?Film: Saiyaara
Cast: Ahaan Pandey, Aneet Padda
Directed by: Mohit Suri
Duration: 2 hours 36 minutes
Rating: * *
Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara is a love story that seems to exist solely within the realm of cinema. Where else can you see a character stating, "Dil se banaya gaana hain, feelings hain isme" (The song is crafted from the heart, it embodies emotions) with a straight face and in all seriousness? Or lines like, "Tumse milne ke baad mera dard behgaya" (My sorrows have washed away after meeting you), as Vani Batra expresses to Krish Kapoor (Given that this is a Yashraj film, the presence of Kapoor, Batra, and the likes is expected). I wish I could share her feelings, but my own sorrows started soon as the film began and persisted until it ended.
As a musical love story, Saiyaara offers little beyond its new soundtrack. The characters, scenes, and overall writing tend to induce yawns, when not cringeworthy.
In the opening scene, we find Vani Batra (Aneet Padda) left in a lurch at the courthouse when her fiancé fails to appear. Instead, he calls to inform her that he is on his way to the airport to fly to the U.S. due to a promotion at work. He also reveals that he will not be marrying her because he has found another partner. Vani is left in shock and heartache; later, her mother advises her, "Bhoolja puraani baatein" (Forget about the past). The young woman becomes sufficiently distracted when she notices a young man showcasing his physique, lighting a cigarette while riding a motorcycle, and notably, he is not wearing a helmet. She feels an immediate attraction towards him; after all, opposites do attract - she embodies the simple jeans and kurta style, while some individuals are drawn to the allure of bad boys. He confronts a journalist who promotes "nepo kids" (the hero by the way, is Chunky Pandey's nephew), as Vani observes his audacity from afar.
He is Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Pandey), a vocalist and lead guitarist of a band struggling to achieve success. It is revealed that Vani ji is an aspiring journalist who also pens poetry in her diary, which Krish discovers. To his delight, he has never encountered such exquisite poetry, as if she is Emily Dickinson.
A rapper engages Krish to create songs for him, and Krish, in turn, enlists Vani ji to craft the lyrics. Fortunately, we do not hear the rap. However, we witness Krish performing before an audience in the rain, showing little concern for the keyboard, drums, and other electronic equipment that are getting soaked.
She also instructs him on songwriting and the type of motivation and inspiration she requires to get into the right mindset. The film conveys everything through lengthy, cumbersome dialogues. Scenes and emotions resonate more powerfully when they develop organically, rather than when characters forcefully articulate everything.
Krish also grapples with daddy issues, but all we learn is that his father is an alcoholic and he requires funds for his treatment - thus, he relinquishes the rights to his songs for some money to treat his father.
In the meantime, the couple becomes intimate in his bedroom, where his motorcycle is parked. A trivial detail, yet I found myself pondering about the presence of the bike in the bedroom. He also rises to fame overnight, and there is a scene at the Church Square in Panaji, where his fans gather as if he were the reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix. When he proposes marriage, she responds, "Krish, tumhe shaadi ka matalab pata hain?" (Krish, do you understand the meaning of marriage?) Those discussions may deter individuals from pursuing marriage or romance - or both.
Now, here is a sort of spoiler - In Erich Segal's Love Story, the protagonist is found to have a terminal illness, whereas here, Vani ji is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. A rather unsympathetic doctor informs her about what is in store in the future, "Aapko kuch yaad nahi rahega, na dost, na family, na pyaar" (You won't remember anything, neither friends, family, nor love). This deeply troubles her. To make matters more complicated, her ex makes a reappearance. Alzheimer's and his lover's ex on the scene is bit too much to handle for Krish, yet he makes every effort to manage the situation. He even disembarks from the plane before takeoff and runs across the tarmac, without the fear of being sucked into the engine, just to see her. Meanwhile, she offers him advice on how to win back his friend, which is actually her - "Apne dost ke liye gaana banao, uske dil ko chu gaya to kabhi chod ke nahi jayegi" (Write a song for your friend; if it touches her heart, she will never leave). The climax features the name Virat Kohli and presents the only valuable tip in the film - keep a straight elbow while executing the drive.
Credit is due to newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda for their commendable performances. It certainly must have been challenging to deliver those lines with the appropriate expressions. The music, by assorted composers, does not significantly enhance the film's value, unless you are already an admirer of the soundtrack.