Saawariya Review

This is a first person review of Saawariya. Let me just start with a prelude...THE THEATRE WAS ONLY HALF FULL ON THE FIRST STAURDAY NIGHT!!! The closest I have come to an emptier theatre was while watching "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom" but that was in the 2nd week. Based on this I was prepared to go through 2-1/2 hrs of torture...But what happened on screen was...

Sheer sublime poetry...the sets were incredible (since there was just one set I guess SLB hasnt really spent too much on the movie - 20crs seems overestimated with just 2 newcomers starring), and the movie was just magic...only thing is, it could have been one hour shorter. The music was a huge disappointment, except one song. There were just too many songs...as seems to be the case with most movies these days. The pace too could have picked up in the middle and end. But the Sanjay Leela Bhansali touch was evident throughout. It is evident SLB has tried Raj Kapoor's format here....what started with Awaara, continued with mera naam joker again picked up with raju ban gaya gentleman (with shahrukh)... has finally been attempted by Sanjay Leela Bhansali - the losing hero. Raju has become Raj and the sets are just slicker...but the underlying theme is the same, the good looking lion hearted hero who is a loser in life...and love. The surprise package is definitely Rani.

About the newcomers, Ranbir Kapoor is the true flag bearer of the family male genes (Karan and Kunal Kapoor were mishaps!!!) He is outstanding...and he does try to do a Raj Kapoor in his style! Sonam...well I reserve judgement on her. Her role was not really that meaty and she seemed hidden under clothes, umbrella, hair most of the time fo one to make a true assessment of her capabilities. She did seem sweet and comfortable when she was visible...

The film's not got the drama associated with SLB, its more of a poetry...and a long one...Later I got to know that the movie was screened on another nearby hall too, maybe the audience had gone there!!!

ps - originally written on 11 Nov, 2007