SPOILERS AHEAD
Mohit Suri’s latest directorial, “Saiyaara,” is a romantic drama that feels like a nostalgic journey back to the heart-wrenching love stories Bollywood once excelled at. True to Suri’s signature style, the film heavily relies on its music, a quality he himself acknowledges as a hallmark of his successful films like “Aashiqui 2” and “Ek Villain.” However, with “Saiyaara,” Suri aims to weave music and narrative more intrinsically, crafting a tale where memory and melody are inseparable.
“Saiyaara” centers on Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), an intense singer, and Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), an equally intense songwriter, whose burgeoning love story faces a daunting challenge: Vaani’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The film draws clear parallels to classics like “Rockstar” and “Aashiqui 2,” blending elements of musical ambition with the bittersweet reality of a love threatened by memory loss. Despite familiar tropes, the film feels fresh, largely due to its rootedness in the emotional power of music.
As Suri’s first collaboration with Yash Raj Films, “Saiyaara” seems to find a missing piece in his creative puzzle, delivering a romantic tearjerker that has been sorely missed in an era of more formulaic rom-coms and action flicks. The film’s surprisingly strong box office performance, with quick sell-outs and added late-night shows, suggests a hungry audience for this kind of emotional cinema.
Acting
The performances are undoubtedly the film’s backbone. Ahaan Panday delivers a remarkable debut as Krish, a complex character who evolves from a self-absorbed artist to a selfless lover. Initially, his portrayal of the “sadboi-Kabir Singh” archetype might feel a bit unpolished in his more aggressive scenes, but he truly shines in the film’s second half, displaying a surprising range of vulnerability and conviction. His screen presence is captivating, reminiscent of classic hero gestures, and he manages to make Krish’s journey of self-discovery genuinely compelling.
Aneet Padda is the revelation of “Saiyaara” as Vaani. She brings a refreshing naturalness and quiet strength to a character that could have easily been reduced to a mere plot device. Padda masterfully conveys Vaani’s internal struggles, especially after her diagnosis, showcasing a protagonist who grapples with the weight of her condition. Her control in delivering powerful, theatrical dialogues is particularly impressive, making her a significant find for Bollywood.
The supporting cast also delivers solid performances. Alam Khan as Kiwi, Krish’s loyal best friend, provides essential comic relief and emotional grounding, akin to Rockstar’s Khatana Bhai. Geeta Agarwal and Rajesh Kumar as Vaani’s parents offer a balanced portrayal of supportive and concerned parents. Varun Badola, as Krish’s alcoholic father, leaves a lasting impression with poignant lines that resonate with Suri’s classic style. Even Shaan R Groverr, in a limited role as Vaani’s ex-boyfriend Mahesh, effectively conveys the character’s arrogance and insecurity. The chemistry between Ahaan and Aneet is warm and believable, contributing significantly to the film’s dream-launch vibe.
Direction
Mohit Suri’s direction in “Saiyaara” attempts to fuse the emotional depth of “Aashiqui 2” with the visual flair of “Malang,” while injecting a contemporary Gen Z sensibility. The film is undeniably a “classic Mohit Suri flick,” complete with his signature melodramatic tone, aesthetically pleasing shots of the heroine, and slow-motion cinematic introductions. Suri’s knack for visually representing emotional landscapes through songs is evident, with the title track montages and the hero’s impactful single-shot performance standing out.
However, the balance doesn’t always land perfectly. The emotional beats, while present, sometimes feel unearned due to rushed transitions and a lack of sufficient buildup in the narrative. For instance, the rapid escalation of the leads’ intimacy or the sudden surge in Krish’s career feels less organic. The inclusion of Vaani’s ex-boyfriend for added drama, while justifiable in a broader sense for reversing tropes of sacrifice and caregiving, sometimes feels clumsy. Despite these minor missteps, Suri successfully revives the “make-heartbreak-great-again” genre, focusing on the sensory relationship between music and memory, and delivering an old-school tearjerker that transcends typical rom-coms.
Technical Aspects
“Saiyaara” is visually engaging, with Suri utilizing his characteristic beauty shots and cinematic framing to enhance the romantic narrative. The depiction of Vaani’s Alzheimer’s, while taking some creative liberties, is justified by its narrative purpose of challenging traditional sacrifice and savior syndromes. The musical sequences are a highlight, filmed as extensions of the characters’ emotional states. The film’s overall aesthetic embraces the multiplex experience while retaining a single-screen emotionality.
Music
True to Mohit Suri’s reputation, the music in “Saiyaara” is exceptional and arguably its greatest strength. The soundtrack single-handedly shoulders much of the film’s emotional weight where the script might occasionally falter. The songs are undeniably “earwormy” in the best Vishesh Films-coded way, echoing the melancholic yet hopeful romance that Suri is known for. The deliberate choice to let the music drive the narrative, a quality that often overshadowed the stories in his previous films, here feels more harmonious with the plot. The film even subtly jabs at current music trends, advocating for a return to original thoughts over rap infusions. The songs linger long after the credits roll, making “Saiyaara” a memorable musical experience and the true heart of the movie.
Overall
“Saiyaara” offers a much-needed return to the emotionally rich, old-school romantic dramas that Bollywood once championed. While it bears the familiar stamp of Mohit Suri’s filmmaking, with some predictable plot beats and occasional narrative conveniences, it is largely salvaged by its outstanding musical score and, more importantly, the surprisingly strong performances of its lead debutants, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. They bring a compelling conviction to their characters, making you invested in their tumultuous love story. “Saiyaara” is a film that tugs at the heartstrings and, despite its minor flaws, manages to deliver a poignant and memorable cinematic experience.