Saiyaara
Movie Review
Cast: Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda, Varun Badola, Geeta Agrawal
Director: Mohit Suri
Duration: 156 mins
Genre: Romance / Drama / Musical
"When memories fade, do songs remember it all?"
Saiyaara wears its heart on its sleeve—offering a classic, aching love story in a fresh, melody-filled package. Set against the backdrop of today's dazzling music scene and modern relationships, Mohit Suri crafts a romance that leans into familiar terrain but refreshes it with sincerity and soulful music.
Plot:
Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a gifted yet hot-headed musician nursing past scars, meets Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), a gentle journalist whose own heart is recovering from a painful betrayal. Their worlds collide when Krish stumbles upon Vaani’s poetry-filled diary, sparking a magical collaboration. As their partnership blooms into love, tragedy waits around the corner: Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. The film pivots from carefree romance to a poignant story of memory, sacrifice, and undying devotion as Krish faces the most impossible choice—his dreams or the love who may soon forget him.
Performances:
Ahaan Panday debuts with genuine vulnerability, embodying Krish’s transition from ego-driven artist to devoted lover. His pain and hope both ring true as he fights to anchor Vaani in the world with the only thing he knows—music.
Aneet Padda, as Vaani, is the film’s quiet force. She’s fragile but never weak, grounding the story with grace and believability even as her reality unravels. Their chemistry feels lived-in, anchoring the melodrama to something credible and raw.
Direction & Creativity:
Mohit Suri knows his template—aching hearts, emotional highs, a streak of darkness—but Saiyaara benefits from his sure hand and emotional intelligence. The direction never loses focus on its central theme: love in the face of inevitable loss. Cinematography serves feeling over spectacle, while music flows seamlessly, elevating every critical beat. The “Saiyaara” title track, alongside “Dhun” and “Tum Ho Toh,” fill the movie with longing—an echo of the characters’ struggles.
The Good:
Earnest, emotionally-charged storytelling that strikes a chord, especially with younger audiences familiar with tangled relationships and silent heartbreaks.
A standout soundtrack that becomes a character of its own.
Strong debut performances—fresh, engaging, and authentic.
Sensitivity in handling Alzheimer’s and the steep cost of loving someone who may forget you one day.
Not so Good:
Story beats are tried-and-true; the film echoes Suri’s earlier work (Aashiqui 2) and classic love tragedies, with clichés peeking out in places.
Some melodramatic moments might have benefited from trimming; at times, emotional manipulation overtakes subtlety.
The narrative twist, hinging on memory loss, feels slightly forced, relying on your willingness to surrender to big-screen emotion over realism.
Final Word:
Saiyaara is old-school Bollywood romance made anew for Gen Z. If you like your love stories with big feelings, haunting melodies, and tears both wistful and hopeful, this is a journey you’ll want to take. Bring a handkerchief and someone you never want to forget.
Rating: 3.5/5