'Saawariya'- pan the critics - decide for yourself

'Saawariya' is the most beautifully and innocently told love story in ages. I LOVED it. Its not for cynics or the hard core mass audience who are looking for cheap thrills or masala.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been repeatedly accused in the past for his work being 'Opera-tic', so this time around he serves to the audience..... the pure and passionate magic of a grand scale musical opera on 70 mm screen. And the result....is something you just need to sit back and enjoy.


Ranbir and Sonam are Mr. Bhansali's Diwali gift to the industry which so badly needs new and fresh talent. While Ranbir completely transforms into the character of a dreamer and enthralls you with his performance as he makes you cry for his first love as a shy tear falls from his oh so beautiful eyes... Sonam floors you with her innocence and mature portrayal of a child woman...who waits...waits with endless hope...that her love would come back to her. Enough has been written about them both being a powerhouse of talent so I wont say more. Rani as Gulab ji is mind blowing in the film. She proves to be the sunshine in this beautiful story of four nights.Every time she walks into the frame...you just can't help but smile. While she is completely enthralling in the 'Chabeela' song she makes your eyes go moist as she explains he eternal wait for a 'pari' to Ranbir , with a smile on her face and a silent tear in her eyes. Another performer who is absolutely charming in the film is the cute old veteran- Zohra Sehgal.


As far as the film being slow is concerned....I think the film had just the pace that the story required. If someone is looking for a zippy romantic comedy....I'd recommend 'Jab We Met' by Imtiaz Ali.... another fabulous film that recently came out.



But 'Saawariya' is an experience that needs to be enjoyed like sipping on an exquisite wine.... So if someone is looking for instant fizz of 'Pepsi' they've come to the wrong screening.

Yes.... its a 2 hour 22 minute film with 9 songs.... just leave cynicism at home and enjoy the sheer magic of cinema at its best. I know a lot of people who know me personally, and are aware that I absolutely adore Mr. Bhansali, might think that I am biased towards the film because i literally worship and idolise the man. But trust me... there is a reason to my madness about him as a film maker. He is one of the rare few film makers in India who understand the power of cinema and use it to its full potential, and bring out on screen...not just functional images...but experience of life itself. And anyone who can't see that, is the most unfortunate person, as that person is missing out on the most pure form of art and the magic that this man can create by painting his vision on celluloid.

I rarely ever quote an external review but the statement here under so aptly describes the film, I just couldn't resist :-

"The experience is visually enchanting, cloyingly sweet, at once utterly chaste and insanely erotic." - New York Times