"Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (also known as "Straight From the Heart") is one of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's first films. At first, I also thought it was one of her weaker films but as the film progressed, I became a lot more fond of this film. It sneaks up on you--so stick with this one.
One silly thing about the movie I should mention before I get to the heart of the review. One of the main characters is supposed to be an Italian. They never say whether he's ethnically Indian but he obviously is--he just keeps saying he's Italian. This didn't strike me as that odd. However, when late in the film the setting changes to 'Italy', I laughed. The cities didn't look very Italian but if you look closely, the signs are all in Hungarian and the license plates on the cars are Hungarian. I can't understand why they just didn't say it was Hungary--the scenes were quite beautiful and it looks like a lovely country. So why say it's Italy?
The film begins with Sameer (Salman Khan) moving from his native 'Italy' to India to study singing under a great master. However, the master's beautiful daughter, Nandini (Bachchan), is angry as she has to give up her bedroom to some stranger. When she meets Sameer, she's pretty unfriendly towards him but you KNOW that sooner or later they'll fall in love--and it's no spoiler to say this will happen. You can tell because all the singing and dancing is about this growing love and by around midway through the film, Sameer is ready to ask Nandini's father for her hand. HOWEVER, the father is bent on marrying her off to a better family--a family of lawyers. However, Nandini and Sameer vow to one day marry regardless. Well, the vow is pretty hollow and soon Nandini is married to Vanraj (Ajay Devgn). And the new marriage is doomed from the start--as Nandini won't even touch her husband and wants nothing to do with him.
So far in the film, it's all VERY formulaic and I could have sworn I'd seen MANY other Indian films just like it--including a few of Buchchan's! This frustrated me, as the movie was a typically long (three hours plus) Indian picture and I didn't want to waste three hours on a film I'd already seen and knew what was going to happen. I am so glad I didn't stop watching, as the film changed dramatically after the midway point--and the plot got amazingly sweet. I would love to say more but won't--I really think you ought to try watching it for yourself. You won't be disappointed. Overall, a very lovely film that shows great depth in discussing true love--not just some infatuation like you often see in films.
One silly thing about the movie I should mention before I get to the heart of the review. One of the main characters is supposed to be an Italian. They never say whether he's ethnically Indian but he obviously is--he just keeps saying he's Italian. This didn't strike me as that odd. However, when late in the film the setting changes to 'Italy', I laughed. The cities didn't look very Italian but if you look closely, the signs are all in Hungarian and the license plates on the cars are Hungarian. I can't understand why they just didn't say it was Hungary--the scenes were quite beautiful and it looks like a lovely country. So why say it's Italy?
The film begins with Sameer (Salman Khan) moving from his native 'Italy' to India to study singing under a great master. However, the master's beautiful daughter, Nandini (Bachchan), is angry as she has to give up her bedroom to some stranger. When she meets Sameer, she's pretty unfriendly towards him but you KNOW that sooner or later they'll fall in love--and it's no spoiler to say this will happen. You can tell because all the singing and dancing is about this growing love and by around midway through the film, Sameer is ready to ask Nandini's father for her hand. HOWEVER, the father is bent on marrying her off to a better family--a family of lawyers. However, Nandini and Sameer vow to one day marry regardless. Well, the vow is pretty hollow and soon Nandini is married to Vanraj (Ajay Devgn). And the new marriage is doomed from the start--as Nandini won't even touch her husband and wants nothing to do with him.
So far in the film, it's all VERY formulaic and I could have sworn I'd seen MANY other Indian films just like it--including a few of Buchchan's! This frustrated me, as the movie was a typically long (three hours plus) Indian picture and I didn't want to waste three hours on a film I'd already seen and knew what was going to happen. I am so glad I didn't stop watching, as the film changed dramatically after the midway point--and the plot got amazingly sweet. I would love to say more but won't--I really think you ought to try watching it for yourself. You won't be disappointed. Overall, a very lovely film that shows great depth in discussing true love--not just some infatuation like you often see in films.