Saawariya

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee
Music: Monty Singh
Lyrics: Sameer, Nusrat Badr

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the name itself epitomizes the pinnacle of immaculate style in modern Indian cinema with an unparallel exuberance that one can anticipate on big screen. Besides his immaculately pristine visual perception, his films have always been high on emotional quotient and have often forayed into human relationships with great emotional depth in a backdrop of aesthetically sketched out cultural embellishments.
Exotic and platonic to the core, 'Saawariya' foretells the tale of two lovers in a backdrop of larger than life scintillating surroundings. It has been set in a palette of blues and greens in all its frames and scenes with the reflection of the shades on the paved floors, pavements, streets, bars and rooftops in making it a desired dream world to aspire.
Like all his previous visual spectacles, it's a story of a lonesome man who fades away in the moonlight on the deserted streets that reflect the poetry in motion? Despite all its lavish spectacles in all frames, Bhansali dares pitch in a realistically painful and sad love story to conservative Indian audiences with two unknown faces in author backed lead roles.
Bhansali being an ardent "literature aficionado" inspires this four nights love saga from the famous works of Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story - "White Nights". After 'Devdas' (inspired from Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's famous novel "Devdas") and 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' (inspired from Bernard Shaw's "Candida"), this stunning sentimental is a great inspirational lift from Fyodor. "White Nights" was first adapted to film by the acclaimed Italian director Luchino Visconti and later by French director Robert Bresson as 'Four Nights of a Dreamer'.
This eighteenth century heartwarming story is about love, dreams, happiness, and loss. The main character of 'Saawariya' (Ranbir Kapoor) is a dreamer and romantic to the core, much like Dostoevsky's lead character. Bhansali's well crafted narration makes him fall in love with the mystical charm of depressed and isolated girl (Sonam Kapoor), much like Dostoevsky's "Natenska", with great visual aplomb.
First, let's get straight into theatricals before looking at its technical finesse and musical brilliance. Bhansali's 'Saawariya', an artistically sketched sad love story, opens up in a fairy tale town where narrator (Rani Mukherjee playing prostitute "Gulab") correlates her heart-felt sentiments about his beloved "Saawariya". This "Saawariya" is a happy go lucky bar singer Ranbir Raj (Ranbir Kapoor).
It is on this special evening when he sings his most beloved track to her, showcasing his zest for real love and optimism in life. The film now swivels into an opera styled narration where Raj meets isolated young girl Sakina (Sonam Kapoor) in the night. It was a delightful night where he meets her on the bridge and then follows her.
The friendship blossoms and finally they exchange their identities and experiences with each other. Raj has disciplinarian landlady - Miss Lillian (Zohra Sehgal) while Sakina lives in the shadow of her old grand mother (Begum Para). Sakina's painful experience of meeting with her tenant Imaan (Salman Khan) and then facing isolation proves to be a shocking occurrence to Raj. Initially, Raj thinks that's it's a crafted story but finally realizes its authenticity.
It ends up on a distressing note where Sakina chooses her love interest (Salman Khan) over her best soul-mate (Ranbir Kapoor). In between, there are episodes where Ranbir burns Sonam's letter, Sonam falls in love with Salman and Ranbir takes refuge into Rani's home. The striking feature of the film is its beautiful cinematic depiction rather than its conventionally placed author backed narration lifting the standards of contemporary commercial Indian cinema.
'Saawariya' has great aces up its sleeves and the film can simply be adjudged as one of the finest visual treats that have ever visited Indian cinema. The film has picturesque backdrop of blue and green color palettes in which the delightfully vibrant town is painted.
The creation of larger than life Buddha on the lake side, buzzing streets with colorful neon signs, walls painted with peacocks and lotuses, RK logo featuring on bar, silent bridge to silence water where it rained and snowed as the seasons changed were breathtaking visuals that make it big on-screen visual treat.
The significant bell and the town facing visuals where girl (Sonam) correlates her estranged love saga are visuals of international standards. The film has rich Mughal cultural impact where moist walls, crystal chandelier, pink and purple lotuses and a mirror mosaic staircase picture magical spells.
Finally, the last visual frame has deepening of attractive blue and green shades where snow falls over the bridge with the beautifully carved boat below, hooked to the bank, depicting the innermost sentiments of a distressed beloved.
It speaks out volumes about the painful suffering of dreamer "Saawariya" when her love falls into his beloved's arms. It was an impeccable experience as the sentimental hues of Monty's brilliant music were infused in such beautiful surroundings as to evoke sympathy for this lovable dreamer. Bhansali is a winner! Art directors - Omung Kumar and Vanita - deserve to be applauded for conceptualizing Bhansali's visionary outlooks into such a magnanimous town with all vibrant colors and shades.
Ravi K Chandran (Cinematographer) proves to be another big ace for this dreamer's lost paradise saga. His crafted lightening effects made actors into artistic shades in their physical appearances during changing phases of the story and situations. 'Saawariya' has exclusively been shot indoors and is the story of four nights and every night carries distinctive appeal in its breathtaking visuals.
It was first time in Hindi cinema that there was usage of space lights that gel well with CT Blue to deliver a cool night feel to give the feel of "sanvla" color of "Saawariya" (synonym of Lord Krishna). On the contrary, the film has dark unlit quality for the night that every scene looks like a silent painting rather than a regular visual. It's indeed a big leap in technical section of Hindi cinema and it's a rare occasion when the style has superseded substance in a big way.
Costumes (Rajesh Pratap Singh, Reza Shariffi, and Anuradha Vakil - Costume Designer) have lived up to the occasion in almost every frame of the film. From designing Mughal costumes for (Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan, Begum Para), Anglo Indian (Ranbir Kapoor), Colonial British (Zohra Sehgal ) and Hindu costumes (Rani Mukherjee) in different colorful shades and designs, it has been perfect indeed.
Monty Sharma's music and background score is soulful visual melody and poetry that works logically with the pace of the film. The complete musical show was spectacular, both in harmony as well as in visuals. The soundtracks like "Saawariya", "Jab Se Tere Naina" and "Yoon Shabnami" have already been big chartbusters and there is much to follow in coming days. Dialogues and screenplay (Prakash Kapadia and Sanjay Leela Bhansali) are modest, gratifying and fulfill the emotional quotient of the film.
Debutante Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor prove to be worthy newcomers and can be counted for awards in the best newcomer's category this year. Ranbir shows flair of being a good actor and emotes appreciably in depicting all sentiments of his character. His flashy costumes coupled with his alluring physical appearance make him perfect choice for the role. Sonam Kapoor delivers a modestly scripted charming role of a demure girl that requires loads of perseverance, determination and flair.
She delivers a perfect look and matches well with Ranbir's spontaneity in every frame. Rani Mukherjee is brilliant once again and lives up to the high standards. Salman Khan essays a brief but pivotal role and maintains his perfect track record with the director Bhansali. Zohra Sehgal is a revelation again after her impressive performance in 'Cheeni Kum' while Begum Para lives up to her character with desired dexterity.
Commercially speaking, Bhansali's 'Saawariya' will be opening to modest houses as compared to SRK's 'Om Shanti Om' but will positively be going up in coming weekends. It's likely to be one of the biggest grosser of this year but will have to battle out for supremacy at the box office with 'Om Shanti Om'.
All credits to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his cast and crew for showcasing their consistency and precision in conceiving another visual spectacle with an unconventional theme!
After soulfully conceived 'Black', this film promises to be another winner in all segments of cinema, so have a nice weekend with a film that boasts high standards of quality work in Indian cinema.