Saiyaara is proof that Hindi mainstream cinema hasn’t (yet) forgotten to make a film that tugs at the heart, and more importantly, quietly but firmly makes its place in it. Bringing back old-school romance with a modern vibe, Saiyaara may seem Aashiqui 2-coded in parts, but has enough feel and fire to power its way to blockbuster box office... one which has been missing a raw, real and relatable love story for a while.
Directed by Mohit Suri — the man who has earned enough cred in spinning love stories that meld a beating heart and deeply-felt humanity with searing chemistry and chartbuster melody — Saiyaara introduces two new faces as its leads. But in an age where a performance on a Friday rarely makes a career soar or stumble anymore — determined as it is by social media heft, paparazzi pull and networking skills — Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda prove that they are in it for the long haul. If what they have delivered in their debut film is anything to go by, two new actors with promise and passion, skill and sincerity are born. The stardom that they will invariably achieve after this film will be but a byproduct of the hard work they have put in.
It is perhaps no coincidence that Saiyaara means a star. Not just any star, but one that orbits others, lighting them up even at the cost of dimming itself. Derived from the Arabic word ‘sayyar’, also meaning ‘traveller’, it first found its way into our collective consciousness with the soulful Ek Tha Tiger number that went: ‘Saiyaara main saiyaara, saiyaara tu saiyaara, sitaaron ke jahaan mein milenge ab yaara.’ Ek Tha Tiger, like Saiyaara, was from the stable of Yash Raj Films, a production house that has given Indian cinema some of its most memorable love stories. They don’t disappoint with their latest.
In Saiyaara, Krish (Ahaan) and Vaani (Aneet) are each other’s ‘saiyaara’. Tortured youngsters with a past that clouds their present, the two come together for work — he is an ambitious rockstar-in-the-making with a permanent chip on his shoulder, she a budding songwriter — but it is their damaged souls that bind them. They heal each other in many ways, his career takes off, romance gradually blossoms.... But what is a compelling love story without a strong conflict? Suri, along with writer Sankalp Sadanah, brings in a twist that isn’t novel, but has enough dramatic feel to make you root for the young lovers.
It is to Ahaan and Aneet’s credit that the two lift their characters off the page and make them flesh-and-blood characters whose pain pricks you as much as the headiness of their love hits you.
Ahaan’s rough-around-the-edges vulnerability is perfect for the part of his complex angry young man (though his dialogue delivery needs some work). Very early on in the film, a smart scene — Rohan Shankar does an effective job with the dialogues, especially in the emotional scenes — has Krish ranting against the “privilege” that “nepo kids” enjoy, possibly in an attempt to pre-empt the criticism that comes in for every Bollywood star kid. Ahaan, though, isn’t part of that pack. Saiyaara has him playing a raw, flawed man who loves and loathes with equal ferocity, with Suri giving the chocolate-faced debutant none of the Karan Johar treatment that most nepo-newcomers stride — slo-mo style — into the industry with.
Aneet, whose screen presence is remarkable for a newcomer, also springs a big surprise, expertly nailing the subtle nuances of her layered character. At a time of cookie-cutter leading ladies, one non-distinguishable from the other, Aneet’s simple yet striking looks remind one of a young(er) Aditi Rao Hydari. Together, and individually, Ahaan and Aneet make even the pedestrian and predictable bits of Saiyaara watchable. That the film’s publicity campaign has kept them away from the spotlight before release adds to their fresh factor on screen.
What also works for Saiyaara is its bouquet of songs. Suri’s cinema has always been known for the lasting power of its soundtrack, and the action and emotion in Saiyaara is accentuated by its strong musical score that is sure to find a place in your playlist — if it hasn’t already — at least for the next few months.
At 156 minutes, Saiyaara is a long watch, perilously close to dragging in between, but Suri — keeping his finger on the pulse of the audience as he navigates the highs and lows in the lives of his protagonists — reins it in, signing off with a bittersweet ending that makes you smile as well as sniffle.
The packed Friday morning show I found myself in — peopled with viewers of all ages, but dominated by GenZers — cheered and clapped loudly every time love trumped an obstacle to triumph. Such reactions, in today’s times of larger-than-life cinema, are mostly reserved for a punch well landed or a punchy dialogue well delivered. Welcome back, romance! Well done, Saiyaara!
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