Saiyaara A call in the wilderness

Mohit Suri’s romantic drama Saiyaara produced under the YRF banner starring Aneet Padda and Ahaan Pandey has been ruling the box office since its release. The film has broken records and is officially entering the 200 crore club today. With the surge in OTT platforms, audiences have stopped going to the theatre. But here's what's working for Saiyaara.

The audiences for long have been deprived of hard core love stories that strike a chord in their hearts. In the recent years, larger than life VFX and A-listers studded films have dominated Bollywood failing to provide the audience with what a DDLJ or Sanam Teri Kasam could, a twinge in the heart. Even box office hits like Animal or Kabir Singh have reiterated misogynistic tropes glorifying violence under the facade of a love story. Saiyaara however turns the table, pulling the audience in with its sweet, tender romance that resonates with today's youngsters.

Saiyaara has been impeccably written following the legacy of romantic movies like Aashiqui 2, Rockstar etc but what sets it apart is the protagonist Krish Kapoor's efforts to salvage the relationship instead of giving in to his demons. Mohit Suri's casting also deserves due credit, launching fresh faces like Ahaan and Aneet whose performances have been compelling enough to create the buzz.

The music of Saiyaara is another aspect that has touched the audience with its melody. The synergy of Mithoon, Sachet-Parampara, Vishal Mishra, Faheem Abdullah and Tanishk Bagchi contributing to the album has broken charts and labels even prior to its release. Saiyaara’s music is said to have the old Bollywood charm and we cannot deny it.

Suri's strategy of keeping the lead pair away from the public eye has worked wonders adding to the element of mystery unlike other contemporary films where the cast had been the primary highlight rather than the movie. Ahaan and Aneet are yet to give interviews as Suri along with lyricist Irshad Kamil and the composers have appeared promoting the film. This has created a silent buzz amongst the audiences.

Saiyaara undoubtedly is a “breath of fresh air” and also serves a testament to the fact that audiences are willing to give every newcomer a chance given they have the potential to prove themselves.