1/ Many ppl see Dil Se & feel repulsed at SRK's stalking + sexual assault
Ppl write it off - saying it aged badly. Bollywood glorified stalking then.
How could SRK - Bollywood's blue-eyed boy - be such a creep?
What if I told you.. we aren't supposed to like SRK in Dil Se? 👀
Ppl write it off - saying it aged badly. Bollywood glorified stalking then.
How could SRK - Bollywood's blue-eyed boy - be such a creep?
What if I told you.. we aren't supposed to like SRK in Dil Se? 👀
2/ In Dil Se - while SRK is charismatic - he is a creep on purpose.
While SRK has carved a niche for himself being a lover boy, he is no stranger to being the antagonist.
There are several times in his early films that he played the role of the psycho lover. Ex: Darr, Bazigaar.
While SRK has carved a niche for himself being a lover boy, he is no stranger to being the antagonist.
There are several times in his early films that he played the role of the psycho lover. Ex: Darr, Bazigaar.
3/ Dil Se is part of Mani Ratnam's terror trilogy.
Roja was abt Kashmir
Bombay about Babri Masjid
Dil Se about the NE insurgency
In his films, the personal is political.
The films are a political allegory.
The protagonists are pawns to illustrate the larger power play.
Roja was abt Kashmir
Bombay about Babri Masjid
Dil Se about the NE insurgency
In his films, the personal is political.
The films are a political allegory.
The protagonists are pawns to illustrate the larger power play.
4/ In Dil Se, SRK is a Gov officer from the Centre.
Manisha represents the marginalised NE states.
Their personal relationship also mirrors the way the Centre behaves with the NE.
It denies them agency of choice & assaults them several times. It doesn't respect their wishes.
Manisha represents the marginalised NE states.
Their personal relationship also mirrors the way the Centre behaves with the NE.
It denies them agency of choice & assaults them several times. It doesn't respect their wishes.
5/There's a scene at the start of Dil Se.
SRK (a journo from the Gov's AIR) interviews the head of the NE seperatist military outfit:
SRK: You look just like us?! Absolutely normal.
Him: Um, yeah?
__
Sexual assaulters also look like us
AND can be as charming as SRK's character
SRK (a journo from the Gov's AIR) interviews the head of the NE seperatist military outfit:
SRK: You look just like us?! Absolutely normal.
Him: Um, yeah?
__
Sexual assaulters also look like us
AND can be as charming as SRK's character
6/ Later in Leh, SRK forcibly kisses Manisha.
She is visibly triggered.
It brings back her PTSD from when the army raped her as an 8 y/o.
Many ppl think the movie aged badly & sexual assault was romanticised then.
I disagree.
This scene was ALWAYS meant to repulse us.
She is visibly triggered.
It brings back her PTSD from when the army raped her as an 8 y/o.
Many ppl think the movie aged badly & sexual assault was romanticised then.
I disagree.
This scene was ALWAYS meant to repulse us.
7/ Later, in a monastery, SRK tells a monk to marry Manisha & him.
She refuses.
He asks why.
She says you never asked me.
This parallels the lack of agency of separationists who want independence
They don't want to marry the mainland.
But the paternalistic state doesn't listen
She refuses.
He asks why.
She says you never asked me.
This parallels the lack of agency of separationists who want independence
They don't want to marry the mainland.
But the paternalistic state doesn't listen
8/ Cryptically, Manisha says she has no time to marry
On the 1st watch you think she is politely rebuffing SRK's advances.
But later, you realise she is foreshadowing the ending.
She has signed up to be a suicide bomber for securing independence
She knows her time is short.
On the 1st watch you think she is politely rebuffing SRK's advances.
But later, you realise she is foreshadowing the ending.
She has signed up to be a suicide bomber for securing independence
She knows her time is short.
9/ SRK playfully asks Manisha:
"Hypothetically, suppose we get married.
Will we live happily together?
Not now OFC, cuz your time is short."
I found this lighthearted scene jarring after the sexual assault.
Later, I realise this scene is actually political commentary.
"Hypothetically, suppose we get married.
Will we live happily together?
Not now OFC, cuz your time is short."
I found this lighthearted scene jarring after the sexual assault.
Later, I realise this scene is actually political commentary.
10/ SRK asks post marriage, will we still break heads & bones? 👀
SRK says one thing is clear though.
He will not accept defeat.
She will have to make the 1st move to apologise.
Then he says once we have kids we won't fight.
Manisha scoffs & says they will involve the kids too.
SRK says one thing is clear though.
He will not accept defeat.
She will have to make the 1st move to apologise.
Then he says once we have kids we won't fight.
Manisha scoffs & says they will involve the kids too.
11/SRK gets excited that Manisha is finally humouring him
He asks Manisha hypothetically - how many kids?
She smiles & says - 8.
SRK exclaims - "8?!"
It's 8 kids for a reason, reader
This is a parallel for the 8 NE states-the 7 sisters and Sikkim (who merged with India later)
He asks Manisha hypothetically - how many kids?
She smiles & says - 8.
SRK exclaims - "8?!"
It's 8 kids for a reason, reader
This is a parallel for the 8 NE states-the 7 sisters and Sikkim (who merged with India later)
12/ SRK says sure.
But on 1 term- all 8 kids must resemble him
He negs her & asks if they'll look like her with her NE features - flat nose & smol eyes.
This shows how the Gov wants conformity with the Centre.
Annoyed at this racist micro-aggression, Manisha pushes him away.
But on 1 term- all 8 kids must resemble him
He negs her & asks if they'll look like her with her NE features - flat nose & smol eyes.
This shows how the Gov wants conformity with the Centre.
Annoyed at this racist micro-aggression, Manisha pushes him away.
13/ Undeterred, SRK still 'hits' on her.
He takes her hand & slaps himself playfully.
He says that if she hits him like this, it means she loves him.
Unfazed, she elbows him hard in the solar plexus.
SRK, not one to give up easily, says "This means you can't live without me."
He takes her hand & slaps himself playfully.
He says that if she hits him like this, it means she loves him.
Unfazed, she elbows him hard in the solar plexus.
SRK, not one to give up easily, says "This means you can't live without me."
14/ Manisha: <says seriously> "It's true. I'll die."
At this point, SRK (like us) doesn't know she is a suicide bomber.
SRK: <joyfully> Really?
She: <snaps her fingers> Like this
SRK: Who is asking you to die? Just say you love me!
She: <shakes her head no and walks away>
At this point, SRK (like us) doesn't know she is a suicide bomber.
SRK: <joyfully> Really?
She: <snaps her fingers> Like this
SRK: Who is asking you to die? Just say you love me!
She: <shakes her head no and walks away>
15/ This scene is incredibly prescient & foreshadows the end.
In the end, SRK hugs her despite knowing she has a bomb on.
He begs her to just please say she loves him.
She never does.
But she embraces him tightly & they die together.
In the end, SRK hugs her despite knowing she has a bomb on.
He begs her to just please say she loves him.
She never does.
But she embraces him tightly & they die together.
16/ On rewatching Dil Se, I find so much nuance to each and every frame and dialogue.
There's so much political commentary underneath even the simplest scenes.
While the movie "bombed" at box office, IMO, it's a fantastic film worth rewatching 💣
There's so much political commentary underneath even the simplest scenes.
While the movie "bombed" at box office, IMO, it's a fantastic film worth rewatching 💣
This thread on Dil Se is doing well.
Hoping it reaches @iamsrk @arrahman @BShrayana too
Would love to hear their thoughts on this thread :)
Hoping it reaches @iamsrk @arrahman @BShrayana too
Would love to hear their thoughts on this thread :)
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