20 Years of Dil Se: Why Shah Rukh-Manisha-Preity starrer is remembered for its songs

By Vandana Srivastawa

on August 21, 2018

Mani Ratnam’s film Dil Se starring Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala and Preity Zinta celebrates 20 years today. The film was based on the insurgency that prevailed in North East India and was the third film in Ratnam’s ‘terror trilogy’ series after Roja and Bombay. The film had a controversial subject and depicted the Armed Forces in not so positive picture. However, what the film is remembered today is by its extremely melodious songs, their picturizations and the unusual pairing of Shah Rukh and Manisha. Dil Se was the debut film of Preity Zinta and also brought Malaika Arora into the limelight because of her dance number Chaiyya Chaiyya.

Dil Se saw Shah Rukh as a young All India Radio (AIR) operator who gets enamored by Manisha but constantly gets rebuffed by her. However, he continues to try his luck and even follows her to Ladakh and sparks fly. However, Manisha disappears before she further falls for him in the film. Thinking that he will never be able to get her, Shah Rukh’s character settles for marriage with Preeti (Preity Zinta). However, unknown to Shah Rukh, Manisha’s character is on a dangerous mission and the former knowingly and unknowingly gets embroiled in the sordid plans.

Dil Se’s music was given by ace maestro AR Rahman and this film is probably one of the best in his career. The album boasts of some iconic tracks that have stood the test of time and is still widely loved, recognized and listened to. Dil Se’s soundtrack boasted of Ae Ajnabi, Jiya Jale, Chaiyya Chaiyya, Satrangi Re all of them a masterpiece in their own right. There might have been many people in the country who have not seen the film but there would hardly by anyone who hasn’t heard the songs.

Chaiyya Chaiyya was shot atop a moving train and introduced to us that sexy siren Malaika Arora. Shah Rukh and Malaika’s chemistry peppered with Farah Khan’s dance steps and Gulzar and Rahman’s collaboration was pure gold and is still one of the most popular songs ever released. Jiya Jale Jaan Jale was rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and had Malayalam lyrics in between. The song launched Preity and became one of the landmark songs of her career, not to mention that Shah Rukh took off his shirt for the song much before Om Shanti Om’s Dard-e-Disco happened. Udit Narayan’s rendition of Ae Ajnabi is the go-to song of every forlorn lover.

Dil Se may have released 20 years ago but the film and its music is still fresh in the audience’s minds and it will definitely stay as fresh even 20 years down the lane.