Bollywood On Wheels

It is simply impossible to forget the stirring, heart-warming and nail-biting climax of the epic movie DDLJ. This is certainly the first scene that comes to our mind when we hear the word movie and train together. With the beaten, bruised and bloody Raj standing on the train looking back as he departs further and further away from his love, Simran attempts her run towards him only to be stopped by the hand of her father gripping her wrist. “Mujhe jaane dijiye bauji, please mujhe jaane dijiye.” She pleads and cries but the bauji is furious and shows no emotions. Until he eventually lets go and speaks the words that melt your heart straight away. “Jaa Simran jaa jeele apni zindagi.” And with that, comes the running, the music, the singing and a very happy ending..

Railways has an ever-lasting connection with the Indian cinema. Over the years, trains have been an integral part of the Bollywood and played significant role in the movies. In some of the movies, trains have not only added to the visual beauty but also involved themselves as characters in the film’s screenplay. Let us recall the iconic moments when Bollywood movies featured the railways and left an ineradicable mark on the Indian cinema. From romance to action, drama and mystery, trains have always embellished movies and fascinated the audience.

1. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayengey (1998)
   It’s almost impossible to imagine that Bollywood existed without the film “DDLJ”. Directed by Aditya Chopra, the movie was arguably one of the most memorable, iconic and celebrated films of the Indian cinema. A strict father finally surrenders to the power of love and lets his daughter go and catch the train that will change her life. Finally, the outstretched hands of Raj and Simran meet in the nick of time. Even after 20 years of the film’s release, the scene is etched in our memories.



2. Dil Se (1998):
   The iconic train song of the Bollywood, “Chaiyya Chaiyya” by A.R Rahman is indeed one of the best songs by him. It quickly became popular upon its release and achieved the cult status, somewhat because it was filmed on a moving train. Filmed on the moving toy train of Nilgiri Mountain Railway with beautiful landscapes all around, the song weaves its rhythms with the whistles and chugging wheels. According to Malaika Arora, the "Chaiya Chaiya" song was shot exactly as you see it on the screen: No camera tricks, no back projection, no post-production special effects!



3. Swades (2004)
   From A.R Rahman's music to Shah Rukh Khan's acting, Swades is a timeless classic with immaculate brilliance. There are a couple of powerful sequences in the movie that will linger long after the movie gets over. The train sequences in this film capture the key moments of protagonist Mohan Bhargava’s understanding of his country, its people, and their problems. One such scene comes when the train halts at the Ajite station and Mohan buys a glass of water from a small boy selling water in a kettle. The scene is one of the most powerful and heart-rending scenes of the Indian cinema. Even without a single dialogue, the scene manages to hit the right chords



4. Jab We Met (2007)
   This Imtiaz Ali’s romcom starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor begins on a train. A depressed young man and a vivacious Punjabi girl meet on an overnight journey from Mumbai to Delhi. How can we forget this dialogue? “Aaj tak life mein ek train nahi chhuti meri, thank you babaji mera record tutne se bacha liya!” Imtiaz Ali managed to beautifully utilize the closed quarters of the train to bring Geet and Aditya together. The train was a character in the film without which the story would have lost its magic.



5. Chennai Express (2013)
   Shah Rukh Khan seems to love the trains! This 2013 action packed rom-com flick shattered several records on its release. It pays homage to the DDLJ climax scene as SRK reunites with the railway. The movie is filmed beautifully and the aesthetic cinematography will compel a nature lover to fall in love with exotic southern landscapes. One of most iconic sequences in the film was the train scene in which Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan are having a conversation with each other by singing songs. This turned out to be arguably the funniest scene in Rohit Shetty film

6. MS Dhoni: The untold story (2016)
   M.S Dhoni is a film that chronicles Dhoni’s life journey from a boy from Ranchi to the second captain to lift the World cup. The movie is still a pure treat for the die-hard Dhoni fans. From the school days, trains were an important part of Dhoni’s life as he used to catch the train daily after finishing his exam half an hour earlier to go and practice. Then he becomes a ticket collector and kept tabs on the trains as his duty. The most inspiring scene that is sure to pump up your heart is the one where Dhoni is seen sitting alone frustrated and suddenly a train arrives. The opening of the train’s door, the last minute run to catch the train and the loud echo of the fans chanting “Dhoni,Dhoni,Dhoni”, all of this is conveyed in an amazing way.



7. Yeh Jawani hai Deewani (2013)
   In Ayan Mukherjee’s blockbuster film ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ Ranbir Kapoor pulls Deepika inside the train as it starts leaving the station. There are several other scenes in the movie shot inside the train where the group is shown playing fun games on their way to Manali. It was a delightful movie to watch how train journeys can be a real fun with friends.

Comment below if you know any more movie names where trains have played a major role in the movie. And don’t just buy movie tickets, download Trainman app and buy train tickets this winters. Click on this link to book train tickets or to check PNR Status via Trainman app and enjoy easy and fast booking experience.