Dil Hai Tumhaara

After having a successful turn with Kya Kehna, Kundan Shah and Preity Zinta reunite for another picture that revolves entirely around her. This is a film that has it all: comedy, drama, emotions, romance and values. It is portrayed quite well all through, but it certainly wouldn't have worked if not for Preity Zinta. Don't know what it is about her. Watching her on-screen is a refreshing, encouraging experience. Her bright smile, her easy charm, her strong and natural screen presence, and her real-life happiness that translates so naturally onto the screen, all make you believe that life is beautiful. Even when she's sad and you see tears in her expressive eyes which naturally sadden you as well, you cannot but feel optimistic. She switches sorrow with happiness quickly yet convincingly. This is not just the beautiful character she's got, it's Preity herself. Not once has she been called a bubbly and vivacious actress. Her ability to inject even the saddest of characters with her natural zest is unique and commendable. Not many actors can do it, but Preity can.

Preity plays Shalu, a girl who is the product of her father's extramarital affair, and who was adapted by her father's wife (Rekha) after his death. Unaware of her identity, she often wonders why her mother does not show even remote affection for her while clearly doing so towards her sister Nimmi (Mahima). Yet, her love for both her mother and her beloved sister is immense and unconditional. As a matter of fact, the bonding and camaraderie between Shalu and Nimmi is one of the most beautifully portrayed sibling relationships and rarely done so convincingly in mainstream films. Shalu never for one moment begrudges her sister for being their mother's preferred child. On the contrary, she is presented as that happy-go-lucky girl who is full of life no matter what. While troubled by her mother's cold and aloof attitude, she does not spend time crying for all ill fate; she fights for her happiness and makes her best to prove her worth. Later in the film, her ability to sacrifice her own happiness for her sister and family brings a new dimension to her, and while it could have made any other actress look cheap and pretentious, Preity is compelling and moving.

Shalu is a very simple yet extremely memorable role, and she's unlike any leading lady you've seen in Hindi movies. She is very much a real person, who wears regular everyday clothes (western but not in the glamorous or vulgar sense, as one would imagine), rides a bicycle, slides down the staircase banister, confronts her mother's political rivals, has absolutely no qualms about lying when applying for a new job or trying to get what she wants, and sometimes even likes to play pranks on strangers. Indeed, a character archetype that would be considered too racy or even unseemly for leading ladies just a few years back. But here there's no contradiction between Shalu's independent nature and her commitment to her family. Shalu, if you like, is your girl-next-door, but not the naive one; she is a young, strong woman who knows her mind but has her values intact. Preity integrates her boyish charm into Shalu's mini-negative shades, providing some moments of light, comic relief, as in the scene where she misleads Arjun Rampal's character on his way to the company, or the ones where she mistreats him ("Hey Driver! Ksh! Ksh!"). Even the early sequence where she feeds her mother's political rivals a peppered pastry (by the way, the instance when they have smoke coming out of their ears is redundant and annoyingly embarrassing) is entertaining.

Rekha is known as one of the greatest actresses, no doubt, and she is restrained and dignified here, but like the beautiful and talented Mahima Chaudhary, she suffers from quite an underwritten role. Mahima, whose mesmerising, impossible beauty is really a work of heavenly art, is lovely and radiant in her part as the kind Nimmi who totally matches her sister's selfless love. Generally speaking, both Rekha and Mahima do really well with whatever little the script gives them, and even the guys, Arjun Rampal and Jimmy Shergill, are competent, but at the end of the day all four of them are merely the background for Miss Preity Zinta. Preity may not be as beautiful as the other ladies; she is neither as dramatically accomplished as Rekha nor as attractive as Mahima, but it's her film all the way, and it never feels wrong that she is the centre of attention. She makes the best of this author-backed role, playing it with spontaneity, energy, depth and sincerity, and, in turn, making Shalu authentic, charming and very easy to relate to. Actually it just never feels like acting, this performance is just real and completely unaffected throughout, and towards the end she really outdoes herself in a couple of hard-hitting scenes. It's hard to imagine anyone else playing the role of Shalu, and while sadly it never got the amount of notice it deserves to begin with, I have no doubt it has won many hearts and will continue to do so.

