Saawariya (2007)

Note: Hindi with English subtitles.

The '07 Bollywood film `Saawariya' (i.e.: Beloved) is one of the most visually stunning films I've seen in quite some time. The storyline is one of those unrequited love themes that we're all familiar with; Raj (Ranbir Kapoor) falls in love with Sakina (Sonam Kapoor) who is in love with Imman (Salman Khan). While Imaan is away Raj attempts to win his way into Sakina's heart while another woman, a local prostitute played by Rani Mukherjee both narrates the love story as an objective observer and plays the part of a forlorn lover who hopes to win Raj for herself.

Though the tale unfolding is as old as time the presentation is inventive magical and totally mesmerizing. The soundtrack is also quite good though not quite your usual Bollywood faire, drift back and forth between festive and upbeat to melancholy and haunting. Well worth a watch for the visuals and music alone. If you enjoyed `Moulin Rouge' than you should certainly appreciate this film too.

Saawariya (meaning "Beloved") is director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's adaptation of Dostoevsky's short story "White Nights". The body of the film is decidedly Bollywood with all of the vibrant colors (the color blue has never looked so good) while the core remains true to Dostoevsky. Bhansali had expressed in an interview that he made this movie in part inspired by watching his grandmother waiting on the balcony every evening for his grandfather to come home from work. How deep is that love? Can it ever be distracted, even temporarily, from its long-standing object of affection? This movie meditates on some of these aspects of love. Saawariya is a musical and should be experienced as such. Here are some reasons why I fell in love with this movie:

1) Beautiful evocative sets that depict a syncretic town visited by different ages and cultures. A town that exists nowhere and yet everywhere. I was initially skeptical of Bhansali's choice of shooting this movie entirely on sets. But after watching the dreamscape of Saawariya unfold, I applaud his choice.

2) The beautiful and innocent Sakina as portrayed by Sonam Kapoor. Her emotive power is expressed through her eyes and she pervades the film as a lone angel awaiting her distant lover. Sonam will go far in filmdom with the right roles.

3) The exuberance of Ranbir Kapoor. Though he tends to overreach himself in some frames, he is mostly pleasant and sympathetic throughout the movie.

4) Excellent supporting and memorable performances by Zohra Sehgal and Rani Mukherjee. Salman Khan is remarkably restrained here and does justice to his brief role.

5) The music, O the music! Haunting, evocative, mesmerizing! After a long gap have I heard such beautiful melody pour forth from a Bollywood film.

6) People watching this movie in theaters were critical of the overtly blue hues that pervade the entire movie. But I just fell in love with the blue theme.

7) A few magnificent scenes like (a) Zohra Sehgal's dialogue with Raj (Ranbir) on forgiveness, (b) A mesmerizing shot of Sakina's playful beating of the carpets, (c) The song "Yoon Shabnami" wherein the faithful are awaiting a glimpse of the moon so that they may break their Id fast whilst Raj gazes away in the other direction at his "moon" Sakina.

I could go on and on but will stop here. Suffice to say that every frame of this movie is rich and I personally consider this movie a classic in the long run.

Buy Saawariya (2007) Now

I watched "Saawariya" at the cinema and I though it was just amazing.

The best thing about this movie is the amazing sets and landscapes.It's pure art, and what better way to experiance it than 1080p ! Most of the songs are great and mesmerizing, the plot is great although the script could have been better.

All in all this Bluray is a must have for all Bollywood fans who want to experiance a little "masala" in high defenition for the very first time !

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My life has changed after seeing this movie. I'd forgotten all about magical places until I watched this movie, why?

First, the music is exquisite, lyrics, musicians, compositions, I understand the music was specifically written after the movie was made and therefore it fits like a glove. You will be transported to this wonderland, where beauty and magic converge. Equipped with a family heritage of talented movie makers and actors comes the genius of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I'm going to follow his productions from here on out. He introduces two fresh heavily talented actors, Sonam Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, (both are fabulously good looking) and not related or married to each other as of this writing, they meet and deliver pure magic weaving a story of many dimensions.

A special guest appearance by Salman Khan playing "Imaan", Khan is recognized as the 7th most handsome man in the world, please don't let me see numbers 1 thru 6, I don't want a heart attack. His portrayal is mysterious as he appears in the movie one thunderous night with lighting flashing and thunder roaring, as Sakina (the fragile beauty) who is hypnotized by the very sight of this masculine man who appears like a vision and says: "We have a lifetime to gaze into each others eyes." If you're a woman watching this scene you either faint or scream, like I (and my daughter) did.

Ranbir Kapoor as a new comer seals the deal as one great up and coming actor, he dances, with moves like greased lightening, (his dance moves would make our own Elvis proud). Also Rani Mukherjee, as Gulabji the street wise and lovely woman of the night who tenderly recognizes the love struck "Rock Star" angel in Ranbir Raj and she seems to fall in love herself.

I loved the part Zohra Sehgal plays as "Lilipop," she starred in "The Jewel in the Crown" a PBS production about India's relationship with England leading up to India's Independence. The set designs are beautiful as we are transported through the "blue" streets and canals of this fantastic city of secret meeting places, the music is wonderful, and the actors are exquisite; a veritable feast for the senses. I loved Begum Para's portrayal as the blind grandmother who safety-penned Sakina to her, she reminded me of my own grandmother who happened to be blind and who was more aware of things going on than anyone imagined.

I immediately bought the dvd, and three cds of music, one for my auto, one for home and one I'm saving in case I wear one out! This is a beautiful love story, and what I immediately noticed was the great difference between American movies where French kissing is the least lustiness you see, in Saawariya there is no-kissing and no-hint pornography of any kind to weigh down this wonderful cinematic treasure. You are in for a treat with this magnificent production, and you don't have to worry about borderline porn, which is so overused in western cinema that it has become a total bore.

Treat yourself to some great cinema and take in this delightful movie, you'll be happy you did so. Saawariya is "Top Notch," in my books! Thank you to Bollywood and Sony entertainment.

Want Saawariya (2007) Discount?

This movie was well worth the buy. The only thing I didn't like were the special features. I would have liked to see the making of the set. Director/actor interviews. Other than that the movie was outstanding, the picture quality was insane. So far this has been the best bluray movie I have purchased, picture wise. Ranbir & Sonam did a great job for their first movie, hopefully they will have many more huge hits in the future.

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