Movie Review: Saawariya

Year of release: 2007
Language: Hindi/English (DVD has subtitles)
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan, and Zohra Sehgal

Saawariya (Beloved) is Hollywood glitz 'n' glam wrapped around a Bollywood love dream that trails through your mind like silk through fingers. Dazzling colors illuminate the velvet corners of imagination as director Sanjay Leela Bhansali creates his unique adaptation of the Dostoevsky short story "White Nights."

Boyish, Beatle mop-topped Ranbir Raj (Ranbir Kapoor), a wandering musician, arrives in a surreal, fairy-tale town with narrow, crooked streets, fantastic houses, and canals. His sweetness and charm win the attention of Gulabji (Rani Mukherjee), the world-weary red district worker (who partially narrates the film) and his openness melts a crusty old landlady's heart (veteran actress Zohra Sehgal). Then, one night, he sees Sakina (Sonam Kapoor), a lovely woman standing on a bridge, huddled under a black umbrella, gazing out over the water with a melancholy expression. Intrigued, Raj approaches her. And what follows is a tale of tangled love and longing.

Raj loves Sakina, but Sakina loves Imaan, (a broody, mojo-workin' Salman Khan), and is waiting for him to return from….well, where ever he is. Imaan isn't into divulging details about his comings and goings. He's the lone wolf to Raj's puppy dog and Sakina pines for him in true Gothic Heroine style. Meanwhile, Gulabji observes the action, somewhat removed, holding herself back until the movie's central musical number, which Rani Mukherjee owns. Later, she also makes a decision about just how close she wants to get to Raj.

A comparison can be been made to Moulin Rouge but that's not quite accurate. The costumes are colorful in contrast to the smoky blues, greys, and blacks of the background sets, but they're not garish. The pace and feel are dreamier, gentler, not as frantic.

There are some missteps: the dialogue sometimes borders on the cheesy, and at over two hours, the movie's pace drags in the third act—it feels like it takes Sakina forever to make up her mind which man she'd rather be with. Also, it's never stated where this town is supposed to be. There are references to Eid, the Muslim holiday signaling the end of Ramadan, the architecture is vaguely north Indian with hints of Venice and New York. There's also a reference to the classic, epic film set in the Mughal Empire era, Mughal e-Azam (released in 1960, then re-released colorized in 2004).

Nonetheless: Saawariya is a gorgeous visual symphony wrapped around a love melody and another good rainy Saturday afternoon popcorn flick.