When hearts are divided, chemistry multiplies.
Many of us who watch and read romance are drawn to love triangles more than any other trope. We're all looking to be fought over. Introduce me to someone who doesn't secretly enjoy that two other people are lusting after them. At one point, all of us have wanted to be a prize that is being fought over, people just vying for our attention, wanting to be chosen by us.
Although romantic love has been defined as a two-person religion, triangles can affect love pairs. They may even be entirely contaminated by them. Our first triangular (Oedipal) involvement marks the end of our excessive infantile reliance on Mother and our emergence into the world as independent contenders. The developmental love dialogues lead us from the blissful mother-child pairing of childhood to the triangular Oedipal complex, revived in adolescence and resolved only when we achieve the glory of first love and thus restore the psychological centrality of the original love connection.
I have always believed that real-life love triangles, in addition to relationship drama, can be stressful and should be stayed away from at all costs. But that doesn't mean we can't live a happy, rainbow-filled life while watching some of the best love triangle movies to satisfy our innate craving for complicated romance drama. Since silent cinema, love triangles have been a popular plot device. And each time, it has been an enormous success. The secret is that everyone enjoys drama. Excitement and intrigue pull you in, and then there's the thrill of picking a side and debating who the best is for hours on end. Love triangles add a sense of suspense to any story. All mysteries have one thing in common: a conflict, a solution, and a person to piece together the clues that lead to the solution.
Bollywood is known for its melodramatic storytelling; love triangles amplify this aspect. The conflicting emotions of the characters involved create intense dramatic moments. I can't finish talking about love triangles without mentioning Karan Johar. We all know that a dharma film would be incomplete without a love triangle, and he simply cannot get enough of them. And that may be why four of his eight films feature a love triangle plot. Rahul in 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' fell for Tina. After her death, he realizes he is always in love with his best friend, Anjali. A classic example is the film "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge," in which Simran's conflict between her duty to her family and her love for Raj is the central conflict, resulting in emotionally charged scenes.
As they navigate their love triangle in the 2020 Bollywood film "Love Aaj Kal," the characters experience intense jealousy and envy. The film delves into the psychology of jealousy, demonstrating how it can fuel insecurities and, as a result, influence people's choices in their relationships. Another typical case is the 1975 film "Sholay," in which Veeru and Jai compete for Radha's affection. Veeru's jealousy is evident as he fears losing Radha to Jai, and this jealousy heightens the film's emotional drama. The psychology is simple: jealousy stems from a fear of abandonment and a perceived rivalry for love. Another aspect of jealousy explored in Bollywood love triangles is its destructive nature. Films such as "Devdas" and "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" show how jealousy can lead to violent behavior. In the eponymous movie, Devdas' jealousy eventually leads to alcoholism and despair, whereas in "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna," Dev and Maya's jealousy compromises their own happiness and the lives of those around them.
There is also a clear commercial advantage for creators and producers in satisfying our desire for love triangles. It increases reader/audience engagement and the likelihood of more books, TV seasons, and movies. The allure of love triangles in film can be attributed to several factors that strike a deep chord with viewers. They appeal to one of the most universally applicable and relatable human emotions: love and desire. The entanglement of three characters, each with their own longings, motivations, and flaws, beautifully depicts the complexity of human emotions. Love triangles allow writers to delve extensively into character development. Each character in the triangle has their own set of motivations, flaws, and development arc. In "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai," Rahul's evolution from a free-spirited young man to a responsible father is driven by his feelings for Tina and Anjali.
As the audience becomes deeply invested in the characters, they wonder what will happen. Will the protagonist go with the passionate, impulsive lover or the steady, dependable partner? This element of suspense keeps viewers interested and eager to see how the story develops.
They become the focus of our conversations with people. I have been so invested in these on-screen love triangles that I've felt offended if the main character chose someone I wouldn't. Don't even get me started on the debates I have gotten into about why Belly should decide Conrad over Jeremiah when the latest Summer I Turned Pretty season came out. We try to reason whether the main character should go for a good boy/girl or a bad boy/girl. Why? Because predicting it makes us feel accomplished. This trope sells because we, as the audience, are head over heels for it. These characters are confused about who to choose to keep our minds engaged, making us go back repeatedly. These love triangles are like the forbidden fruit. We all want what we can't have but are too stifled to say it. The appeal of Love Triangles in Movies The appeal of Love Triangles in Movies
