Cinema
they say is a reflection of society
but more than that, I think cinema becomes memorable and reflection itself when
it leaves references for everyday life for not just some but an entire
generation. In clinical terms (pun intended) we can call it the collective
memory syndrome.
To help assist my readers I must explain the
dictionary or literal meaning of that term. Collective memory
refers to the shared pool of information held in the memories of two or more
members of a group. Every time someone says ‘ kitne addmi the’ the average mind jumps
to the same interpretation and response that is if they are part of the
specific group that share that collective memory.
To
my through delight, a film that created a common pool of references in my youth
about love, commitment, nationhood as well a European escapade was DDLJ. (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge ..Precisely
for readers beyond the group! Because everyone else will know what I mean!)
As
DDLJ celebrates its 1000 weeks in the main corridors of Mumbai, I think of the
many occasions when filmmakers tested my referencing of the many moments of
DDLJ which have become a part of collective memory for the average Bollywood
spectator.
The
first visuals that come back to you are that of the train, the extending of the
hand and the girl running towards it. I immediately come back to Chennai
express and even Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwani when Bunny and Naina interact.
Dilwale Dulhania
Le Jayenge released in 1995 and definition of love was never the same again to a
generation of young urban Indians. From serene picturesque locales to a tale of
epic romance, DDLJ narrated a fantasy that many Indian if had not experienced
would be glad to ride through. Raj and Simran became cult characters and so did
their iconic romance.
Soon
after, people started to dream of having their own Raj(s) and Simran(s) in
their life. Reference Bachna e haseeno where Ranbir gets a
share of RAJ’s fame by recreating the entire sequence for his on screen
interest Mahi.
It is fascinating how audiences still connect
to those images of DDLJ and extremely depressing when filmmakers bank of the
collective memory in a non-creative kind of way.
A classic case is the film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania released in
2014 that not only shares similar title but also rehashes the entire premise of
DDLJ. This film is a classic example of what a director should not attempt to
do: bank all creativity to the imagination of the viewer alone and abdicate the
responsibility to create probably another reference for epic romance in a
different setting.
By the end of the film, one is left wondering
on why one has gone through a surreal nauseating journey of DDLJ lest one loses
the utopian touch of romance.
In any case DDLJ will remain one of the most
talked about film for a long time. The celebrations are well deserved and one
wonders what is the equivalent of the film for youngsters today..the so called
GEN Y with all the gadgetry and machines which surround and influence their
communication.
Wonder if they ever feel like saying ‘PALAT’!
and Only my peers would know the subtext when I say “ jaa simran , jee le apni
jindagi”!
1000
weeks and about two decades later, the film is still fresh in the collective
memory of the genuine Bollywood audience.
(you can also view this write up on LOKMARG.IN )
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