Over the years, the romance well in Bollywood has run dry. Viewers are now subjected to lacklustre, unoriginal and soulless lust stories with repetitive plots and dialogues, little to no character development, performances that are either way too hammy or just fall short of expectations, lead pairs that are often devoid of chemistry, and content which glorifies toxic and abusive relationships among the youth.
Many recent so-called Bollywood rom-coms tend to perpetuate the same patriarchal mindset of the ‘70s-‘80s movies, which also doesn’t sit right with me. Gone are the days when the female lead was as central to the romance and had as much of a role to play in the on-screen relationship as the male lead (now mainly played by the man, the myth and the legend Kartik Aryan who was once known for his versatility in bittersweet and meaningful romances such as “Akash Vaani,” but has since been typecast).
Nowadays, viewers are subjected to commercial schtick in which a screeching damsel in distress is almost always being objectified or treated as a brainless prop or eye candy. With time, the quality of mainstream Bollywood content has declined, and we’re lucky to be showered with a few feel-good romances and light-hearted rom-coms that come out once in a blue moon such as “Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan” (deals with the topic of homosexual relationships and gender norms in relationships), “Jawaani Jaaneman” (explores the difference between superficial love and true love as well as bonding) and some overlooked gems from indie experimental cinema.
Here are a few of my favourite timeless heart-tuggers which can make even the most stone-faced, cold-hearted person shed buckets of tears and begin to believe in the power of love (sorry for sounding so cheesy there!).
Caution: a lot of these movies came out in the early 2000s, which is still considered a golden era in the industry when both Bollywood mainstream and independent content flourished, so if you’re a Desi who grew up during this time period, beware of nostalgia overdose.
1. ‘Parineeta’ (aka ‘The Married Woman’) (2005)
“Parineeta” marked the debut of the supremely talented Vidya Balan as Lolita Roy, the young and strong-minded heroine of this movie adaptation of the 1914 Bengali novella by the same name. The movie is set in scenic Calcutta/Kolkata and revolves around the beautiful relationship between Lolita and her next-door neighbour, the brooding and aristocratic Shekhar played by the charismatic Saif Ali Khan, who like Balan fits his character like a glove. It follows the two childhood friends as they fall in and out of love amidst a property dispute and amidst threats from Shekhar’s misogynistic, land-grabbing father who meddles in their blossoming romance and slut-shames Lolita every chance he gets. The arrival of Girish (Sanjay Dutt), a possible suitor for Lolita, proves too much for Shekhar’s ego and begins to strain his friendship as well as romantic feelings towards Lolita.
The movie received praise for its noteworthy performances, the chemistry between its lead pairing, the manner in which each character (big or small) was introduced on-screen and lingered on the viewers’ minds, and an impeccable soundtrack as well as a nostalgia-inducing production design that made one crave for 1960s Kolkata. To me, this timeless romance is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece.
2. ‘Veer-Zaara’ (2004)
“Veer-Zaara” (helmed by the late and great Yash Chopra) remains one of the most timeless romances of the early 2000s and is still remembered for the heart-tugging chemistry between the powerful pairing of Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta, who were at the time at the peak of their careers. However, what sets this period piece apart from the rest is how it focuses on the taboo topic of inter-religious relationships.
The story follows Veer Pratap Singh (Sharukh Khan), a pilot in the Indian Air Force who falls for Zaara, a Pakistani Muslim. However, her jealous fiancé Razaa (Manoj Bajpayee) interferes and as a result, Veer lands in prison unjustly.
Their love story is far from over as many years later, a lawyer (Rani Mukherjee) comes to an aging Veer’s rescue and turns out that Zaara’s testimonial at his court hearing just might be able to not only prove his innocence in the court of law but also reunite the lovers.
A love story that spans generations and overcomes barriers, “Veer Zaara” is a must-watch for romance aficionados as well as die-hard Bollywood fans who crave for some quality content from the industry.
