Cine bites: Dil Ek Mandir

Dil Ek Mandir – Heart is a temple where love, fear, sadness, faith, our perceptions and interpretations of life events all reside together in its purest form with no malice or lust.  The entire movie is based in 1963 in a hospital owned by Rajendra Kumar (Dr. Dharmesh).  Rajkumar (Ram)  is one of the cancer patient being treated by Rajendra Kumar. Both men love Meena Kumari  (Sita) – one as a husband and other as an ex-flame who cannot seem to get over his love. Sita has moved on and now worships her husband.  During the hospital stay, the two male leads bond as good friends.

The love and friendship is put to test when another cancer patient , a sweet kid dies a few days before Rajkumar’s scheduled surgery.  Meena Kumari and Rajkumar’s mind plays its own game and they believe that their surgery will also result in the latter’s death. Meena Kumari also feels that Rajendra Kumar’s love for her will not permit him to save her husband’s life. When she voices her doubts, Rajendra Kumar gives up sleep, food etc just to find a way to save her husband.

Rajkumar overhears the conversation and comes to know of his wife’s past and ex-love, yet continues his friendship with Rajendra Kumar. He has complete faith in his wife and his new friend – the doctor that is going to give back his life. 

The story ends up on a tragic note, Rajendra Kumar saves her husband but loses his life – out of the stress caused by sleep deprivation.

While the songs are evergreen and outstanding, few things stand out to me:

- Just like the rest of the story and dialogues, the names of the characters are also thought –through as Ram-Sita and Dharmesh (one who follows his dharma as a doctor and saves the patient).
- This is probably one of the few movies where,
 ----------   The patient’s cancer is not evident by excessive coughing. Throughout the movie, Rajkumar and the other cancer patients thankfully cough just once.

-----------  The patient is not moved to an ICU nor kept on oxygen immediately after surgery. Not sure if it was possible then..
-------  There is really no bad guy…just bad thoughts.

-------  Rajkumar’s attitude after the cancer diagnosis is really inspiring. Despite facing death, he stays cheerful.

-------  Songs are as terrific as the story. Lyrics and music go hand in hand and make all the songs best each other.