Saawariya [2007]

Saawariya
Reviewed by Manpreet Bhandal

[As this is a review of the film, it may consist of spoilers so beware incase..]

Expectations: 'Khamoshi', 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', ' Devdas' and 'Black'… there's little I can say to describe, without taking too much time, just how brilliant each one of these four films are. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is not only a filmmaker beyond excellence but also someone who cannot get enough of churning out films nothing short of being classics back to back! I was so excited when Sanjay launched Saawariya because to me SLB is the epitome of filmmaking, he's everything a director should be, and he is my inspiration! When he announced his cast I was ecstatic!

Ranbir Kapoor – the son of my first ever favourite actor.
Sonam Kapoor – the daughter of an actor I've grown up watching and admiring.
Salman Khan – one of my favourite actors from the day I learnt to walk/talk.
Rani Mukerji – an actress I've admired and loved obsessively for almost 10 years.

To have these beautiful people under the master wand of my most favourite director, I couldn't imagine it getting any better! Then in September when the music was launched, I became crazy and yes there is no better way to describe it. I fell deeply and hugely in love with "Bir and Sona" (that's Ranbir and Sonam, in case you hadn't yet gathered), and Monty Sharma's music had me under a spell! The first promo was in the beautiful signature-style of SLB and I was so excited! The release date got closer and I kept on feeling the strangest of emotions… one minute I'd feel absolutely excited and positive and then I would feel ridiculously nervous.

I didn't get much sleep at all last night so forgive me for writing a lazy (but still lengthy of course *haha*) review.

And now the review…

Initial thoughts: They say that when you go in for an interview, the employer makes up their mind about you within the first few minutes. The same happens with a film. Just a few frames into the film and I knew I was in for something fantastic! I knew I had entered a dream-like world, which is going to take me away from all my own worries and present me with something beautifully welcoming.

Storyline: As I just mentioned above it's a dream-like film. We're transcended to a world we can't really relate to, yet yearn to know more about. We question whether the world truly exists, whether these characters really exist or whether they are a figment of Gulab's imagination. Based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story 'White Nights' the story itself is not exactly breathtakingly unique or unseen, but it's been dealt with in the most remarkable manner. It's surreal, yet inviting. We know this place doesn't exist; yet we wish it did. Time and place do not play important characters in 'Saawariya'; in fact they are insignificant factors.

The most beautiful part about the story is how Sanjay has managed to bring in so many messages without rubbing them in your face. He doesn't lecture you, yet he does touch upon issues… be it the way the prostitutes lead their lives or how 'Lollipop' has been living life so alone and isolated.

Technicalities: It really doesn't come as a surprise that the film was definitely the most beautiful piece of visual poetry I have ever witnessed. Cinematographer Ravi K Chandran has yet again worked his magic and bought to us an unimaginable, dreamlike, beautiful and striking cinema experience which leaves you in awe, credit for this of course also goes to the art director Omung Kumar. Let me put it this way – if you thought Devdas and Black were the best you were going to get from SLB in terms of visual-appeal, you were pleasantly mistaken! Everything else is first rate. The screenplay and editing work together wonderfully and refrain from allowing the viewer to get bored at any point of time, in short the film does not drag and has been skilfully edited. I was really upset to see that some songs were cut short and others were entirely omitted, but I respect the editor (which happens to be director SLB himself) did his job with the films best interest at heart.

Costumes/Character styling: Wonderful! The film did not demand dramatic 'costumes' per se, but the outfits worn were suited to each character. Job well done by each and every costume designer!

Music: I have been hearing the songs of Saawariya like crazy ever since the soundtrack released. Even when I had an ear infection, I didn't stop listening to these songs, doesn't that say enough? Monty Sharma stunned his with his themes/scores in 'Devdas' and 'Black' but with 'Saawariya' he has proved to be one of our finest music directors ever. This is a soundtrack I surely won't be forgetting, ever! Without a doubt, it's an evergreen album. Each and every song has been composed/arranged beautifully and the vocals are absolutely superb!

Choreography: Every song has been choreographed with divine beauty. Each one of them is a visual extravaganza! Special mention to 'Chabeela' and 'Yoon Shabnami', both of which are so festive and perfect for the Diwali season in which the film has released.

