Five Hundred Not Out

That a clean love story's appeal transcends all limits of time is proved yet again by 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge'(1995) completing, on May 13 2005, five hundred shows over a period close to ten years at the 'Maratha Mandir', Mumbai. Three cheers to the makers, 'Yashraj Films' who created this saga on their platinum jubilee as their tribute to cine-lovers. Aditya Chopra struck gold on his directorial debut, proving to be the worthy successor of his father, Bollywood love lord, Yash Chopra. The movie's catchline, 'Come...fall in love', striking in its everyday simplicity, epitomised the movie's appeal and the magic it created continues to touch every human soul. Can we, like Simran, the movie's female lead, ever forget the lilting tunes of 'Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana, sanam' played on mandoline by the male protagonist, Raj? The music reverberates as the movie recreates history.