Dil Se might have been named under the genre of romantic drama but the film is not restricted within the boundaries of romance and drama. Mani Ratnam’s directorial has painted somehow an accurate portrait of Kashmir, highlighting the tensions across the streets with two characters being moulded in a plot which is subtly talking about love and obsession.
Kashmir has been the boiling point when it comes to Indian Politics. Though the film is out and out framed as a romantic drama, the political stance it took in a subtle way is highlighted through its metaphorical story which represents the obsession of two nations over the reign on Kashmir. Leave the film aside, but even if one watches the title track of the film, Ratnam has a lot to say about the political tension over the place. It is not about the music or lyrics of the song but the way it has been visually portrayed tells a lot about Kashmir and the trauma of its residents.
The song starts off with police sirens and men in uniform guarding all over the small borders within the place. The army is marching all across the street strongly implementing their presence. The picturization of how people walk away with the daily guard and one shot where all children in school uniforms are expressing their freedom on the streets might represent the future of Kashmir.
People are running from the hauntings. You feel like you are the hunted and you are the hunters stuck in the midst of political tensions. The fear of change, the fear of acceptance, and the endless chase continues making it relevant even after 22 years of the film’s release.
The film featured Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala, Preity Zinta, Gajraj Rao and Piyush Mishra. Music composed by A R Rahman was on point and suits perfectly to the film’s brave take.
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