest lovers down the ages. Some have succeeded in overcoming them, some have failed. Vishal and Sonali succeed. True lovers always succeed. They have to because love gives them the power to protect love. Johnny Lever makes life easy for these lovers — a well-wisher of all true lovers Johnny is.

The film is produced by AM Rathnam who last made Hindustani with Kamal Haasan, Manisha Koirala and Urmila Matondkar. He says “I always wanted to make a love story which could be very different from the hundreds of love stories being made. I got this script which also impressed director Kathir and we decided to make a love story on a very ambitious scale, a scale which has to be seen to be believed. My film is a blend of the best of feelings and the best in the latest in technology. The music of the film is the creation of the genius of AR Rahman who has composed the lyrics of his favourite lyricist, Mehboob, which have been sung by Udit Narayan, Abhijeet, Kavita Krishnamoorthy and Remo Fernandes. The technical finesse comes naturally. I have PC Sriram as my cinematographer.”

Anupam Kher plays a major role and Rambha makes a special appearance.

Rathnam’s Dil Hi Dil Mein can teach a lesson or two to all those makers of love stories who are making the same old love stories for ages. Love, love stories and lovers will be thankful to Rathnam forever. That’s his greatest triumph and satisfaction.

By Ali Peter John