Dil Se.. (1998)

The main highlight of the movie was no doubt the sound of the movie, if you watch this movie in digital dolby, you wont find a better sounding Hindi movie ever.

The characters are very real, with the background of the sets very real, nothing filmy about it. The movie has a distinct aura, since the love story is running in background, with the viewer glued to unfolding mystery about the heroine(manisha koirala). She exude vulnerability, revengeful, and the docile of the commoner. She fits the role to the T. So can be said about shahrukh khan(best movie ever, after Kabhi Haa Kabhi naa). Shahrukh walks effortlessly through the role, being very real in the depiction. So are all other characters in the movie.

Choreography cannot be even better. All songs have certain magic, new, innovative, very impressive and music mind boggling.

Highly recommended by me, see and listen in digital dolby sound system, this is the best sounding movie ever.

Fmovies: "Dil Se" is easily the most cerebral film churned out by commercial Indian cinema in the last decade. It is not presented as a separatist polemic, nor should it be considered as such (as a lot of myopic viewers have done). Nor is it a film about terrorism. It is essentially a love story told against the backdrop of terrorism. Mani Ratnam is at his best, producing what can only be called surreal realism. Many of you may have forgotten, but once upon a time Shah Rukh Khan was a good actor, and this is easily one of his best performances. Preity Zinta is the only glimmer of relief in this heavy handed tale of darkness and despair. This was also her first film. Rahman's songs are his career best, each of the six tracks more replendent than the last. Above all, however, Dil Se belongs to the luminously gifted Manisha Koirala, who delivers a crushing and skinless portrayal of a reluctant avenger. In a role of almost no dialogue, she speaks volumes through her reticent glances and a body language that is burdened by sorrow. It is a sin that such dramatically gifted actresses like Manisha, Tabu, Juhi, Nandita Das, etc. are relegated to competing for potboiler non-roles that crown glamorous dance queens like Aishwariya, Amisha, Madhuri and ilk the top of the heap. India has great actors- the film industry just doesn't know how to utilize them.

This movie is close to my heart. It stands out as one of a kind to me in the world of Bollywood cinema, which is usually frivolous and contrived. Every part of this movie was well-made, the music was used brilliantly and it was just emotionally very touching. The chemistry between Shahrukh and Manisha was subtle but definitely there. Manisha's acting in this difficult role was done superbly. It is surprising that many people disliked this movie because of the ending, as I think it was beautifully portrayed. My favorite movie of all time- I would recommend this movie to anyone who is a hopeless romantic like myself and would do anything for love.

Dil Se.. fmovies. "Dil Se" is poetry. Although it is a Mani Ratnam film, the hand of Santosh Sivan is all over it, especially in the music videos. Sivan's artistry and Ratnam's genius, when combined with the sizeable dramatic talent of Shahrukh Khan and an amazing soundtrack by A. R. Rehman, is almost perfect. Even Manisha Koirala is good! Preity Zinta also stands out in a smaller role as SRK's reluctant fiancee. This is not your typical Bollywood film, and this showed at the box office, but that's not a bad thing. This film shows more artistry, more integrity, and more "dil" (heart) than most recent offerings from both the east and the west. "Dil Se" is a really great film.

This is a haunting film. Everyone raves about the music and cinematography (which of course are excellent), but I wanted to write about the often maligned plot. After seeing Dil Se for the second time, it was easier to see how the seemingly irrational actions of the characters were a result of their life circumstances. I understood much better why Amar was compelled to pursue Meghna; if you've ever been in love with the wrong person, you'll understand too. Meghna is like many other damaged people I've known: capricious, confused, sometimes cruel to others, but in the end her own worst enemy. Both know that their paths are not supposed to join (and pay lip service to that fact), but find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. This is evident by Amar's reaction to seeing Meghna at his engagement, and again in Meghna's attempts to convince herself to feel nothing but fiery patriotism. It is this relentless attraction that forces the shattering scene at the end of the movie--there is no other way for them to be together. This is a very thought-provoking movie, but it does require you to think--not the sort of thing to watch mindlessly while munching on popcorn. It will move you to your core, if you let it.

The problem with Hindi cinema is its very strong formalistic framework where it has to fit in. It must pass the censors, must be made for a billion of mostly analphabets and must contain a great number of song and dance scenes. Mani Ratnam is one (and only?) director who constantly extents this genre to embrace the producers, the popular audience and the critical and political aware intellectuals with his strong political claims ("Roja", "Bombay"). This one now beats it all and everybody (in India) talked about it. Such an end was not seen before in Hindi cinema, and all fits perfectly well (despite to what some other critics said). And it works even if you know the end before (which most do).

It's my current favorite. Technically superb, very sophisticated content, big fun and emotions. An american version would have been a typical political thriller about an unlucky love to a female terrorist, but Mani Ratnam gives us 300%. Not just the Indian Spielberg or Tsui Hark, this is more. Go for it.