Performances:

Ranbir Kapoor stuns! And how! I really can't find words to describe just how cute and natural this boy is. He is so charming! When his introduction came in the film, I was about to fall off my seat… believe it or not, I pinched myself 10 times because I felt so numb and thought I was dreaming…even pinching myself didn't help because I still thought I am dreaming! I simply cannot believe that Rishi's son has truly arrived… and he is so incredible! Natural, cute and charming are the best adjectives to describe him. He exudes such warmth you just feel like reaching out to him and giving him the biggest hug. Yes, it's true… the film belongs to him entirely. I feel like I have been blessed that I have finally seen him onscreen, it's like a dream come true. He's a fantastic actor and to think this was just a debut performance is absolutely ridiculously impossible. An incredibly fine performance! Hats off Ranbir… keep working this way. There's no doubt you're here to stay, just keep at it because there are no two ways about it – you are our next superstar…I say we already send you off to Madame Tussauds haha! Oh and "I love you baby!" LOL

Sonam Kapoor is so heavenly beautiful! Every time Sonam came on the screen I couldn't take my eyes of her (and yes people, I am still straight!), she's just so beautiful and has such classic beauty. One second she looks adorable and innocent like a child and the next second she'll look so prim and proper lady-like. I cannot believe some critics were being so harsh on her, I am really insulted by them because I fail to understand who exactly they were watching, as it cant be the same girl I watched. She blew me away with her talent and beauty both. She has such grace in her every move, in her every word… she's truly fantastic! It breaks my heart to think that she wasn't thinking of becoming an actress, because if not her I cant imagine a single other actress doing this role (no, not even our senior actresses!). Her voice really stole my heart. She's too cute! Not only have we found our next male superstar in Ranbir but we've also found our next female superstar in Sonam! Sonam, like Ranbir too, I believe you also are going to grow from strength to strength… it's hard to imagine how you can get even better (because you both were so freaking fantastic), but I know you will keep on surprising me…keep up the great work!

Both Ranbir and Sonam share the most immaculate chemistry, absolutely flawless pairing. They are both our forthcoming super-super-superstars and I am so proud of them! They both act, look and dance like a dream, a very beautiful dream!! I am so impressed… they have truly lived up to my expectations, and believe me you my expectations were freaking high! I truly am in love with them all over again… if you thought I couldn't get madder about them, trust me I am…I don't know what I'm going to do now until their next film releases! They were just so fresh and so lovely!! Oh and one more quick note… I've never seen a newcomer use their eyes as expressively as Ranbir and Sonam did, they completely floored me with their brilliant performances… they were Ranbir Raj and Sakina and not Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam!

So yes, the ending was a bit hard to digest… but then aren't all of SLB's endings? I accept the ending as the perfect ending to 'Saawariya', I cannot imagine it any other way. If Ranbir Raj is lonely it's only because Sakina is with her true love, so we have to be happy for Sakina! And I'm sure Raj wont be upset or anything because if he is, he'll just get in that "boxing ring" haha…aww…

Rani Mukerji is a 'pataka' [firework] in every sense of the word! She lives the role of Gulab with such natural ease but of course that doesn't surprise me an ounce because I always expect the most natural and perfect performances from her, she wont know how to give a bad performance even if she tries haha (unless she is acting to act bad of course!)… she looks her career-best, so gorgeous!! Her dialogue delivery is superb and she had me laughing so much…love this woman to death!

Zohra Sehgal was a sweetheart. It was so good to see her! And she has the sweetest smile!!

Salman Khan had a very short appearance and not much of a demanding character but Salman being Salman leaves a fantastic impression nonetheless. He does complete justice to Imaan.

Others were fantastic too, everyone did a brilliant job!

Sanjay Leela Bhansali… what can I say? The man is my Guru! If anyone can dare make a film like this, it's him… in the 90s decade when everything was about masaala love stories, he made Khamoshi. At a time when it was all about mini skirts, he made HDDCS and Devdas. At a time when filmmakers want to keep safe with love stories, he made Black (a film which broke all boundaries and gave leeway to filmmakers who are now free to make whatever the hell they want!)… with Saawariya he yet again proves his worth as a director. What he extracts from these newcomer kids is unbelievable! Sanjay, last time I reviewed your film in 2005 I bowed down to you and thanked you for everything you taught me. This time, I've just run out of ways of saying how brilliant you are…You're the best…end of!

Overall, Saawariya is yet another classic feather in SLB's cap. This man cannot go wrong and he proved that to me today! I am so, so, so happy and so content with what I saw. It's one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. It's hard to compare it to Sanjay's other films because I love them all so much, but I'd say if it's second to anyone of his films it's only Black. One of the finest films of our generation…SLB, thank you once again for a cinematic experience of a lifetime.

Rating: 9.5/10