Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Diljale
View on Wikipedia
| Diljale | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release posters in | |
| Directed by | Harry Baweja |
| Written by | Karan Razdan |
| Produced by | Paramjeet Baweja |
| Starring | Ajay Devgn Madhoo Sonali Bendre Parmeet Sethi Shakti Kapoor Gulshan Grover Amrish Puri |
| Cinematography | Damodar Naidu |
| Edited by | Kuldip Mehan |
| Music by | Anu Malik |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 185 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Box office | ₹158.5 million[2] |
Diljale (transl. The burning heart) is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language romantic action film directed by Harry Baweja, with screenplay by Karan Razdan. The film stars Ajay Devgn, Madhoo and Sonali Bendre along with Parmeet Sethi, Shakti Kapoor, Gulshan Grover and Amrish Puri in supporting roles. The film received positive reviews, and earned a lifetime gross of ₹ 15.85 crore.[2] IBNLive included Diljale among its list of "Ajay Devgn's memorable films".[3]
Plot
[edit]The film starts with Radhika (Sonali Bendre) being introduced to an Army Captain Ranvir (Parmeet Sethi) by her father, Raja Saab (Shakti Kapoor), an erstwhile king and current politician. Raja Saab tells her that the Captain will be a good husband for her. On the day of the engagement, news breaks of a terrorist attack in a nearby village led by the terrorist, Shaka (Ajay Devgn). Ranvir and Raja Saab leave with a large force to that village. But that turns out to be a ruse as Shaka comes to the venue of the engagement and burns the wedding Mandap. Then, he stares for long at Radhika, who looks at him with hatred, and leaves. Shaka reaches his lair, where he meets his leader, Dara (Amrish Puri) and Shabnam (Madhoo) and the rest of his gang. Dara welcomes him and proclaims him to be Diljale. Shabnam (Madhoo), who loves him, tries to hug him, but Shaka rebuffs it.
Shaka then goes to visit his mother (Farida Jalal), and the story of Shaka is shown in a flashback. Shaka was originally Shyam, a patriotic college student and son of a local village leader. Radhika studies in the same college, and they both fall deeply in love. When Raja Saab tries to usurp all the village land, Shyam's father leads all the villagers against him. Raja Saab bribes a local police officer (Gulshan Grover), who falsely accuses Shyam's father to be a terrorist and kills him in an encounter. When Shyam goes to Raja Saab's home to take revenge, Raja Saab (who knows of their love affair and feels it is below his family's dignity) frames Shyam also as a terrorist and tries to kill him. Shyam escapes, but Radhika, who only sees him threatening her father, berates him and proclaims him a terrorist. Brokenhearted, Shyam joins Dara's group and becomes Shaka. Back in the present time, Ranvir surrounds Shaka at his mother's home but finds himself outnumbered by Shaka's men. Shaka asks him to go away. Ranvir then confronts Radhika and asks her if she knows Shaka from earlier. Under pressure from Raja Saab, she denies knowing Shaka.
The army captures four associates of Dara. To get them freed, Dara asks Shaka, Shabnam and some others to hijack a bus travelling from Vaishno Devi. When Shaka captures them and brings them to a ruined temple, he is shocked to find Radhika (who had gone to Vaishno Devi to pray for Shaka) among the hostages. She confronts him and tells him that he never loved her or the country. Shaka is stung and tells her that he lost everything for her love. She then tells him to release everyone since they are innocent and says that if he loves her, he will do so. He agrees under the condition that she will remain with him. When Shabnam and the others tried to stop this release, Shaka disarms them and releases the hostages and runs away with Radhika. Dara is livid with this betrayal and wants to kill Shaka. Raja Saab meets him and tells him to kill Shaka and release Radhika. Dara agrees, but in return, wants his four associates released and for his entire group to be safely escorted by Raja Saab to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the corrupt police officer, who killed Shyam's father, tries to kill Shaka, who disarms him. To save himself, the police officer tells the truth to Radhika, who is shocked to see the depth of love which Shaka has for her. Shaka kills the police officer, but is captured by Dara's men. Dara puts both of them under lock and key, but Shabnam releases Shaka. Shaka confronts Dara and asks him not to sell his homeland to politicians like Raja Saab, but Dara orders his men to kill Shaka. Army attack Dara and his men at that very moment. Raja Saab, Dara and his men escape with Radhika in their custody with Shaka and Shabnam in close pursuit. Ranvir finds Raja Saab's son hiding in a corner and finds out the truth about Shyam and Raja Saab.