3. ‘Sweetheart’ (‘Jaan-E-Mann’) (2006)
While “Jaan-E-Maan” didn’t exactly set the cash registers ringing at the Box Office in terms of collections, it is still remembered for its unique production design (it simultaneously resembles a stage musical and a commercial Bollywood movie, thanks to its smart, innovative set design), its cinematography, a gorgeous soundtrack mostly comprising of soothing ballads, and the chemistry between Salman Khan and Preity Zinta who play an estranged couple, Suhaan and Piya.
The couple who started out as college sweethearts are in the midst of brutal divorce proceedings and both are splitting apart with heavy hearts since they still feel incomplete without each other—yet they are incompatible when they’re actually together due to Suhaan’s selfish nature in their relationship as well as financial struggles.
When Agastya (a well-to-do NASA scientist who proves no match for Suhaan, the struggling actor) enters Piya’s life as her new love interest, this leaves Suhaan heartbroken but still yearning for his ex-wife. While the movie might seem slightly dated now and is far from perfect, it still won’t fail in tugging at viewers’ heart strings.
4. ‘…Yahaan’ (2005)
Another classic romance that fell prey to poor Box Office collections and low viewership despite a strong storyline and soothing soundtrack (as well as brilliant performances from underrated actors such as newcomer Minissha Lamba and the versatile Jimmy Shergill) is “…Yahaan,” which released during the 2005 Mumbai floods.
Set against the backdrop of war-torn Kashmir, “…Yahaan” revolves around a Kashmiri local Adaa who is a simplistic girl who falls in love with Aman, a soldier in the Indian Army. And if recent real-life events have taught us anything about relations between the Indian Army and Kashmir, then you know this romance is forbidden and tumultuous from the start due to political interference as well as terrorist activities which continue to unfold around the couple—which not only pose a threat to their romance, but also to their lives and the lives of Adaa’s family members.
When Aman is kidnapped, the proceedings take a turn which closely resembles the plot-line of “Veer-Zaara,” as it is up to Adaa now to rescue him from a terrorist organisation before it is too late. “…Yahaan” will not only melt your heart but will also provide food for thought.
5. ‘Tum Mile’ (2009)
Set against the backdrop of the 2005 Mumbai floods, “Tum Mile” follows Akshay and Sanjana (played by Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan) as they not only explore their tumultuous relationship but try to survive torrential rains and flooding while navigating the flood-ravaged city of Mumbai trying to find shelter and help others. A series of flashbacks and beautiful musical numbers allows viewers to get to know more about the lead pair and what led to their break-up before the floods eventually reunited them. The movie draws parallels between the literal storm and their stormy relationship.
While the story and pacing feels disjointed at times and the supporting performances often feel underwhelming, “Tum Mile” is still a beautiful story that also seeks to explore human relationships and the power of kindness.
6. ‘Hamaari Adhuri Kahaani’ (2015)
“Hamaari Adhuri Kahaani” was quite controversial due to its handling of toxic relationships between Vasudha, a tormented housewife and florist and her abusive and controlling husband Hari (played by Vidya Balan and Rajkumar Rao respectively), and received flak for the writing, which occasionally slackens the pace of the movie and was a tad too melodramatic.
Vasudha’s portrayal of a strong woman who is trying to establish her own identity may not appeal to everybody’s expectations of a strong female character either, but this movie still stands the test of time for me because of the chemistry between Vidya Balan as Vasudha and Emraan Hashmi as Aarav, the new man in her life, who is also Vasudha’s employer and helps her mend her broken heart by keeping her company after Hari lands in jail. They both end up finding solace in each other’s’ arms, only for fate to play a cruel game.
The movie also sheds light on how women, due to deep-seated patriarchal mindset and patriarchal practices prevailing in India, have become objects and ‘properties,’ which is especially highlighted in a disturbing scene in the first half itself when Hari literally brands Vasudha by tattooing his name forcibly on her arm while she cries out in anguish. With the arrival of Aarav however, her dark and lonely life instantly lights up and she longs to be with him rather than with Hari.
Watch this for the powerful performances as well as the themes of patriarchy, consent, and power play in relationships that are explored here, as well as a mesmerising soundtrack.
That brings the curtain down on my list of timeless romances from Bollywood. They don’t make them like this anymore!
