Saawariya

Plot synopsis:
"Saawariya" - a Magical Tale beautifully picturised by Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This story, inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story, "White Nights" is about a happy go lucky guy ( Raj played by Ranbir Kapoor) and Sakina (Sonam Kapoor) narrated by a prostitute(Gulabjee played by Rani Mukherjee).The movie is about Raj who meets this girl Sakina on a bridge one night.They both become friends after initial apprehension from Sakina. They meet the next night also and thats when Raj realises that he is deeply and madly in love with her.But even before he could propose to the girl, she tells him about her lover(Imaan played by Salman) for whom she waits every night on the bridge , for he had promised to return in EID(Ramzan), as the EID is just 2 days away.Raj is completely shocked and still tries to impress her.finally the D-Day comes and while Sakina waits for Imaan Raj asks her to a dinner and then asks her to spend some more time for which she refuses as she has to get to the bridge for Imaan.When there s no sign of Imaan and after a lot of Drama between Raj Sakina and Gulabjee they realize that Imaan might not return.This is when Raj asks Sakina to give him one chance to prove his love for her. She dusnt say anything.Even before she could think about saying yes to Raj, Imaan returns. Imaan and Sakina live happily ever after.
Saawariya is a Bollywood film to be released in November 2007, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It will be released by Sony Pictures, and will thus be the first Indian movie produced by a Hollywood production house. It is based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story, White Nights.
The lead roles will be played by débutantes Ranbir Kapoor (Rishi Kapoor's son) and Sonam Kapoor (Anil Kapoor's daughter).The film also stars Salman Khan and Rani Mukerji in supporting roles. The protagonist is young 22 year old man who is a dreamer. He comes across a young lady and their story begins. Days are as bright as night. The story is based on four nights that the protagonists spend together. It is the story of a shy dreamer, Raj (22 years old), who spent most of his time isolated in his apartment, creating riddles and finding answers to them, jabbering poetry or arguing with his foolish landlady Miss Disa, with whom he shared a love/hate relationship.
Raj was loved by one and all, for he always brought happiness to the people around him. Destiny plans a magical tale for Raj over the next four nights of his life that shall change his entire being "Saawariya" is the story of a couple's chance encounter and the advance of their parallel obsessions over four successive nights. An impromptu romance is initiated in a remote town in the serene beauty of picturesque Simla, a quaint hill station in Northern India that was once the summer capital of India under the British Raj, known for its lakes, mist, heavenly snowfall, rains and the tall swaying pine trees. The bright, fun-filled winding streets of the mall come alive with singing clubs, rustic folklore, dancing, love ballads, flourishing colonies of artists and weavers, and chants from the monastery- all woven in perfect harmony into a magical dream. It is here that the dreamer finds the 'lost' self in himself.The story first introduces Ranbir Raj (Ranbir Kapoor). Raj is a free bird with no tension at all, Raj soon joins RK Bar, the town's most luxurious club, as the lead singer. During the singing, he makes friends with Gulabji (Rani Mukherji), a prostitute. Knowing what Gulabji does, Raj still treats her in friendly manner. Raj tells Gulabji that he needs somewhere to stay Gulabji then tells Raj that there is only one woman to give you a house and that is Lilian (Zohra Sehgal), who Raj decides to meet the next morning. Raj meets Lilian and she emotionally agrees to let Raj stay with her. Raj goes out for a walk and meets a mystery girl dressed in black and holding a umbrella. Raj tries to talk to her, but she shies away and Raj starts to follow her. Getting the wrong impression, the girl shouts at Raj and tells him to go away. Raj tells her that he will go away, but asks what if another bad guy starts to follow you. The girl agrees and lets Raj take her home. The mystery girl tells Raj that her name is Sakina (Sonam Kapoor), and there and then Raj falls in love with her. Sakina tells Raj that she is already in love with someone else just when Raj was about to tell Sakina that he loves her. Sakina says that his name is Imaan (Salman Khan), but he is in jail. Sakina and Raj start to fall in love when Sakina beilieves that Imaan is not going to come. When Sakina and Raj go for another walk, Sakina spots Imaan standing on the bridge. Sakina says to Raj that she loves Imaan and Raj knowing how much Sakina loves Imaan lets her go and she bids him a tearful goodbye. [D-Man2010]

Tags: romantic, flashback

Review:
Most importantly, no body is dominating the screen over the others with a clichéd acting; the characters seem to gel together and you watch every scene believing in them and believing in the magic that the director is pulling in front of your eyes with many deeply thought over dialogues; subtle appearances; through the character's eyes; through the water and the weather and even the street lights.The music score of the movie was great.