Dara tells his Pakistani Intelligence handler that they need help crossing the border. Since some Americans are visiting the border and Pakistan doesn't want to be caught supporting terrorists, the Pakistanis decide to mine the border crossing and kill Dara and his men. Dara, Raja Saab and others reach the last border outpost. Raja Saab goes to talk to the Officer of the post to facilitate the escape of Dara and his men. But Shaka has already reached there and is waiting for him in the office. He kills Raja Saab, but Dara and his men escape. When a couple of Dara's men try to kill Radhika, Shabnam kills them and rescues her. Shabnam brings Radhika to Shaka, but they are all confronted by Ranvir. He tells Shaka that he knows the truth and is sorry, but will still have to arrest him. Shaka agrees, but wants to stop Dara and his men from crossing the border since he believes that they still have good in their hearts. Ranvir agrees, and they go in a snowmobile towards the border and reach there before Dara and his men. They see Pakistani soldiers laying mines, but are captured by them.
The Pakistani General tells them they want to kill Dara and his men since they can always create more terrorists. Shaka and Ranvir kill them all and go towards the border. When Shaka goes to stop Dara and his men, Ranvir stops him saying let the terrorists get killed. Shaka says that he wants to kill terrorism, not terrorists. He shouts at Dara to stop, but Dara thinks it is a trick. So Shaka jumps at one of the mines and is blasted. Shocked, Dara asks his men to stop. Shaka wakes up in a hospital to find his mother, Radhika and Ranvir next to him. Ranvir takes him outside, where Dara, Shabnam, and everyone is waiting. Dara hugs him and apologises, and admits that love can defeat anything, even terrorism. He says that they have all surrendered. Shabnam, too, bids him goodbye. Shyam and Radhika hug each other in the backdrop of the Tiranga.
Cast
[edit]- Ajay Devgan as Shyam / Shaka
- Madhoo as Shabnam
- Sonali Bendre as Radhika, Raja Saab's daughter.
- Parmeet Sethi as Captain Ranvir
- Shakti Kapoor as Raja Saab, Radhika's father.
- Gulshan Grover as Inspector Yajwendra
- Amrish Puri as Dara
- Farida Jalal as Shyam's mother
- Akash Khurana as Shyam's father
- Rakesh Bedi as Raja Saab's Son
- Arun Bakshi as Laaley
- Himani Shivpuri as Leela,Raja Saab's sister and Radhika's aunt.
- Dayanand Shetty as gun man
Soundtrack
[edit]| Diljale | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 14 August 1996 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 56:00 |
| Label | Big B Music T-Series |
The film has 8 songs. The music composer of this movie is Anu Malik and the lyrics were penned by Javed Akhtar.[4] The song "Mera Mulk Mera Desh" was copied from the Israeli national anthem "Hatikvah", which itself was sampled after the Italian song "La Mantovana".[5]
| # | Song | Singer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ho Nahin Sakta" | Udit Narayan |
| 2. | "Jiske Aane Se" | Kumar Sanu |
| 3. | "Kuch Tum Beheko" | Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik |
| 4. | "Mera Mulk Mera Desh" | Kumar Sanu, Aditya Narayan |
| 5. | "Ek Baat Main Apne Dil" | Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik |
| 6. | "Shaam Hain Dhuan Dhuan" | Poornima, Ajay Devgan |
| 7. | "Boom Boom" | Shobhana |
| 8. | "Mera Mulk Mera Desh" (Female) | Kavita Krishnamurthy |
Reception
[edit]Diljale was a landmark in Madhoo's career.[6] Nisha Mehta of The Times of India said, "Not only do I love the heart-warming song Mera Mulk Mera Desh from Diljale but also I like the essence of the film. Ajay Devgn was too good in it.[7]
Box office
[edit]Diljale was released on 27 September 1996 in the budget of (₹5,55,00,000) at 225 screen layouts.
