Saiyaara: A Film Review and My Thoughts on Its Reception
Saiyaara Reception and Backlash
Saiyaara opened to an 84 crores net domestic box office figure on its opening weekend, a feat unheard of for a film with newcomers, in an industry still recognised as primarily star-led. (For context, the two major films starring newcomers in the past 13 years- Dhadak and Student of the Year, earned 33.65 and 30 crores respectively). I have been a Bollywood (or Hindi film industry) fan for as long as I can remember. Seeing one of its films get such a massive reception has been heartwarming, and I cannot remember the last time a film got so much love. It has now been two weeks since the film’s release. I have read both positive and negative reactions to the film’s unprecedented success, and after digesting it all, I thought it was finally time to revisit my blog and pen down my honest opinion on both the film and everything that has followed since its release.
Skeptics will spin many theories, but the truth is that whether you like it or not, this film has cemented itself both in the hearts of the audience and in the legacy of Hindi cinema. Countless films before it have engaged the audiences with reels and memes on social media, just look at the recently released Son of Sardar 2 and its viral dance step that trended on most social media platforms. That film’s reception has been lukewarm, despite it having postponed its release by a week to avoid the Saiyaara wave that has taken over the industry.
Unless a film speaks to the audience, it cannot be labelled a blockbuster, and it certainly cannot mint 450 crores gross (and counting) at the global box office. If you are willing to believe that YRF (the studio that produced it) invested so much money and energy in hyping up Saiyaara, but not films like Jesh Bhai Zordaar, Shamshera, and Samrat Prithviraj starring superstars, then that is quite a stretch. Even if you believe that these reels are paid PR, you cannot possibly believe that a few random reels will influence people to such an insane extent that it will lead to a thunderous response at the box office. You may not like the film, and you are absolutely entitled to that opinion, but if you deny the fact that anyone else could have possibly liked it, despite packed theatres, then forgive me, but that will lead me to label you a hater.
Now, for the million-dollar question (dollars that YRF is definitely not in need of), is the film worth the hype? Read my review to know what I thought of it.
Saiyaara Review
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½
Cast: Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda, Alam Khan, Shaan Groverr, Geeta Agrawal Sharma
Director: Mohit Suri
Saiyaara is Mohit Suri’s world. Everyone is just a little bit more melodramatic than they need to be. The dialogues evoke intense emotion but also cause you to (in some cases) cringe at the source material, like when a mom tells her daughter, “ apne aasu bacha ke rakhna beta, aaj paratha main mirchi zyaada daali hain.”
Let’s be real, Saiyaara is not for the sceptics, it’s not for those sitting in the theatre prepared to find fault with its story, or characters. Saiyaara is for the romantics. It is for those who root for the guy to reunite with the girl and let the music and story immerse them in the emotionally charged world of the film.
It is not hard to let that immersion take place, primarily because the lead pair is magnetic. Ahaan Panday as the now famous Krrish Kapoor is terrific in his first film. He is raw, earnest, and cries with an intensity that makes your heart melt. Aneet Padda is lovely. She shines in the silences and imbues Vani with a natural likability that makes you root for her. Even when the dialogues make you want to roll your eyes, the sincerity of the two leads keeps you engrossed.
Ahaan portrays a character who undergoes a kind of melting of his hard exterior almost instantly on meeting his love interest, Vani. The pivot in his character seems rather quick; however, Saiyaara is not saddled with the idea of a slow-burning romance or layered character development. It is not trying to be that film. The idea is simple: feel the emotion, and do not ask for nuance in character development.
The love story, however, is nuanced. It is not your run of the mill boy meets girl story. It is deeper than that, ultimately causing the emotions that come with that depth to be more nuanced. While the first half of Saiyaara is average, the second half is where it really comes into its own. Apart from the lead pair, what really positions this film as a romantic success is its music. Saiyaara’s music is transportive. Whether it’s the (at one point in time, no. 4 on global Spotify charts) title song ‘Saiyaara’, the unmistakably melodious ‘Tum ho toh’, or even Arijit Singh’s ‘Dhun’, the music adds another dimension to the film.
Saiyaara has moments that seem out of place, for instance, when Krrish uses cricket, and a weakly crafted monologue to motivate Vani to write music, or how his rash and frankly violent behaviour at the start of the film does not seem to have any consequences. I mentioned it before, and I will mention it again, this is a film that really needs you to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy it. If you know you cannot do that, then avoid watching this film, you will save your time and also save the audience members you are seated with from having to listen to your exasperated sighs.
At the end, Saiyaara leaves you with a feeling, a feeling that love conquers all, and that feeling is powerful enough to move you, and move the cash registers as well. Go watch the film, it will reignite your belief in love!
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