But with the story that's meant to be a tale-of-love narrated by Rani herself; the sets were perfect to create the atmosphere of a delightful small town far away somewhere love has it's own magical dimension.I give the movie an 8/10 for the new standard it has established in Bollywood; for the acting of every single actor in it; for the music; for the dances; for the picturesque sets; for the direction; for this movie being really good cinema.
But with Saawariya its not about how true or logical you are, its about thinking all good things and getting in to the flow of the movie.Zohra Sehgal as an old lady who helps Raj in this new town is also a strong pillar to hold this movie in terms of acting and appearance.
Salman has done a descent job in a cameo appearance and Rani is wonderful in her performance and dancing.Its sheer delight listening such a soothing music after very-very long time and my favorites are 'Jab se tere naina', 'Yun shabnami' and of course, the title track-'Saawariya'.All said and done, its a lovely movie with great performances from Ranbir, Sonam, Zohra and Rani.
"Saawariya" is not so much a Bollywood film meant to tug at your heart strings and leave you pining for your own unrequited love, but more a mood piece which will leave you wishing you could live in the imaginary world of pure, kind street walkers, beautiful all-white Eid nights and women's clothes that put French couturiers to shame.
Hats of for SLB for making a different kind of movie, its very different from the other movies he made, and yet not as good as the others, but Sawwaria is still a good movie to watch.The love story is sweet and both Ranbir and Sonam Kapoor acted really well, and the direction was superb for the movie.A good advice for you SLB, don't spend 4 years on your next project, we love to see your movies and do experiment but keep the story-line strong.People who knows what real love is and have lost it, they will love the movie.Saawaria is much better than Om SHanti Om (eventhough SRK is still the King of Bollywood).Om Shanti Om is for the Front-seater, and Saawaria is for the Metro people..go see it in cinema you will love it..
They acted like seasoned actors, especially Sonam (I think she could be the Kajol of this era), the Direction was just SLB perfect and even with the simple story line the plot was very elegantly and intricately developed (except the quick ending).
Raj, the bar singer leaves his music for a chador-clad girl he spies one silken night, standing in solitary splendor on a smoky bridge.He tries to befriend her and finds himself irresistibly drawn towards towards Sakina, the raven-tressed maiden who disappears in the haveli with a tantalizing smile and a sad story about a lost lover (Salman Khan).Time for Raj to tug at his broken-heart with Gulabji, the golden-hearted prostitute (Rani) playing friend and philosopher in his grief.
We yearn for that thin shred of acknowledgement that there was at the very least some form of affection felt, in our at times desperate need to feel loved and wanted, and still today, I do not understand why in the quest for unconditional love, the hurdles that stand in our way dishes out very painful lessons.Raj (Ranbir Kapoor) is a minstrel, who with his charms, glib tongue, beautiful singing voice (yes I know it's someone else's), and light feet, puts happiness into the lives of the down and the trodden.
This tussle makes it compelling on all fronts, with a token sub plot thrown in with Gulabji too providing a more level-headed approach to unattainable love.Saawariya unfolds in 4 days, and it plays and feels exactly like a staged musical with a fixed number of purpose built indoor sets that look like a cross between those in Moulin Rouge and Perhaps Love, and with lovely choreographed dances, a wonderful palette of colours, gorgeous costumes and wonderful music and songs, that it is extremely difficult not to fall in love with.
Technically, it's hard to find any fault with it, and I can't help but admire theall roundedness that Bollywood actors have to be, with singing / lip syncing, dancing and acting all rolled into a typical day at work.While there are a mixture of religions portrayed in the movie, I thought that it painted a perfect picture of tolerance and harmony, having culminate on the "Eid" festival, that the only evil that came out was a by product of green originated from man's emotion of love.
Without being driven by my emotions for SRK(whom I really admire), I think Saawariya is a much much better movie than OSO - I hate comparing them but that seems to be the way people want to judge it.Saawariya is definitely SLB's best work , is breathtakingly beautiful and has wonderful acting which confuses me because inspite of all this it tends to get boring.It is a love story about an effervescent,full of life Ranbir and a serene,sad Sonam waiting for her lover to return.Meanwhile the two strike a friendship - but one of them expects more from it which makes for the rest of the movie.
