The Indian audience was desperately begging for romance to return to the big screen after watching innumerable horror comedies and aggressive macho stories. Well, now the genre is making a grand comeback, but the recent films have let us down with messy plots and bland chemistry. Hence, I was a bit sceptical about the Mohit Suri directorial Saiyaara starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The trailer and music videos of the film created massive buzz on the internet, especially among the Gen Z audience, and were also being compared to the OGs. But is it worth all the hype? Read our detailed review to find out.
Plot Of Saiyaara
The story follows Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), an amazing writer whose world shatters when her fiancé betrays her just before their wedding. With her broken heart, she isolates herself and loses her sweet smile and joyful spirit. However, one day her path crosses with Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a struggling musician who dreams about making it big in the music industry.
Krish Kapoor has his own struggles but finds comfort and inspiration in Vaani Batra. They work on creating music together. Well, it’s a classic “bad boy meets innocent girl” trope, and they try to understand and heal each other. Together, they learn to fall in love with their life again and eventually fall in love. However, a sudden tragedy hits, which tests their bond, and they drift apart. Will they find their way back to each other? No spoilers here! While the plot does follow familiar elements, it’s presented in a way that keeps you hooked and interested.
Performances
Ahaan Panday as Krish Kapoor delivers a nice performance for a debutant. He genuinely portrays the emotions of pain, heartbreak and love very well. When he cries on the big screen, you can’t help but shed a few tears as well. Though some of his line deliveries felt a little forced, as if he was trying too hard, his screen presence is good. It’s his first film, and he has a long way to go.
Aneet Padda as Vaani Batra is excellent. Honestly, the trailer didn’t do justice to her role, as she is truly the heart and soul of this film. From her screen presence to her flawless dialogue delivery, she delivers all kinds of emotions brilliantly. Individually, both Ahaan and Aneet shine, but together, their chemistry is simply magical and worth watching.
The supporting cast also delivers strong performances that go well with the lead actors performances. Geeta Agrawal Sharma, who played Aneet Padda’s mother, has some bang-on lines. Alam Khan, with his witty one-liners, made me chuckle every now and then. Overall, the performances in the film shine bright!
Verdict: The Film Will Give You All The Feels!
It’s a simple yet beautiful film. The first half seems a bit bland but gradually makes up for it in the second half. It leaves you moved. However, the duration of the film feels a bit long, and apart from the title track, other songs don’t leave a long-lasting impression.
But, please let me talk about the title track because, oh my god, it was magical. It had already gone viral, but I kid you not, the song in theatres is on another level. I can’t stop humming and imagining a Bollywood romance for myself while writing this review. The film would have been elevated more if the other songs were equally or a bit closer to the masterpiece ‘Saiyaara.’ Ahaan Panday makes an amazing debut with some ifs and buts, and Aneet Padda is truly impressive and steals the show totally.
Surprisingly, even though the film follows the classic formula of a good girl helping to change a “bad boy,” it doesn’t feel old or bothersome. The cinematography is lovely, and while the dialogues are good, they aren’t particularly memorable. However, Saiyaara is a love story that genuinely pulls at your heartstrings and leaves you with a warm feeling.
The movie is currently running in theatres. Are you going to watch it? If yes, please carry tissues with you.
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