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By Taran
Adarsh, November 9, 2007 - 10:32 IST
 Irrespective of how his films fare at the
box-office, you cannot shut your eyes to the fact
that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films have so much to
offer in terms of style and substance.
Alas, SAAWARIYA is all style, no substance. When a
director of the calibre of SLB attempts a love
story, you expect to experience the various emotions
that you generally associate with romance. Sadly,
the emotions you experience while watching SAAWARIYA
is sorrow and after the screening, anguish.
With splendid backers like Hollywood giant
Columbia/Sony and a dream cast, Bhansali falters big
time in SAAWARIYA. It doesn't give you the feeling
that you're watching an SLB film or a film of epic
proportions. Instead, you constantly feel that
you're watching a 2-hour play.
Dostoevsky's short story WHITE NIGHTS may sound
interesting on paper, but SLB's adaptation suffers
because there's not much meat in the plot. In fact,
it wouldn't be erroneous to state that SAAWARIYA
ranks amongst SLB's weakest films, as far as
scripting is concerned.
To cut a long story short, SAAWARIYA disappoints big
time. You expect the moon from this genius
film-maker, but you're disheartened as you watch his
new creation.
This time, hum dil nahin de chuke sanam!
 SAAWARIYA is about two young star-crossed lovers. A
musician, Raj [Ranbir Kapoor], is certain that he
has found his ultimate dream when he arrives at a
picturesque town. However, destiny paints a
different picture for Raj. One silent night, he
spots a mysterious girl draped in black, standing
alone at a bridge.
This chance encounter introduces him to Sakina [Sonam
Kapoor], a shy and quiet girl, who continues to
intrigue him. Thus follows the beginning of a new
friendship, where Raj, with his most charming ways
and an undying spirit, tries to win Sakina's heart.
Raj is unable to accept her haunting past and their
friendship pulls him into a whirlwind of desire,
madness and romance.
SAAWARIYA suffers because of its writing mainly.
Let's unravel the points that bother the viewer no
end…
Which part of the country is this
straight-out-of-a-fairytale town located? And what
era are we talking of?
Even if you subscribe to the theory that it was love
at first sight for Salman and Sonam, what is it that
keeps their romance going?
Why does Salman disappear suddenly? Besides his
name, the girl knows nothing about him. Not his
home/native place, work/profession/work place,
relatives, nothing absolutely. It's like falling in
love with a shadow, isn't it?
Why does Rani Mukerji abandon Ranbir, when he comes
knocking on her doors and admits that he wants to
spend time with her? Why does she lose her temper,
although she secretly loves him?
And Salman returns. The sequence that follows and
the culmination to the story leave you completely
disgruntled and perplexed!
Besides, the conversation between the lead pair
fails to involve you. Sure, a few sequences are
filmed brilliantly, but the impact the film ought to
create in totality is missing. It gets verbose and
boring after a point.
 What makes matters worse is the setting/ambience.
The film gets monotonous after a point, visually
speaking, since it has been shot in its entirety on
dark sets. You long for some visual relief, some
bright spots, some sunshine…
Monty's music is another sore point. Sure, a few
songs are well tuned, but the everlasting melody,
associated with SLB's films, is missing. You hear
them, savour them that moment, but forget all about
them once the movie concludes.
Ravi K. Chandran's cinematography is of
international standards. The sets look imaginative,
but as mentioned earlier, you yearn for a visual
break, a different colour.
As a storyteller, SLB is letdown by his own writing.
Things start slipping as the reels unfold. In the
post-interval portions, you fervently pray that
things might stabilize, for SLB as also Ranbir and
Sonam's sake, but alas! The love, passion and
anguish, the hallmark of SLB films, is clearly
missing this time.
Now to the dream launches! Ranbir Kapoor is
supremely talented, no two opinions on that. Yes, he
looks handsome, but what you carry home is the
sincerity in his performance. If that's the [high]
level of performance in his debut film, this lad
will only make the Kapoor clan proud in years to
come. It's a 10 on 10 for this debutante!
Sonam Kapoor is an average actor. However, her role
doesn't give her the opportunity to display
histrionics. She looks gorgeous at places, but plain
ordinary at times.
 Age has started showing on Salman Khan's face. He
looks like an old, mature man in this film. The
boyish looks have gone! As for his role, he is
completely wasted in this hardly-10-minute
appearance. Rani Mukerji is first-rate. Zohra Segal
is superb, while Begum Para is hardly there.
On the whole, SAAWARIYA lacks soul. It's SLB's
weakest film to date, in terms of writing. At the
box-office, the film will collect big numbers in its
opening weekend due to the Diwali vacations as also
the hype surrounding the film. But the cracks will
start showing at relatively smaller stations/single
screens first [where the practice of advance booking
doesn't exist] and at big centres as days progress.
For the distributors, they'll have to rely on its
business from multiplexes mainly. While the business
from multiplexes at Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, NCR,
Kolkata, Jaipur and South will be impressive
initially, there would be a big gap between
multiplex and non-multiplex centres. Overall,
disappointing -- in terms of content and in terms of
business as well!
Rating:- *
1/2
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