DIL TO PAGAL HAI

Starring:
Shah Rukh Khan (Rahul)
Madhuri Dixit (Pooja)
Akshay Kumar (Ajay)
Karisma Kapoor (Nisha)
Farida Jalal, Deven Varma, Aruna Irani & Shivani Vazir

Production & Direction: Yash Chopra
Story: Pamela Chopra
Screenplay: Yash Chopra, Pamela Chopra, Tanuja Chandra
Dialogue: Aditya Chopra
Cinematography: Manmohan Singh
Audiography: Anuj Mathur
Song Recording: Daman Sood
Editing: V.V. Karnik
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Art Direction: Sharmishta Roy
Music: Uttam Singh
Choreography: Farah Khan, Shiamak Davar, Jaikishen Maharaj & Kiran
Stills: Ratan Bhatia
Costumes: Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar
Make-up: Ravi Indulkar, Ramesh Vardam, Deepak
Records: H.M.V. Records Company

RATING:
*****

This film was considered the best film of 1997, and it is truly one of the most well-made films till date. The story is about Rahul, who has this dream to host a musical on a girl called Maya. True to her name, Maya is an imaginary woman of his dreams! She is Rahul's dream girl -- the most beautiful and innocent being on earth. In the musical, the role of Maya is being played by Nisha, Rahul's friend. Nisha also is deeply in love with Rahul but he is unaware of it.

One morning, Nisha injures herself, and Rahul has to find a replacement to play Maya. It is by chance that Rahul notices Pooja in a dancing school, and visualises her as Maya. He asks Pooja to take Maya's role, and they both fall in love. However, Pooja has already promised to marry NRI Ajay, and hence she tries to hide her feelings from herself. But then, her hidden emotions do come to the fore, one day.

Pooja has since her childhood, believed that one day she will meet her love that god had made for her. Her fantasy comes true in the form of Rahul, yet she is bound by her promise to Ajay. Nisha and Ajay are good support, and love eventually wins. Shah Rukh Khan as Rahul is just excellent, Madhuri Dixit is just right for Pooja -- her natural beauty and innocence makes the audience visualize her as Maya as well.

Karisma Kapoor is equally as remarkable as Nisha. Akshay stays in your memory, though in a cameo appearance. The cinematography and locales are impressive and the music plays again and again in your mind. To put it simply, it is the treatment that makes such a simple story into a box-office top grosser. May there be more such films.

Story - 8/10
Screen play - 10/10
Music - 10/10
Cinematography - 10/10
Special effects/sets/locations - 10/10

Overall rating 96%

National Awards:
Best Supporting Actress: Karisma Kapoor
Best Choreography: Shiamak Davar
Best Film providing Popular and Wholesome Entertainment

Filmfare Awards:
Best Film: Yash Chopra
Best Actor: Shahrukh Khan
Best Actress: Madhuri Dixit
Best Supporting Actress: Karisma Kapoor
Best Music Director: Uttam Singh
Best Dialogue: Aditya Chopra
Best Art Direction: Sharmishta Roy

Lux Zee Cine Awards:
Best Film: Yash Chopra
Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan
Best Actress: Madhuri Dixit
Best Supporting Actress: Karisma Kapoor
Best Music Director: Uttam Singh
Best Dialogue: Aditya Chopra
Best Art Direction: Sharmishta Roy
Best Female Singer: Lata Mangeshkar (Dil To Pagal Hai)
Best Cinematography: Manmohan Singh
Best Special Effects: Sai Prasad (EFX)
Best Choreography: Shiamak Davar

Screen Videocon Awards:
Best Choreography: Shiamak Devar
Best Art Direction: Sharmishta Roy

MTV Video Awards:
Indian Viewers Choice for Best Album presented to Lata Mangeshkar and Udit Narayan.

Listen To The Music:
Origanal Movie Soundtrack
DTPH Soundtrack Remixed

YEAR OF RELEASE: 1997