Saiyaara: A Melody That Misses the Beat

Very late to the party, but yes, I finally jumped on the Saiyaara train today. And honestly, I wish I hadn’t. The film boasts stunning cinematography and a soulful soundtrack, supported by solid performances from the lead actors. But the writing? A complete letdown.

Krish Kapoor, played superbly by Ahaan Panday, is a self-absorbed yet talented musician, crosses paths with Vaani, played by Aneet Padda, is a simple, heartbroken, and passionate writer, as they come together to create music. She nails her role to perfection showcasing each one of the emotions with perfection. Despite its cliché setup, the initial chemistry and tension between the two leads work to some extent. But as the story progresses, the emotional connect fades and you stop rooting for them.

Even with great visuals and beautifully shot songs by Vikas Sivaraman, the film constantly tests your patience with its illogical narrative. You’re left wondering how Krish, who owns three pairs of Jordans, rides a Harley Davidson, and lives in a lavish home filled with high-end music gear—somehow can’t afford his father’s medical checkup.

Vaani’s character is equally baffling. Her overprotective parents seem to care deeply about her well-being, yet never take her forgetfulness seriously. At one point, they send her alone to a neurologist, where she’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. When they later ask her about the report, she brushes it off saying, “It’s nothing, I forgot”, and they laugh.

The handling of Alzheimer’s is especially problematic. It's used as a convenient plot device to gain sympathy, without any real depth or sensitivity. As a result, you find yourself emotionally detached from Vaani’s journey.

When characters are written so shallowly, you don’t really care if Krish flies all the way from London to Himachal to remind her of who he is and reunite with her.

Also Read: Kingdom: A Wannabe Epic That Never Earns The Emotion It Promises

Despite the flaws in the writing, Saiyaara is a technically strong film. Mohit Suri has tried his best to push this script with his established strong music sense. The music is simply extraordinary from a huge team of Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi, Sachet-Parampara, Rishabh Kant, Vishal Mishra, Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami. The title track of Saiyaara makes history as the first Indian song to feature on Spotify’s Global Top 50 Viral Songs.  

Verdict

Despite its visual polish and musical charm, Saiyaara falters with shallow writing and emotional shortcuts.