Dil Hai Tumhaara is not a great film but it is a heartwarming family drama which was made in the most traditional way. Fans of mainstream Hindi films will love it. The last few scenes become increasingly and typically emotional, but they are moving enough and effectively bring to a positive ending. You just feel its profound, unrestrained Hindi film style all over, but it works. All the songs, without exception, are melodious and beautiful. Among my favourites, "Mohabbat" is catchy and exhilarating, "Chayya Hai Jo Dil" is beautifully sensuous, "O Sahiba" is poignant, but it is "Dil Laga Liya" which provides the best and most moving moments of the film. The songs are actually very well pictured on-screen, some of them even carry the narrative forward, and all of them are consistently used to showcase Zinta's star quality and her different states throughout the story. Indeed, Zinta is the main and perhaps only reason to watch this film, and if you ask me, it is reason enough.

It starts off with a mother-stepdaughter conflict. Rekha cannot come to terms that her husband had a mistress and a daughter through her. Circumstances force Rekha to shoulder the responsibility of bringing up the daughter (Preity Zinta). Her own daughter (Mahima Chaudhry) takes to her stepsister immediately. Meanwhile, Rekha just gives her stepdaughter the cold shoulder.

That fact established, Shah plunges into the romantic angle. Shalu (Preity) and Dev (Arjun Rampal) are in love with each other. Trouble is, Nimmi (Mahima) loves him, too. More, Sameer (Jimmy Shergill) loves Shalu.

While you are still unravelling that one, Shah introduces the villains hatching some complex schemes. Mittal (Govind Namdeo) wants to become the mayor of Palanpur, Himachal Pradesh (where the story is based). The only way he can become one is to overthrow the current mayor Rekha.

With so many sub-events to tackle, no wonder Shah loses his grip and ends the film in a hurry. That is offered thus: a woman who sees her husband's betrayal every time she sees her stepchild, has an abrupt change of heart after 22 years. No valid reason given for that change of heart. A teary speech is all it takes.

All the characters, except Preity, who enjoys an author-backed role, are half-baked. Rekha, as the mayor, is never shown at work. The entire film sees her tackling only one problem --- the price of apples! Also, her house in the small town of Palanpur appears to be a mansion that has a transparent floor with water flowing underneath! Like her last film, Raj Kumar Santoshi's Lajja, Rekha's performance is top class. For the first time, she appears as a screen mother to two contemporary actresses. She looks gorgeous in the beginning of the film as a young mother. Later, she takes up the mature role of an elderly woman with dignity.

Preity is superb. Her last film with Kundan Shah, Kya Kehna!, won many accolades for her performance. Her spontaneous smile lights up the screen. As the neglected child, Preity does not spend her time crying and wallowing. Due credit for this should go to Shah. Preity is presented as the bubbly, vivacious girl, with a sensitive heart.

Though you wonder: given how close she is to her sister, why does she not breathe a word to her about her love life? Mahima looks great and dances well, and does justice to her role as the prim and proper girl who loves her younger sister to death. Here, Shah ought to have concentrated on her a little more and given depth to her role.

Arjun Rampal catwalks into the role with his easy smile and not-so-natural acting. Thankfully, he has no emotional scenes to tackle. His character raises a lot of questions. One: why does he allow himself to be pushed into marrying Mahima without a whimper? Jimmy Shergill as Preity's childhood friend has scant screen time. His skill as a ventriloquist is questionable. His puppet seems to have a life of its own, even talking at the same time as Jimmy. Once, the puppet is shown sitting away from Jimmy, and manages to talk and move its hands.

Shah doesn't seem to have paid attention to detail. While he establishes that Arjun comes to Palanpur from Delhi (at least six hours by car), there is a scene shown when Arjun gets some pastries smeared over his tie and shirt and wants to go home to change. He is shown changing his shirt at his Delhi home! A bit absurd? At one time Preity is afraid to go to Delhi alone from Palanpur and drags Arjun along. The second time, she simply runs out at night alone. Shah simply seems to have forgotten that Arjun's house is in Delhi, not Palanpur.