It collected (₹71,00,000) at opening day and at opening weekend it collected (₹1,99,00,000). First week it collected (₹3,52,00,000) and India gross collection were (₹15,46,00,000). Worldwide gross collections were (₹15,85,32,500) and adjusted netgross collections were (₹94,40,04,720). Total net gross collections were (₹9,09,00,000) and film been considered as Hit at Box Office India.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Diljale". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "Diljale - Movie - Box Office India". Box Office India.
- ^ Press Trust of India (21 March 2013). "Ajay Devgn: Meaty roles are for men, not for kids". IBNLive. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ "Diljale – Tracklist". Gaana. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ "Twitter gives Anu Malik gold medal for copying Mera Mulk Mera Desh from Israel's national anthem". Hindustan Times. 2 August 2021.
- ^ Press Trust of India (20 October 2013). "Want challenging roles like Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor: Madhoo". The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ Nisha Mehta (11 August 2011). "@RANDOM – Which is your favourite patriotic film and why". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
External links
[edit]Diljale
View on GrokipediaProduction
Development
The screenplay for Diljale was written by Karan Razdan, who structured the narrative around core elements of patriotism, interfaith romance, and resistance to terrorism, set against the backdrop of escalating cross-border militancy in India during the 1990s.[1] This approach drew from contemporary security challenges, emphasizing causal connections between individual grievances and broader radicalization without endorsing or glorifying violent extremism.[5] Harry Baweja, in the early phase of his directing career after his debut Dilwale (1994), helmed the project, opting for a production model under his family's banner that prioritized robust action choreography and melodic sequences to appeal to mainstream audiences amid Bollywood's action-romance dominance.[6] Producer Pammy Baweja, his wife, oversaw the venture through Harry Baweja Films, allocating resources to high-impact elements like stunts and music to enhance commercial viability in a market favoring emotionally charged patriotic tales.[7] Key pre-production decisions focused on integrating these themes to underscore national unity over division, reflecting a deliberate shift from pure entertainment to narratives with socio-political undertones prevalent in mid-1990s Hindi cinema.[8]Casting
Ajay Devgn was chosen for the lead role to embody the film's central figure of heroism turning to vengeance, drawing on his established action-hero persona from Phool Aur Kaante (1991), which featured an iconic debut sequence of him balancing between two motorcycles and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.[9][3] This image of raw intensity and physicality aligned with the thematic demand for authentic portrayal of a principled avenger in 1990s masala cinema.[10] Sonali Bendre and Madhoo were cast as the female leads to handle the romantic and emotional layers, with Bendre's prior collaboration with Devgn in Dilwale (1994) ensuring on-screen chemistry suitable for the film's blend of love and sacrifice.[3] Madhoo's experience in dramatic roles from South Indian hits like Roja (1992) added depth to the sacrificial elements, fitting the narrative's need for grounded emotional authenticity amid action.[3] Amrish Puri filled the authoritative paternal role, capitalizing on his reputation for stern, commanding figures in over 400 films, including iconic villains that conveyed moral complexity and patriarchal weight essential to the story's familial conflicts.[3] Parmeet Sethi was selected as the primary antagonist, his rising profile post-Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) allowing a shift to villainy that heightened the film's tension through familiar yet contrasting menace.[3] Supporting casts included Shakti Kapoor and Gulshan Grover for comedic and villainous relief, their typecast expertise in 1990s entertainers—Kapoor in over 300 comic-villain parts and Grover as the "Bad Man" in action flicks—providing reliable genre tropes without overshadowing the leads' heroic arc.[3]Filming
