The season of love is here and I feel inspired to write about a love story called Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – an Indian movie released in 2008.
On the surface, this movie feels like a typical Bollywood blockbuster packed with music, dance, and romance. However, it also offers value to those who seek more than entertainment in movies.
I have watched this movie at least twenty times! Every time I watched it, my heart healed a little bit more!
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is based on the life of a young woman Tani who loses the love of her life on the day of their wedding. She has no mother. Tani’s dying father sets her up with another man – his former student Surinder who he holds in high esteem. He wishes to see her safe and settled with a trustworthy partner before his transition. Surinder falls in love with Tani at first sight. However, Tani is overcome by grief and has no feelings for Surinder. She marries him only to help her father move on peacefully.
To many, this marital arrangement may seem like a ridiculous thing to do. However, if it can be understood as a well-intentioned father simply doing what he thinks is best for his daughter (in a culture where this is considered acceptable), what unfolds next is a treat for the heart and soul!
A cold-hearted Tani moves in with warm-hearted Surinder. Surinder is a sensitive soul and gives her space to come to terms with her challenges. He even moves into a different room and always talks to her with kindness and respect.
After a brief mourning period, Tani makes an effort to open up to Surinder. She beings to take charge of the house but is candid about the fact that she can never love Surinder.
Tani’s distance doesn’t deter Surinder. He continues to love her and does everything in his power to ensure she is happy.
The story takes an interesting twist when a new character Raj enters the scene. I will not give away more about Raj except for the fact that he is a potential threat to the Suri-Tani relationship.
Eventually, Tani finds herself torn between her feelings for Surinder and Raj. She feels obligated to Surinder because he holds an unconditional space for her. However, Raj is like a knight in shining armor!
Tani finally chooses Raj and makes plans to elope with him.
Before this plan can materialize, she happens to accompany Surinder to the Gurudwara- the place of worship for Sikhs. Still feeling unsure about where she is heading in life, she takes the opportunity to surrender to the Divine. She closes her eyes and converses with the Divine from her heart. She asks to be shown the Light.
She receives her answer the moment she opens her eyes!
And with this begins a whole new love story…
Thus, the title, “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” or “A Match Made In Heaven.”
Key Learnings
- Unconditonal love is powerful. It comforts, heals and turns situations around in unexpected ways.
- Love is not always about knights in shining armours or princesses in flowing gowns! Very often, people who appear ordinary are superheroes in disguise.
- We are never alone. When we call out to the Divine from the depths of our hearts, we are certain to receive an answer one way or the other ( as many of us have experienced).
When Spirit Meets Science 