Saiyaara - A kind of review

I was struck by a comment my daughter made after watching the super-successful Bollywood movie 'Saiyaara' for a second time yesterday (yes, she loved it so much she had to watch it again, and I was the casualty!). For those who do not watch Bollywood movies, the synopsis of this movie is that it tells the story of a young couple who both have painful pasts and help each other through them. They are pleased with their present, but the future has other plans that test their commitment to each other. Through the usual song and dance (which I find very romantic) and drama (which I find very unnecessary), the story progresses with the underlying theme that no matter how successful you are, how many goals you reach, how many dreams you achieve, if you are unable to have the person you love next you, then you keep finding ways to run back to them. Even if going back to them means that you are going against your success that you claimed after a long struggle. Even that becomes meaningless in the absence of this special person. So, what if the whole world knows me, if she is forgetting who I am! The hero Krish Kapoor laments, and that is the entire premise of the story. Interestingly, the same movie argues against the concept of sacrificing your dreams for a person who has no trouble breaking your heart and going to great lengths to pursue their own goals, while you are left struggling to breathe. The first decision proves highly challenging to our pretty young heroine as she loses all her sense of purpose and direction. Yeah, she forgets to even smile! She, however, fights against it, taking baby steps when she is presented with a man who becomes her support system. She in turn becomes his support system. Then follows the unnecessary drama that pulls them apart and tests the hero’s dedication to a woman who not only accepted his flaws but helped him overcome them. Does he go back to her or go to the world that worships him after he overcame his flaws? Ahaan Panday’s portrayal of Krish Kapoor, who achieves dizzying heights but cannot quite enjoy his success because his woman is suffering, takes this movie to another level. He brings that element of believability to the role that seems to be the reason for tears flowing freely with Gen-Z. That a man could love a woman like that, that a man could think that suffering with the woman he loves gives him more happiness than crooning to the biggest fan gathering at a concert. I believe this good old-fashioned love had lost its way in Bollywood, with even Shah Rukh Khan trying to outwit his lady love in action-packed drivel. It’s beautiful to watch Krish Kapoor cry effortlessly, never question his heroine’s commitment, and basically do everything in his power to find and keep his woman. He takes her weaknesses in stride, never stops dreaming of a life with her, and continues to work towards their relationship even in the worst of circumstances. Even when she takes a knife to him! Of course, reality sometimes takes a nosedive in these romances, but it is still heartwarming to watch. This movie gives back the hero in Bollywood, the freedom to love his woman completely, be supportive of her, and hold her hand through the worst of circumstances. In recent times, I have found that this is lacking, and it’s almost as if the hero is considered more macho if he disrespects, tricks, or even hits the woman he loves. That sets a dangerous precedent. Even those films lack a lesson in depicting reality. I would much rather watch a movie that paints an almost perfect picture of selfless love. If nothing else, I hope this generation can see how beautiful it is when a man truly loves a woman. How wonderful it is when a man gives back to the woman the same kind of support and commitment that she had extended to him. It also teaches the girls that this is the kind of man they should aspire to have in their lives. That nothing is more beautiful, not his muscles, nor his money, nor his arrogance, than a ride on the motorcycle with him as he zooms on it, making sure you are well protected and near him. Yes, romance has been glorified in this movie. However, I’d much rather this be glorified than mindless violence and misogynistic love stories. Hopefully, the days of musical love stories where the woman is shown in a positive light and the man loves her wholly are back in Bollywood. It’s great to feel the same kind of feelings one felt while watching a Qayamat se Qayamat Tak, an Aashiqui, a Maine Pyar Kiya, or a Dil To Pagal hain! Some of the things I loved about the movie The heroine’s mom comes at Krish with a tirade, demanding that he either leave her or marry her. It was pretty comical to watch her give him an ultimatum on the first day she saw her daughter, Vaani, with him. But what does Krish do? He goes to Vaani and says that we should get married. Sweet! The music is so great! Grows on you, and finally we get to hear romantic songs that are not Arijit’s. No offense to him, he is the best when it comes to crooning to their tunes, but new talent is always good to hear. The ‘Mere paas aur kuch pal baaqi hain’ (I have a few more moments left) scene was endearing. Wish they had used it a little less, though. The tattoos that Krish Kapoor sports, especially the arm band one, were simply stunning. More than him, I watched the tattoo; it was so attractively placed and highlighted through his guitar-playing skills! They used these subtle things to highlight the hero’s desirability rather than have some half-witted woman running after him or have the heroine keep saying - tum kya cheez ho yaar! (Karah Johar, please don’t do that, Ranveer Singh doesn’t need that to show that he is hot!). Of course, the best scene was when he sees her on the big screen and runs towards it, collapsing. Don’t think there was a dry eye for that one. Loved the way he kept on repeating things to make her remember. He keeps getting tired but does not let up until she does. Not practical, but still a joy to watch his persistence. The wedding scene at the end added significantly to the movie. I don’t think I could have handled another sad ending after Aashiqui 2’s ending, thirteen years ago. Some of the things I did not love so much about the movie Why oh why, did they have to bring her ex in and make such a mess? It was so bad, I take like 3 points away from the movie for this unbelievably insipid track. The movie went from being very good to decent with that track. Ugh! Krish treats his friends so horribly. Being an angel towards the love of your life does not mean that you behave like shit with your friends. He could be nicer to them, considering they were responsible for his ultimate success. To be fair, he is shown like that even before he meets her. So, it was a character flaw, but it was not easy to stomach. Especially the scene where he is locked in the bathroom doing acrobatics with a woman while his friend, whom he just dissed, is worried about him. Easily the lousiest scene in the movie. The whole track with Krish’s dad was incredibly lacking, too. I wish they had explored it more, considering his whole angst and trauma are because of his dad’s alcoholism. Vaani is such a pretty face, but I wish they hadn't made her act with the innocence and naivety of an 8-year-old. She did a good job, but sometimes her saccharine sweetness, even while stabbing the hero, was a bit much! All in all, a good watch if you are into romantic musicals (who isn’t?)! My daughter’s comment, you ask? How much personality adds to a person's appearance, and ultimately, what matters most is love. I think it was a win for Mohit Suri, the director of the film, if Gen-Z can come away feeling that way from the movie.