Mini Review #137: Dil Chahta Hai (2001) (UNCUT PATREON EXCLUSIVE) (Patreon)

Thank you so much Red Dwarf for recommending this movie to me!!

A movie about love through the eyes of 3 different men, all friends, and their unique experiences and perspectives of love. The movie title translates to "The Heart Wants" which is a very apt title in my opinion as there are many instances of characters going against their heart only to realize that doing that was a mistake. Akash, the protagonist, probably had the biggest storyline of the 3 friends. He is the type of guy who doesn't believe in love and romance and for half the movie, he is very immature and pretty self centred. Then, he reunites with a woman in Australia where he starts to understand what love truly is. This storyline also had my favourite part of the film was was a scene in the Opera House. My goodness that scene was truly beautiful and made me believe in love (even though I already do it made me believe in love again). Sid, while maybe not having the brunt of the screen time, had the most interesting of stories as he starts to fall in love with a woman 15 years older than him with problems of her own. His storyline is really where the title shines as he knows she will never romantically love him back yet he still loves her. Sid has a great conversation with another woman on the beach near the start asking her why she is in love and her response, "Why, there is no why" was such a great summation of the feeling. Sameer's story was definitely the weakest of the three and felt the most generic but even then, his story featured a push back against arranged marriages. Overall, the movie was directed beautifully and had some fun songs but mostly contained a lot of heart and soul with many messages and emotions surrounding what love is to different people.