Chapter 13: Dil Chahta Hai Title Song

“Masti Mein Rahe Dooba Dooba Hamesha Sama.”

The title song Dil Chahta Hai is the most beautifully shot one in the film. After Sameer’s breakup with Priya, Akash asks him to come to Goa along with Sid. The three friends drive there, and the song plays out in Shankar Mahadevan’s vocals, epitomizing the casual moments of their beautiful friendship. It begins with its signature ting-ting-ting-ting tune with all three of them sitting in a Mercedes car, driving on the Bombay to Goa highway. The lyrics talk about the heart not wanting these glorious days of their friendship ever to end. Kabhi na beete chamkeele din. Farhan initially did not like the words’ chamkeele din’ as he felt they sounded like a detergent. But his father convinced him to keep them. They further talk about finding happiness in this journey. Humko raahon mein, yoon hi milti rahe khushiyaan.

There are many songs related to friendship in film, the most famous being Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge from Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay (1975). What makes the title song of Dil Chahta Hai different is that it is more about living it up in the present time of their friendship as their future is uncertain. In Yeh Dosti, they sing that they will never break their friendship, but here, the friends sing that this is a journey with an unknown destination, and only with time will they figure out their lives. And, they hope that they can find happiness in this path together. Jo waqt aaye, jaane kya dikhaaye. It is like the ship, which Sid mentioned. But for now, they want to keep enjoying this time.

The colorful scenes in the song capture the just-chilling-around moments of their trip splendidly. The friends play by the beach. They hang out in the shacks. They explore the state on their bikes. They read books. They meet girls. They click funny pictures. But above all, they make memories. There is a lovely moment in the song when the three of them are sailing on a ship and are looking seriously at each other, and then they break out into laughter the next minute. 

The song does not play continuously but plays out in parts, with a few dialogue scenes added in between. It was not common to split a song such as this. There is also a reprise version of the song as the film, which is also fantastic. Khwaabon Ke Parindey from Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara also tried to capture the vibe of a road trip. Some moments in it remind one of the title song Dil Chahta Hai.