Mani Ratnam's 1998 film Dil Se is somewhat a misnomer, considering its Bollywood origins. Translated from Hindi, the title "From the Heart" conjures up images of romantic melodrama where the boy meets girl plotline leads to eternal happiness; however Ratnam's film explores much darker terrain. Perhaps that's why it bombed with Indian audiences when first released. On the other hand, Dil Se later screened at Berlin and other international film festivals and gained far more critical acclaim than most Bollywood fare.

Ratnam's film incorporates many familiar Bollywood conventions—the quest for romance, four dynamic (and beautifully photographed) song and dance sequences, restraint from full kissing, and the traditional intermission (for concession/rest room breaks). But the film remains highly unorthodox. The love story remains unrequited, as the charismatic lead actor unknowingly pursues a mysteriously somber suicide bomber. A story relying more on archetypes than heartfelt character study, the film's website indicates that Dil Se depicts a journey through the Arabic concept of 7 shades of love: attraction, infatuation, love, reverence, worship, obsession, death.

Carrying the film through most every frame, Shahrukh Khan plays All-India Radio journalist Amar. Based in Delhi, Amar is assigned to report on native attitudes in remote outlying north-eastern states towards India's 50th anniversary of independence. Waiting for a late train on a cold, windy night, Amar is struck by Meghna (Manisha Koirala) and attracted like moth to flame, despite the fact that she barely acknowledges his presence. She eventually requests a cup of tea but departs on a train before the lovestruck journalist can return.

Of course, Amar is destined to meet up with Meghna again and again, no matter how remote the possibilities seem. It seems like a desperate pursuit of unrequited love since Meghna almost never shows reciprocal interest—outside one song and dance number in the desert where she hints at the idea of bearing his children. Why Amar continues to pursue her remains a puzzle, especially after she lies about already being married and after Amar is severely beaten by a pair of men (who turn out to be her brothers).

Back in Delhi, Amar contents himself with an arranged marriage with a much more willing partner named Preeti (Preity Zinta), but of course Meghna fortuitously reappears upon the scene, begging for a place to stay. Disregarding multiple danger signs, Amar acquiesces, and their fates are sealed.

The song and dance sequences alone make this a worthy rental; in fact, the first one staged on top a moving train through mountainous northern India terrain with guest belly dance Malaika Arora is particularly stunning. The lively beat and tight choreography with the troop of dancers serve a mesmerizing early treat that takes Dil Se beyond the scope of most Bollywood fare. And that's actually saying a lot since many of these films are solely tolerable because of the musical sequences.

I've rented a number of Bollywood flicks since visiting India this past spring and have ended up pushing the eject button on the DVD after the first 30 minutes or after checking out a few of the song and dance numbers. Not so with Dil Se! It captivated me for its entire 2 hr. 40 min. running time. The quality of the initial music intrigued, and it was rewarding to see a more complex plot develop without the heavy melodrama. The darkness of the narrative may have caused a disappointing return at the box office, but it it makes this film stand out from the masses of pulp romances cranked out from Bollywood; thus, it's a film that deserves a longer life span.