Preity and Arjun's office in small town Palanpur is shown as a modern designer office. Strange for an office that is incurring heavy losses and is on the verge of closing down.

Watch Dil Hai Tumhaara if you happen to be a Preity fan. And if you want to be treated to the rare opportunity to watch Bollywood diva Rekha.

Dil Hai Tumhaara is one of those films that tugs at your heartstrings with its emotional storyline and well-delivered performances. It may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but there's no denying the sincerity of its lead actors. Preity Zinta shines as Shalu, bringing a lot of charm and depth to her character. Her portrayal of a carefree, yet wounded young woman trying to find her place in a family dynamic that's complex and often cold, is easily one of the best things about the film. Mahima Chaudhry as Nimmi also delivers a solid performance, and Arjun Rampal and Jimmy Sheirgill round out the cast with decent portrayals, giving us moments that feel genuine and heartfelt.

What really works for Dil Hai Tumhaara is its focus on familial bonds and relationships. The mother-daughter tension between Preity Zinta's Shalu and Rekha's character offers some of the film's most compelling and emotional moments. There's a certain warmth and sincerity in the way the film explores these connections, which is why, despite its flaws, it manages to leave a lasting impression on a personal level.

However, where the film falters is in its length and pacing. At just over three hours, Dil Hai Tumhaara tends to drag, especially in the second half. There are moments where you feel the story could have been tightened up, as some scenes feel unnecessarily stretched. The film's melodramatic tone doesn't help either. While emotional, some of the more dramatic moments come off as overblown, and after a while, it starts to feel repetitive. The movie leans heavily into sentimentality, which, although fitting in places, begins to feel a bit overdone by the end.

Another aspect that weakens the film is its predictability. The love triangle between Shalu, Dev (Arjun Rampal), and Nimmi feels formulaic and doesn't really bring anything new to the table. While the performances keep things afloat, the storyline doesn't have the same spark as the emotional family narrative, making it feel like a distraction from the film's more meaningful core.

Visually, the film does well. The locations are beautiful, and the cinematography, while standard for Bollywood films of this era, complements the tone of the movie. The songs are a mix of catchy and emotional, with "Dil Laga Liya" and "Chayya Hai Jo Dil Pe" standing out as memorable tracks. Yet, like the film, the soundtrack too feels a bit overstuffed, contributing to the already lengthy runtime.

In the end, Dil Hai Tumhaara is a mixed bag. It's a film with heart, carried by strong performances and a solid exploration of family relationships, but it's bogged down by its melodramatic excess and unnecessarily long runtime. If you're a fan of emotionally charged dramas with a flair for the sentimental, there's a lot here that you might enjoy. Just be prepared for a story that takes its time-and sometimes a little too much time-to unfold.

I haven't watched this film for years and I saw it again last night while I was flicking. Apart from the annoying puppet which moves even when the ventriloquist doesn't have his hand shoved up it's behind this is an entirely watchable movie thanks to its lilting melodies and it's core performances. Preity Zinta's star was on the rise then and she does an amazing job carrying the film on her shoulders looks gorgeous besides. Rekha is stellar and Mahima lovely despite a grossly undercooked part. The men don't have much to do which is fine (and refreshing) and despite being woefully regressive in parts I thoroughly enjoyed this rewatch. They don't make actresses like these 3 anymore that's for sure.

Saritaji (Rekha) is a widowed wife and lives with her stepdaughter Shalu (Priety Zinta)and her real daughter Nimmi (Mahima Chaudry).Rekhas affection for Mahima Chaudry is hate for Priety Zinta because she is a stepdaughter.Mahima Chaudry and Priety Zinta are like real sisters and Mahima Chaudry feels sorry for Priety Zinta.Shalu finds friendship and affection in Samir (Jimmy Shergill), a smalltime ventriloquist who seems to understand her better than anyone else does.When both of them fall in love with the same guy Dev Khanna (Arjan Rampal)Mahima Chaudry sacrifices her love and she starts liking Sameer and everyone is happy.

This film is a great film and one of the best that was released in 2002.