Saiyaara: Movie Review

Plot

Saiyaara takes us on the rollercoaster journey of Krish Kapoor (played by Ahaan Panday) and Vaani Batra (played by Aneet Padda), two characters entangled in a version of romance that is all too familiar yet lacks the excitement of originality. The film opens with Vaani hoping for a bright future with her boyfriend, Mahesh. Instead, she receives heartbreak when he informs her over the phone that he’s shacking up with someone else and won’t be marrying her. This moment establishes Vaani as the quintessential broken-hearted character that has become a staple in romance dramas.

Fast forward six months, and Vaani begins her new job as a music journalist and runs into the hot-headed Krish. Their interactions are anything but smooth; Krish’s fiery temperament clashes with Vaani's shy demeanor. They begin working together on a project that involves Krish penning a song with the help of Vaani, leading to a series of predictable yet clichéd encounters. As their relationship progresses, Saiyaara explores themes of love, heartbreak, and self-sacrifice, but it struggles to break new ground. The romance invokes all the familiar tropes: the tortured artist, the emotionally unstable hero, and a love that is presented as a cure for personal demons.

The film tries to tackle the age-old dilemma of choosing between love and career, a theme that bears a resemblance to many previous works by director Mohit Suri. Krish is torn between his burgeoning musical career and his growing affection for Vaani, which adds layers to what could simply be a romance story. However, the screenplay falters in creating suspense and intrigue. The climax involving Vaani’s illness feels painfully predictable, robbing the film of the tension it desperately needs.

In essence, while Saiyaara starts with potential, it devolves into a formulaic narrative that feels recycled. The film draws heavily from earlier successful love stories, notably Aashiqui, yet fails to capture the raw emotion that made them compelling. With all its attempts at depth, it ends up being a rehash of clichés, leaving the audience with a hint of disappointment.

Acting

The performances in Saiyaara are a highlight, although they are marred by the story's shortcomings. Ahaan Panday's portrayal of Krish showcases both anger and vulnerability; he truly embodies the restless, brooding musician archetype. His delivery is particularly impressive considering this is his debut performance. Ahaan’s expressive eyes and low yet impactful voice enable him to navigate the complexities of Krish's character, showing flashes of a raw talent that could evolve over time.

Aneet Padda as Vaani balances the weight of her character's angst effectively. She carries the emotional weight of her scenes with grace, especially when her vulnerability is on display. As the story unfolds and her character sinks deeper into despair, Aneet presents a nuanced performance that evokes sympathy. Their chemistry, while not electric, provides just enough emotional resonance to keep viewers engaged.

However, despite their strong performances, both actors sometimes struggle with the material provided. Some dialogue comes off as stilted, making it difficult for them to fully shine in moments that seek to be dramatic or poignant. The intimacy between Krish and Vaani might have benefitted from a more skilled script, as several interactions feel contrived.

In summary, Ahaan and Aneet do the best they can with what they have, attempting to sell a romance that feels borrowed. Their dedication is evident, giving life to a story that, while predictable and flawed, is elevated by their earnest portrayals. Overall, this film serves as a stepping stone for the leads, who show potential for significant growth in their future projects, provided they find material that offers a stronger narrative foundation.

Cinematography

The visual aspect of Saiyaara, much like its narrative, is a mixed bag. Shot under the guidance of a competent cinematographer, the film has moments that captivate but often falls into a routine that feels uninspired. From the opening scenes in the marriage registration office to the dusky nightscape of Mumbai that serves as the backdrop for many romantic moments, each frame holds a promise of visual storytelling that sometimes delivers and sometimes diverges into mediocrity.

The color palette in Saiyaara tends to be washed out, which might be an intended choice to reflect the somber and melancholic themes of the story. However, it often backfires, making the film feel flat rather than emotionally charged. This overly muted aesthetic loses the vibrancy that could have truly brought Krish’s world and Vaani's experiences to life.

Some scenes, particularly the musical segments, do feature an elevated sense of artistry, aligning closely with Mohit Suri's penchant for music-driven narratives. Yet, while the visuals often resemble music videos, they lack the emotional depth that ties everything together. The cinematography seems unable to bridge the gap between what's happening on screen and the emotional stakes at play.

Overall, while Saiyaara does attempt to utilize its cinematographic elements to create a mood, it gets lost in the repetitive cycles of a tired narrative. The emotional highs and lows, which should have been captured engagingly, instead flash by without leaving a lasting impression. The film could have benefited tremendously from a more vibrant visual style that matched the tumultuous love story it aimed to portray.

Direction

Mohit Suri, a director renowned for his work on films like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain, brings his signature touch to Saiyaara. It's evident that he has a knack for weaving stories of romance entwined with deep emotional struggles, yet this time around, he falters under the weight of his established tropes. Suri’s direction oscillates between attempting to depict raw love stories and falling into patterns that have become all too familiar.

Mohit tries to explore the tumultuous nature of relationships backed by passion, but here, he seems to recycle past ideas without offering any fresh perspective. The characters have the same brush strokes he has applied in previous films: the tortured hero, the unfortunately dependent heroine, and the narrative arc of tragic love that hovers somewhere between hopeful and melancholic. However, the relentless repetition of these themes gives the film a recycled feel, making it painfully transparent at times.

A hallmark of Mohit's films is their music, which tends to elevate the emotional impact of the story. Here, while the soundtrack does have promising moments, it isn't enough to lift the material it is wed to. The direction seems to lean heavily on the score to fill in the emotional gaps, and at points, it doesn’t land as intended, leading to an experience that feels hollow.

In conclusion, while Suri has proven to be a capable storyteller with an eye for emotional depth, Saiyaara showcases an evident fatigue from exploring similar motifs. Without innovation in both writing and direction, it becomes easy to blend together with other films in his repertoire that focus on painful love and self-destruction. Unfortunately, this lack of fresh narrative direction leads to a film that feels nostalgic yet disappointingly stale.

Conclusion

Saiyaara is best described as a journey through familiar yet tiresome tropes of romance, heartbreak, and self-discovery. While the story appears to have potential, it ultimately does not deliver anything that hasn’t been said before. The leads, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, showcase a promising start to their careers, but the emotional weight of the story often crumbles under predictability, leaving viewers yearning for more substance.

The cinematography does provide beautiful moments; however, the paleness of the overall aesthetic does little to engage the viewer fully. Suri's ability to make emotional resoundings sing through music often thrives; yet in this case, it struggles to redeem the poorly constructed screenplay. As it stands, Saiyaara risks becoming a footnote in the collection of romantic dramas that lack the depth to resonate long after the credits roll.

In the end, if you're in the mood for a familiar emotional ride through love's highs and lows, Saiyaara might just satisfy that craving. But for those seeking something fresh and innovative in the world of cinema, it ultimately falls short of expectations. While there are moments that will tug at your heartstrings, it seems clear that Saiyaara has too much of yesterday's stories entangled in its fabric to carve out its path.