Principal photography for Diljale occurred in India and Switzerland.[11] The shoots in Switzerland facilitated sequences requiring alpine scenery, while Indian locations supported the film's narrative elements involving domestic settings and action.[11][12] Directed by Harry Baweja, the production utilized cinematographers Damodar Naidu and Nandlal Choudhary to handle visuals.[13] Filming wrapped prior to the film's theatrical release on 20 September 1996, adhering to Bollywood's cost-conscious scheduling amid market competition.[1]Plot
Synopsis
Diljale follows the arc of a young patriot whose father, a principled figure, is falsely accused of sheltering terrorists by the influential father of the protagonist's romantic interest, resulting in the elder's imprisonment and death.[14] This betrayal propels the protagonist into evasion from custody and adoption of a terrorist alias, fueling a quest for retribution intertwined with regional militancy linked to cross-border incursions.[14] [15] The narrative structure progresses chronologically from budding romance and familial harmony to escalating conflicts, incorporating subplots of pursuit by security forces and romantic sacrifices that culminate in action-driven confrontations addressing terrorist networks, without endorsing violence as a means beyond personal justice.[15] Blending romance, drama, and action, the film spans 163 minutes, emphasizing causal chains of loyalty, deception, and redemption over glorification of extremism.[2]Cast and Characters
The principal cast of Diljale (1996) is led by Ajay Devgn, who performs a dual role as Shyam, a patriotic Kashmiri youth whose father is killed, prompting him to adopt the terrorist alias Shaka for revenge, and as the alter ego embodying his vengeful transformation.[3][16] Sonali Bendre portrays Radhika, the daughter of a corrupt politician and Shaka's eventual romantic interest, who becomes entangled in the conflict.[3][16] Madhoo plays Shabnam, Shyam's initial love interest and wife, whose marriage to him underscores early themes of personal loss.[3][16] Supporting roles include Amrish Puri as Dara, a key antagonist involved in the framing and killing of Shyam's father, representing institutional corruption.[3] Parmeet Sethi appears as Captain Ranvir, a military officer aiding in the narrative's action sequences and pursuit of Shaka.[3] Shakti Kapoor enacts the dual characters of Raja Saab, Radhika's father and a scheming minister, and Mantri, amplifying political intrigue.[16] Additional notable performers are Gulshan Grover in an antagonistic role and supporting actors such as Akash Khurana, Farida Jalal, and Tinnu Anand, contributing to the film's ensemble of familial and adversarial figures.[3]| Actor | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| Ajay Devgn | Shyam / Shaka |
| Sonali Bendre | Radhika |
| Madhoo | Shabnam |
| Amrish Puri | Dara |
| Parmeet Sethi | Captain Ranvir |
| Shakti Kapoor | Raja Saab / Mantri |
| Gulshan Grover | (Antagonist) |
Soundtrack
Track Listing
The soundtrack album of Diljale, released in 1996 on audio cassette and compact disc formats, features seven original tracks composed by Anu Malik with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar.[17][18]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Duration | Notes (Picturization) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shaam Hai Dhuan Dhuan | Poornima, Ajay Devgn | 7:04 | Item number picturized on Ajay Devgn and dancer Poornima.[19][20] |
| 2 | Ho Nahi Sakta | Udit Narayan | 7:43 | Picturized on Ajay Devgn, Madhoo, and Sonali Bendre.[17][21][22] |
| 3 | Jiske Aane Se | Kumar Sanu | - | Romantic number picturized on Ajay Devgn and Sonali Bendre.[17][23] |
| 4 | Kuchh Tum Beheko | Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik | - | Duet picturized on Ajay Devgn and a lead actress.[17][24] |
| 5 | Ek Baat Mein Apne Dil Se | Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik | 7:23 | Romantic duet picturized on Ajay Devgn and Sonali Bendre.[17][19] |
| 6 | Mera Mulk Mera Desh | Kumar Sanu, Aditya Narayan | - | Patriotic ensemble track.[17][24][25] |
| 7 | Boom Boom | Shobhana, Nisha | 7:36 | Dance number.[17][19][26] |
