Saawariya (2007)

Overrated

Good concept, poorly executed.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Mark my words - down the line, this movie will be remembered as a debut of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Undoubtedly they show a lot of promise as budding artistes. The major factor which worked against the box-office results for "Saawariya" was being pitted against "Om Shanti Om" which made the war focally a battle and started the cannibalistic equation. The story is very simple. Stating that is was based on "The White Nights" generated enough curiosity while personally I found the plot bearing resemblance to "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa" (have a few quiet moments with this thought seeded in your head and you will understand what I infer). If you are a fan of the original Showman, you will notice that Bhansali has paid his homage, lookout for the easter eggs. The set was magnificent and so is the cinematography. Much has been written about the excessive use of blue, so I shall not go there. Music is rich and lingers on your head, though I think Bhansali was much better with Ismail Darbar. I am sure Bhansali will bounce back and quieten the critics who panned him in "Saawariya"

Dostoevsky eh? I don't doubt it. Then again nothing would seem strange or out of place in this world of bizarre musical fantasy. I really dug this delightful musical sensation to the senses, although it probably helps if you like musicals and if you also like Bollywood. I happen to think both are a total gas. There is nothing more surreal than the combination of music and visuals. Isn't that why we all like music videos? This film was probably just a touch too surreal, because when it was over it made me feel sort of giddy and funny and made me wonder at times if the film makers were totally right in the head.The songs were all really cool and great to listen to, if you like Indian pop music, which I do,and the performances were fun to watch, especially the lead performer Ranir Kapoor who has incredible energy and dances non-stop like an Indian Michael Jackson(although i'm not sure he should have danced around naked in a towel and exposed himself at his apartment window. i don't know about India, but here in the States that behavior is considered naughty and bad and will get you locked up for indecent exposure).Some people don't like musicals or Bollywood. I consider these people hard sticks-in-the-mud and just no fun. Life should be enjoyed. I'm not saying this film is a great Bollywood classic like 'Bharat Mata:Mother India' which I saw a few years back on Turner classic movies, but it was loads of fun, and that everybody, is entertainment.

One of the most offbeat, and beautiful Bollywood films i've ever seen. Staged more akin to a Broadway musical than an actual film, the films simplistic storyline, 'set' setting, and loosely fleshed character are singularly both its greatest asset and...(read more) downfall. While these qualities lend the film its dreamlike, fantasy feel, it also leaves too much too interpretation. Too some that may be a bad thing...but this is a fantasy right? Right. So, while the film starts wonderfully with the introduction of characters and Raj stumbling upon Sakina on the bridge, the film does begin to drag towards the second half when Sakina tells her story, why? To the audience, her reason for loving Imaan so deeply is never really explained, it just happens, and that may put some off. Again, open too interpretation. But when has love ever been logical...it just happens. The boxing metaphor was also quite cheesy. Otherwise, the film was very well done. The set/atmosphere is the real star of the film. It has the look of Moulin Rouge with an exotic Indian twist. The films gorgeously choreographed and picturized songs only add to this effect. I wish Jaan E Jann was a bit longer though. The acting is first-rate...Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, and Zora Sehgal all do very well in their supporting roles, with Zora Sehgal being the best of the three...playing the part of a very bitter, disillusioned but spunky loving old lady. She lends the movie quite a bit of life. Ranbir Kapoor is nearly perfect in his debut...his dialogue delivery and mannerisms are very akin to Raj Kapoor, his whole character is pretty much a homage, it looks like he'll be carrying his grandfathers legacy with much success. Moreover, apart from aping his grandfather...he does have great screen presence and can emote very well. One of the finest debuts this year. On the other hand, Sonam Kapoor is quite good, though she dose not carry or get the same amount of screen presence as Ranbir, though she does very well with what she gets. Direction was on par, SLB/Sony knew they were taking a risk with this one, and it looks like it didn't payoff..to this I have too ask, when will Indian audiences learn to grow up? Sadly, it seems Indian audiences for the most part, cant handle thinking outside the 'box'...they want everything spoon-fed too them. So it perplexed me when they accept far more illogical films like say Om Shanti Om than this. Dumb. Anyways, Saawariya is one of my favorites this year...go see it and decide yourself.

I'm not very familiar with Indian cinema, but it seems that the Bollywoord formula is easy to understand.I was sent to this as a gentle introduction, partly because my friend know I would immediately pick up the reference.It seems that the songs and stories are all predetermined. All the characters and situations. The only thing that varies is the setting, and often — I am told — they take that from other films. Here it is clearly "Moulin Rouge," one of my deepest film experiences. And they do it well, thoroughly. There's something to admire in the process of production design, when it does something like this that is both coherent and borrowed. I imagine it as a sort of rebirth of the Hollywood studio system from the 40s, where professionals were highly tuned to making collective visual imagination real — a sort of Hindu Lubitsch.Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.