The movie has some great music and a few brilliant scenes but there are scenes that simply annoyed me.I couldn't make sense of it,the dialogues were pathetic(ex the Lilypop-Ranbir scenes) etc.Also the fact that the movie doesn't find grounding in reality - we don't know the place or time may not appeal to people who are not much into love stories and music.Ranbir Kapoor is awesome.He has a charm and a skill (a Lee Strasberg product)that makes us want to see more of him.Sonam is brilliant inspite of having such a weakly written character that you feel like loving and hating as well.Rani is a show stealer but her significance to the plot is questionable and Salman is just there!My advice would be don't watch either OSO or Saawariya - wait for a DVD to come out.Instead go check out Jab We Met which is definitely the best movie to come out this year..
Salman Khan & Rani Mukerji acted really well for their small roles.I always look at the bright side of a movie which is that the film is very well made for a dream world.
The movie doesn't typically have the qualities of a bollywood film( i mean great stunts, thumpy songs may be few stunts), its slow, sometimes repetitive and emotional.Its about a happy young man Raj and his falling in love with Sakina, who is waiting for her love Iman(Salman Khan) to return on the day of Id. Quite a simple story.
The film really is just like reading a beautiful poem(if only u r interested in reading one).And movie is totally backed up by the excellent music both in background and in songs by Monty.May be the director could have avoided few dance sequences which seemed as if forced into movie but most of them are well choreographed and well performed.Finally i will say that this movie is not for the people who are looking for passing the time or just coming to the hall for few laughs and masala..
Its for the niche audience and not really for the masses.I don't blame or have anything against the people who disliked it as everyone has his own choice but come on people stop calling it a horrible or terrible movie 'coz I had a really good time watching it and I think its a well made movie...Considering all those meaningless masala movies being churned out by the industry at least, this movie had depth in it if not story wise then by other aspects...I very well admit the fact that story is a very important factor in a movie but then again the rest of the pillars also hold the roof so one should try to look its positive sides as well...I admit that it cannot be called the magnum opus of Sanjay Leela Bhansali but come on people if he made some good movies that doesn't mean that he is a god and will always make an outstanding piece of art...I did expect a more intense story-line but then again I think the people had way too high expectations...He just attempted something different so rather than criticizing his work to be abysmal, the man should be appreciated for his effort and hard work.To all those who are apprehensive about the movie after reading the reviews...PLEASE its a genuine request not only for the movie but even generally anything in life...Experience something yourself and then pass a judgment rather than forming your decisions on the opinions of others...Go and watch it, its not really that horrible...Its just blown out of proportion and om shanti om is a movie I yet have to watch so I won't pass any comments but let me be clear about something that it is also a big hit due to the fact that shahrukh khan has a huge fan following!
No...Performances :Ranbir is surely amazing from the start till the end,the confidence with which he has given his performance is the thing to see here,surely there are few scenes where he has over done his expressions,but if u leave those few scenes,ranbir was almost flawless,slb has given in fact a tough role to him,at many places,he has been made to behave like a mad person totally,and ranbir does that very well,he makes u laugh at his comedy,he makes u emotional at his emotional scenes.He indeed deserves a debut actor award for his performance in coming film-fare award.Sonam,she had even more tougher role to play then ranbir,slb really wanted too much from his débutant's with such a story to show.Sonam would surely find many ppl speaking against her,as i am sure many ppl wont like her acting nor her role simply because she was made to behave very strangely throughout the film.It requires deep thinking to understand sakina,the role played by her in the film,a Muslim girl who is so much in love that any sec she starts crying ,next sec she starts laughing as she is just waiting for her saawariya to return.Talking of her acting,she did a gud job, gud because she wasn't given the scope to do too much as she had very less dialogues in the film,its only her eyes that do the talking most of the time or her silence.Sometimes we would feel like is she mad,but truth is she is indeed mad and she is mad in love.Salman has a very small role,almost guest appearance,and he does well,though he looks overweight in his costumes a bit.Rani Mukherjee playing the role of a prostitute impresses a lot,a girl who speaks half English half Hindi and narrates the complete story from start till end,she was very nice in the film and she had a much easy role too in comparison to rest cast.Remaining cast like zohra sehgal supported quite well...Questions left to be answered by public :Will they understand the role of sonam,will they understand or feel the immense love she was in due to which she was not able to see or realize anything else,will they understand how much caring ranbir was for everyone he meets but he gave his heart to a girl who might not be liking her.Will the audience be able to understand the simple story shown in the simple way instead of the normal masala comedy emotional films that we see always.Will they laugh at the comic scenes which aren't that much humorous as the laughter factor has been kept very less in the film.Will they like the climax ?Its a film which will be liked or loved or hated based on how ppl find the answers to all those questions.Overall a film that will most probably fail at box office,critics also wont like it...only a section of public will appreciate the film..
