Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (I Have Given Away My Heart) is a Film of the Book Na Hanyate starring Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan and Ajay Devg and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, of Devdas and Saawariya fame.
It stars a happy-go-lucky Nandini who lives within a fort in Rajasthan with her extended family and is visited by Sameer, a Half Italian, Half Indian singer who knocks on her Father's door to learn classical Indian music. They fall madly, obsessively in love, unknown to both Nandini's renowed father and mother. Both Sameer and Nandini aid Nandini's cousin to escape her abusive marriage to be with her true love against the wishes of their elders and are caught flatfooted in an embrace by Nandini's father.
After their love is discovered, Sameer is banished from the mansion with a stipulation from her father that he never meet Nandini again as a Guru Dakshina (a traditional gift a student gives a Guru). Sameer leaves, bound by his vow and the heartbroken Nandini is married off to Vanraj, a son of a famous lawyer, who unknown to her has fallen in love with her. She resumes letter writing to Sameer, and Vanraj stumbles upon Sameer's letters. Vanraj, who is neither handsome nor a good singer but is possessed only of a good heart, decides that the one honorable thing to do is to leave Nandini off to her lover Sameer in Italy and sets off with her to Europe. And so goes the Love Triangle.
This work provides examples of:
- Arranged Marriage: Nandini and Vanraj are subject to this.
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Subverted. Nandini falls in love with Sameer but she later falls in love with Vanraj.
- Betty and Veronica: With Sameer being Veronica and Vanraj being Betty
- Break-Up Song: Tadap Tadap Ke
[1]
. The music is Tear Jerker Worthy. - Expository Hair Style Change: Nandini usually wears a ghagra and choli and plaits her hair before marriage. When Nandini gets married, She ties her hair in a bun and wears long saris.
- First Love: Sameer
- "I Am" Song: See "Manmohini", a song that describes Nandini's character [2]
- I Will Wait for You: Sameer. Since he cannot follow her because of The Promise, he asks Nandini to follow him.
- Love Epiphany: Nandini during the Theme Song Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
- Love Triangle: Nandini, Sameer and Vanraj
- Meet Cute: Nandini meets Sameer as the glass chandelier dangles between them.
- Theme Song: Cue Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
- The Power of Love: Subverted. Nandini travels the seven seas to meet Sameer in Italy. But the seven steps she took with Vanraj (an essential part of Hindu matrimony, see the quote above) made her reconsider her love. In Hinduism, Marriage is Serious Business and Divorce is breaking a sacred bond, never mind the earthly one
- Nice Guys Finish Last: Subverted. On the other hand, you can't help feel sorry for Sameer.
- Gorgeous Period Dress: The costumes have to be seen to be believed. Amazingly beautiful and Bhansali stated he did a lot of research in Rajasthan to get a feel for the land filmed.
- True Love is Exceptional: Nandini's type is embodied in Sameer, a hotheaded handsome and talented guy who never takes anything seriously. Nandini ends up falling in love with Vanraj who is humble, rational, average and honest.
- The Item Number: Nimboodha Nimboodha qualifies [3]
- Tsundere: Nandini is this in the first half of the movie. She mellows later on.
- You Have Waited Long Enough: Nandini
