Saiyaara

Saiyaraa comes across as a heartfelt yet heavily inspired romantic drama that feels like a cinematic blend of three well-known films across different languages. The emotional journey of the male lead becoming a superstar after losing his love strongly mirrors Rockstar (2011), where grief fuels creative brilliance. A major part of the story unfolds in a remote, serene location reminiscent of Shankar's I (2015), suggesting the characters' need for escape and transformation. But the most striking parallel is with 50 First Dates (2004), where the female lead suffers from Alzheimer's-like memory loss, forgetting the hero each day, while he patiently reminds her of their bond - a direct emotional echo of Henry and Lucy's story. While Saiyaraa succeeds in delivering powerful performances, beautiful visuals, and a touching storyline, its lack of originality is hard to ignore. The film, though emotionally moving, seems more like a curated homage to its cinematic predecessors than a standalone masterpiece.

The movie at major parts is adapted from the Korean movie, A moment to remember. Many scenes are copied exactly. The story isn't fresh, but the leads have acted beautifully. Both the leads have done a great job and are immensely talented.

Since the original movie is very close to my heart and one of my favourites, felt a little thrown back watching this one. It would have been better if credits were well in advance given to the original.

Both the actors handled their roles very well which has added charm and made the scenes look more genuine. A beautiful one time watch for romantic comedy lovers.

There are really two kinds of people watching this film: one group genuinely loves it with all their heart, and another shows up mainly to mock it and not so much the film itself, but the so-called cringe audience that enjoys it. Then there's a third category: people who just want to judge it fairly, on its own merits and flaws, without picking a side. Here's an honest take for that third group.

Merits

1. The Songs Easily the film's strongest point. Every song is woven seamlessly into the story, they don't feel forced, they carry it. It's the kind of album you'll replay on your own. Solid 8/10.

2. The Acting Both debutants deliver more than decent performances for their first outing. Sure, some moments feel a touch dramatic or raw, but they do land scenes that make you feel their pain and love. Credit where it's due: 6.5/10.

4. The Pacing Overall, the film moves well. The first half drags a bit, but that slower buildup works to establish the characters. The second half picks up enough to balance it out. 7/10.

4. The Chemistry The leads genuinely have spark. Aneet looks effortlessly stunning throughout, and Ahaan pulls off the classic lover boy vibe convincingly. Their chemistry does a lot of heavy lifting. 8/10.

Demerits

1. The Screenplay This is where things stumble. It's basically a loose rehash of the Korean film A Moment to Remember, and it shows painfully so if you've seen the original. The emotional beats are there but the stitching is weak. 4/10.

2. The Direction Typical Mohit Suri hit or miss. Here it's mostly average. Some characters wander in and out with no real purpose. A tighter grip on the story could have elevated this so much more. 3.5/10.

3. The Emotional Depth While the film tries hard to tug at your heartstrings, it doesn't always land the emotional punches it aims for. Some scenes feel melodramatic instead of genuinely moving, and the payoff isn't as strong as it should be for a story like this. The result: moments that should break you end up just feeling nice instead of unforgettable. 5/10

Verdict

In the end, this film is exactly what it looks like: a decent one-time watch. If you love the songs and have a soft spot for star-crossed lovers, you'll find moments to enjoy. Just don't expect a masterpiece and skip the fan wars.

Final word: Watch it for the music, the chemistry, and a few heartfelt moments then move on.

Saiyaara is one of those films that looked really promising before release - with all the social media buzz and hype, I genuinely expected something powerful and emotional. But sadly, it didn't live up to any of it. The story is predictable, and while it tries to portray the strength of love, it never really hits that emotional depth. While the cast delivered decent performances, it often felt like they were acting rather than truly living the characters. The movie moves smoothly, but there's zero surprise or thrill, and the first half is almost boring. The music is probably the only thing that stands out, along with a few nicely shot scenes. Some people might still find it good depending on their taste, but personally, I felt it was just average - nothing close to what the pre-release buzz promised. It's a 6/10 for me. In comparison, Shiddat had everything Saiyaara was missing - real emotion, a gripping love story, and characters you actually connect with. Shiddat is easily a 10/10 for romantic drama lovers, while Saiyaara just feels like a film that couldn't match its own hype.

Rockstar and Ashiqui 2 were works of art, this is not. It's just a successful effort to rekindle the emotion of being in relentless love. There are only three kinds of films that are hit. Ones that touch your heart, that make you ponder, and those that do both. It falls in the first category, and just because the audience has been long deprived of a good love story. An opportunity.

What would have made it a great film then?

Had Mohit Suri not answered the question in his mind: what's worse, life sentence, or a death penalty. Great effort, but not a Kubrickan one. He'd do better subsequently.