The other difference, besides the story is that Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who has directed some excellent movies such as "Devdas", "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and "Khamoshi - The Musical" and "Black", has launched two new stars - Ranbir Raj Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor and in the other - it has a super star and introducing Deepika.Raj, gets Job to sing in a club in which there are prostitutes, one being Gulabji, with whom he becomes friends.
The cast includes Rani Mukherjee, Salman Khan and Zohra Saigal.In many ways, "Saawariya" echoes some of the RK movies such as "Barsaat", "Shree 420", "Awara" and "Anari." It also has some echoes of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's previous movies such as "Black" and "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam." While Ranbir Raj Kapoor has shown talent - naturally as he belongs to a well known filmy family and his parents being - Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, both actors themselves.
After Black,which was quite a milestone in Indian cinema,anything he would make would have been liked by the audience.Then came Saawariya.I can confidently say,nobody else would have been able to make a movie so visually alluring and spectacularly stunning.It's just a treat for an individual's eye.But,having high expectations from this director was not really a mammoth thing,and I feel sorry that he hasn't lived up to those pre-release drama.If Saawariya was made by any other director,it would have been well-received by the audience and critics alike.He's a dream director ,that's for sure,but the movie lacked a much needed script.Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor could not have asked for a better film-maker to launch them.But still the meager runtime of two hours and eight minutes looks a bit too long.
Regarding the performances,Rani,playing a prostitute for her second successive movie,portrays her character beautifully well.She again proves herself being the queen of Bollywood.Ranbir Kapoor has done a good job in his role as a happy-go-lucky dreamer.His jawline and face-cut looks strikingly similar to that of his mother Neetu Kapoor.Sonam Kapoor looks beautiful and has done a fine job too.Salman Khan didn't have much screen-time to show his potential,but he looks a tad too old.
Saawariya is not such a astonishing well-made picture.it is just because i've seen Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas,Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,Khamoshi & Black.between all Saawariya is my least favorite.any of those films are memorable.not just for it is so artistic,but the myth inside of em gave me pleasure.now it comes to Saawariya,which is a dramatic/Romance part of a tail.it's an adaptation from The White Nights.it is not a good adaptation.just for it low potential for turning a Russian story to a musical movie of Indian cinema industry.Masha Allah everyone has done his best to make a longtime,full of art and hesitating movie.reputation says that it is the third film of S.L.B with Salman Khan.but this time Salman is Details.and Ranbir Kapoor is the topic.
The songs are great (A 10 min remix of the title track would fit in the film nicely).The story is based on White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky and feels more like a stage musical brought magically to life.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is known for for his experiments in Indian cinema weather that is 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' or that is 'Black' by which he created magic of darkness.'Saawariya' is again a experimental movie which has a very simple old traditional Indian movie story like 'love triangle'.
It's a movie around 5 character Ranvir Kapoor as 'Ranvir Raj',Sonam Kapoor as 'Sakina',Salman Khan as 'Imaan',Rani as 'Gulab Ji' and Johra Sehgal as'Lilipop'.To do something new Bhansali created a wonderful and beautiful movie set of Venice but that is a very horrify experience for audience to overcome from that set and night seen during whole movie.Music of movie is excellent but after some conversation between characters there is music this led to think that weather audience has come for enjoying music or enjoying conversation.Acting performed by Ranvir was good debut attempt by him.Sanjay Leela Bhansali couldn't create magic as he did in his previous movies..
The people who say that mostly don't realize the artistic values in the movies.The darkness in the movie indicates the sad end in the beginning itself, the colors symbolizes the dreamy and timeless nature of the love story depicted in the movie.Randhir Kapoor has portrayed the character of a guy who came to find his dream very well.Even though actress in the film lacks the proper acting skills , it suffice the need as there not much of footage as that of the Randhir Kapoor in movie.Director Bhansali has handled a complicated story very well.Music is amazing, the songs have beautiful and the background score suits the screenplay not earsplitting loud like Om shanti Om which was released in the same month .If you are looking for a love story to forget all others, this is the one..
Rani Mukherji is the one whom i admired the most in the movie.She plays a kind hearted prostitute.Her appearance really rocked the scene.i have started liking her more after this film.Salman khan had a small role but he portrayed his character well.
Sonam Kapoor is again a good actress although I don't think we really got the chance to see what we she made of as her character didn't really have much to do...but from what we see things are promising.Salman Khan was quite wasted in the movie, he is looking older (and bigger) but nevertheless I will still remain a fan of his.Rani Mukerjee I feel does bring some life into the otherwise dull blue surroundings, especially in her song.