Weddingbee Blog

Since I put all my emotions on the line in my last post, I thought that maybe we could move on to something a little bit lighter.

Bollywood.

You know, the Hindi-language movie industry based in Mumbai, India? (And not to be confused with Tollywood or Kollywood.)

Okay, so maybe that’s not what you expected me to say, but I’m a big fan of Bollywood movies. There’s something completely escapist about them that sucks me in. Um, yes, I think I did just admit to having my head in the clouds. Clearly my dad has been right about me all these years…

But seriously—lavish sets and outfits, lots of drama, and a whole host of song and dance routines. What’s not to like?

Plus, a lot of Bollywood movies have a wedding or two in them.

Ah, now I have your attention.

Here are some of my favorite wedding-oriented Bollywood movies (in chronological order):

1. Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! (1994) - So there’s this big wedding going on. And the groom’s younger brother and the bride’s younger sister are falling in love. Does this mean two weddings?? Well, along the way things get complicated. And, then, due to a dog and a note, things get uncomplicated again. Which, of course, leads to the question: Why can’t a dog and a note un-complicate my life?

2. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) - Girl and Guy #1, both from London, meet while on vacation in Switzerland. They, of course, fall in love. Luckily, they live in the same city. Not so luckily, Girl’s father has arranged her marriage to Guy #2 (his best friend’s son) in India. So Guy #1 hatches a plan to go to India and rescue Girl. Will his plan work?? And why is everyone in this movie wearing a silly hat?

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3. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) - Guy and Girl #1 are best friends in college. This is complicated (as such things always are) by Girl #1 having a desperate crush on Guy. Before she can confess her love, Girl #2 comes into the picture. Guy can’t resist Girl #2 and they get married, but she passes away after giving birth to a baby girl. This would be sad, but is, instead, a very convenient plot device. Years later, the (now preteen) baby girl attempts to reunite Guy and Girl #1. But is Girl #1 already attached?? And what is she doing at a kids’ summer camp?

4. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) - Guy #1 is a student at Girl’s father’s music school. Guy #1 and Girl fall in love, but her father doesn’t care. Why? He’s already arranged her marriage to Guy #2, of course. Guy #1 is forced to leave the school and Girl goes through with the wedding. But, on the wedding night, Guy #2 discovers that she’s still in love with Guy #1. Guy #2 decides they should go find Guy #1, so that’s just what they do. Do they find him?? Who will she end up with?? And, honestly, what I’ve always really wanted to know is this: Why is Girl letting everyone else make all the decisions for her? Maybe she really just needs to grow a backbone?

5. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) - Guy’s family wants him to marry Girl #1. Guy marries Girl #2 instead. Girl #2 happens to be much less suitable by Guy’s family’s standards, and his authoritarian father casts him out. Years later, Guy’s younger brother goes looking for him. Is the family ever reunited?? And why does Guy’s younger brother look completely different when he’s a child and when he’s an adult? As in, maybe I need to suspend my disbelief a little more, but that child would never in a million years end up looking like that adult…

6. Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002) - Guy finds out that Girl (his childhood best friend) is getting married. Guy suddenly realizes that he’s madly in love with Girl. Hooray for him for finally getting that straight after many years! Does Guy stop the wedding?? Well, maybe we should figure out if Girl is in love with him first? Of course, it also doesn’t hurt to throw in a fake girlfriend, a random dancing girl, and a large family who might just break out into song and dance.

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7. Devdas (2002) - Guy and Girl are childhood sweethearts, but Guy’s family doesn’t think she’s good enough for him. Girl’s mother decides she’ll arrange an even better marriage for Girl. Guy runs away to live in a brothel (to escape his family and his confusion). Girl marries that other guy. Will they ever get back together again?? Or are they destined to live apart forever?? But, back to the brothel, how did it ever sound like that good of a place to escape to? I mean, wouldn’t a hotel have been a better choice?

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8. Saathiya (2002) - Girl and Guy want to get married. So their families meet. But the families end up having a misunderstanding because of their different social statuses. So on to Plan B in which Girl and Guy run away and get married in secret and then go back to their respective houses and pretend it never happened. Soon, of course, they’re found out and thrown out. Will Girl and Guy live happily ever after together out there in the real world?? And would any of you get on a bus back home without your spouse minutes after your wedding ceremony? Don’t you think Girl and Guy should have at least had dinner together first?

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9. Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) - Girl is in love with Guy #1. Guy #1 is in love with Girl too, but he is dying. So he plays matchmaker between Girl and Guy #2. Luckily for this plan, Guy #2 also happens to be in love with Girl. Who does Girl end up marrying?? And am I the only one who thinks this is a bad plan? What happened to letting Girl make her own decisions?

10. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) - Girl is about to get married, but first her fiance and then her father pass away. It’s her father’s dying wish for her to marry Guy, so he knows she will be taken care of. Girl agrees to what she thinks will be a loveless marriage, but things, of course, are not always as they seem. Do Girl and Guy fall in love over time?? And, really, whenever did Guy learn how to dance?

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Are you a fan of Bollywood weddings too?