Opening Day: 9 November 2007

Synopsis:

Saawariya is a timeless story of two young star-crossed lovers whose all-consuming passion brings them to the brink of self-destruction. This epic tale features two lonely souls whose childlike innocence belies their complex inner turmoil, and desparate search for love.

Movie Review:

Every time this reviewer announces that he is going to watch a Bollywood film, he gets strange stares from his friends. Jokes about dances around trees and songs with bobbing heads normally ensue. But look at Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Peter Chan’s Perhaps Love (2005) – these great films have got Bollywood’s influence all over them.

And now that Columbia has become the first Hollywood production company to produce a Bollywood picture, we are sure that more people will take notice of this musical genre that has charmed audiences worldwide for the longest time.

In typical Bollywood fashion, we have two protagonists meeting in an enchanting town. The guy is a dreamer whom everyone likes. The girl is a mysterious beauty who is awaiting her eternal love. The two fall in love, and through a series of song and dance sequences, audiences wait with bated breath whether the star-crossed lovers will have a happy ending.

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the BAFTA Film Award nominee (Devdas, 2002) makes an agreeable Bollywood musical drama that will go down well with romantic die-hards.

The genre conventions of this popular Hindi-language Indian cinema are in place. Songs, dances, comedy and an intermission during this 138-minute extravaganza? Check. Melodramatic plots with lovers separated by fate and convenient coincidences? Check. Expensive production budgets with massive set designs and hundreds of extras? Check.

Even the eye-candy actors are cast in true Bollywood style. The male protagonist is played by Ranbir Kapoor, who belongs to the fourth generation of the very prestigious Bollywood Kapoor family. This 25-year-old good-looker will charm girls with his expressive eyes, soft hair and his awesome six-pec bod. The female protagonist is played by Sonam Kapoor, daughter of evergreen Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor. The 22-year-old actress will have a gorgeously hypnotic effect on guys.

Also, watch out for veteran actors Salman Khan (the Bollywood Bad Boy often gets into trouble with the police, but everyone still loves the hunk anyway) and Rani Mukherjee (the acclaimed actress is often cast alongside heartthrob Shahrukh Khan in blockbuster movies) in supporting roles. It is nice to see them letting the young ones take the limelight in this movie.

With colorful saris, brilliantly-choreographed song and dance sequences, a workable love story and a cast that is pleasing to the eyes, what’s there not to like about Bollywood musicals?

Movie Rating:

(An enjoyable musical that will initiate you into the wonderful world of Bollywood cinema)

Review by John Li