After four days of preparations and then hosting a Diwali open house, I thought it would be a good idea to watch a bollywood movie and I watched Saawariya and below are my reactions:
YOU ARE UNINVITED:
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It seems like we have a new race among the acclaimed directors of Bollywood, that of loosing credibility. We have had Anubhav Sinha with Cash, then Ram Gopal Verma with his Aag and now Sanjay Leela Bansali with Saawariya.Saawariya the movie is a blatant display of Sanjay L Bansali's arrogance and indulgence.
How a display of arrogance you ask? well, then look at it:
What else would prompt one into taking into multi functions like direction, music direction, editing, co-production, co-writing,co-art direction, co-designing in a mage production of a film with NEW lead characters, NEW music director, bizzare unreal sets wafer thin storyline and no consideration whatsoever to audiances likings?
From the word go, you feel like you are an outsider in the cinema.An intruder who is crashing into a Kapoor-Bansali party.When Bansali is not hitting you with reminders of his previous movies, (Khamoshi's Piano, Black's snowfall, HDDCS love smitten guy who would need to take you to the lady love's love or the golden hearted harlot of Devdas) he is busy paying homage to Raj Kapoor (The RK logo in the backdrop, Ranbir's character, the cap and ohsomany sequences) and you wonder when you would be addressed to.
Firstly, Fyodor Dostoevsky's White Nights would need a lot of adaption to fit-in in Bollywood in 2007. It might have generated raves in Russia and Europe wherepeople appreciate opera style musicals with dull and drab backdrops (well fit for a winter prone region) however, it lacks the spice and colour that the typical audiance of bollywood relate to.
Let us now look at the individual elements of the film:
Story: What story?
Music: Bansali has probably tried to fill the gap of absense of storyline with music, as you get assaulted with a song every 10 minutes and you wonder if it is a relief, just like the difference between a rock and a hard surface. The only hummable tune is the title track, the rest you forget before you leave the cinema.
The Sets: Though there is a drabbiness and darkness in the set there is a clever element of blue and green hues that give the sets a fascinating colour. But then to tolerate it for a full length of 130 minutes is a task that leaves you gasping desparately for reality, sunlight and life.
Cherography: Desperate attempts to pay homage to Shammi, Rishi and Shashi Kapoor. Though you realise that Ranbir is a good dancer, you do not really get to see any fresh performance. It does leave a lot to be desired, however butt-flashing towel dance by Ranbir is a altogeather different story. It comes as a complete surprise in your face and makes you wonder if he is anxiously trying to woo the fan femme or he is just happy and gay.
Cast: Begum Para's role is completely insugnificant, I wonder why she is even mentioned in the main credits.
Zohra Sehgal is good at what she does. Very natural and adds a bit of reality to the otherwise oblivious cast.
Salman Khan is again there just for star value, a total of 3 sceans and a screen space amounting to less than 5 - 7 minutes. They could have just mentiones his character in the dialogue narration and you wouldn't miss him.
Ran(ee) Mukherjee is refreshing. She is seductive in parts and completely bollywood. The only colourful element in the whole movie.
Sonam Kapoor is promising. Subtle yet expressive. She has struggled to potray some emotions, especially in the begining of the film, but as the film progresses, you realise she is a fast learner. Watch out for her. There is much more behind the infectious smile, annoying giggle and girl-next-door look.
Ranbir Kapoor: There is much publicity and hype around him and that is what will buy him some time for improvement, at least for the next 2 movies. Mere dancing and butt-flashing and being a kappor will not last you forever. As for his acting skills, there is just one word Hammmmmmmmming and trust me, that is an understatement.His looks remind you of Zayed Khan, dialogues of young Sunjay Dutt and acting of shahrukh at his most hamming self. Unless he does some real damage control, he will be another Zayed khan or Kumar Gaurav.
Overall, For those who think this to be a classic, do note that a dozen of prostitues dancing on the streets does not do justice to Fyodor Dostoevsky. Class touches you, Saawariya makes you feel like an untouchable. I would recommend you to pick up a DVD of Dhamaal or hum dil de chuke sanam (if you like Bansali style romantics) and enjoy your evening Why invest time, effort and money into something that would give you nothing but depression?
