Saiyaara Movie Review
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Yash Raj Films
Cast: Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda, Varun Badola, Rajesh Kumar, Geeta Agrawal Sharma
Music: Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan Nizami, Sachet-Parampara, Mithoon, Vishal Mishra
Cinematography: Vikas Sivaraman
Writer: Sankalp Sadanah
Dialogues: Rohan Shankar
Director: Mohit Suri
Producer: Akshaye Widhani
Release Date: July 18, 2025
Mohit Suri, the maestro of heartbreak and melody, returns with Saiyaara, a romantic drama that feels like a love letter to his own filmography, heavily borrowing from the likes of Aashiqui 2, Rockstar, Kabir Singh, and Ek Villain.
While the film aims to tug at heartstrings with its emotional depth and soulful music, it often stumbles into the territory of a cliched screenplay, making it a parody of the very tropes Suri helped popularize.
Despite a beautiful story plot, Saiyaara struggles to carve its own identity, leaning too heavily on recycled themes and familiar beats.
Story:
Saiyaara follows Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a hot-headed aspiring rockstar with a Kabir Singh-esque rage and a Rockstar-like hunger for fame. He crosses paths with Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), a shy lyricist nursing a broken heart after being jilted at the altar. Their romance blossoms through songwriting, with Vaani’s diary of lyrics fueling Krish’s meteoric rise.
However, a tragic twist—reminiscent of A Moment to Remember—threatens to tear them apart, leading to a predictable saga of love, sacrifice, and redemption. The story, while emotionally engaging, feels like a patchwork of Aashiqui 2’s self-destructive artist arc, Rockstar’s tortured musician vibe, and Ek Villain’s intense emotional stakes.
Performances:
Ahaan Panday makes a debut as Krish, channeling Ranbir Kapoor’s brooding intensity from Rockstar and Shahid Kapoor’s volatile energy from Kabir Singh.
His screen presence is not satisfied but he can be good actor if he concentrate on facial acting and dialogue modulations, especially in emotional scenes he fades out, but his tendency to mimic these iconic performances borders on caricature at times.
Aneet Padda shines as Vaani, this character as quiet strength and vulnerability to a role that could easily have been overshadowed. Her performance not focused but summed facial expressions are more used.
Their chemistry is not convincing, anchoring the film even when the script falters. Supporting actors like Geeta Agrawal Sharma (as Vaani’s mother) and Varun Badola (as Krish’s alcoholic father) deliver solid performances, though their roles feel underutilized
Analysis:
Saiyaara is Mohit Suri at his most indulgent, blending his signature elements—rain-soaked visuals, moody studios, and music-driven storytelling—with a narrative that feels overly familiar.
The screenplay, penned by Sankalp Sadanah, is riddled with clichés, from the tortured artist trope to the convenient use of Alzheimer’s as a plot device, echoing Aashiqui 2’s tragic romance and Rockstar’s melancholic downfall. But failed to bring emotional touches to the scenes and not convincing of Alzheimer’s Patient Victim Card.
The film’s pacing is inconsistent, with a promising first half giving way to a melodramatic second half that feels stretched and manipulative.
Dialogues by Rohan Shankar, like “Kuch pal baaqi hain mere paas,” aim for viral appeal but lack the organic charm of Aashiqui 2’s iconic lines.
The music, however, is where Saiyaara truly shines. The soundtrack, featuring tracks like “Saiyaara,” “Barbaad,” “Tum Ho Toh,” and “Humsafar,” is a love letter to Aashiqui 2’s soulful legacy, with clear inspiration from its chart-topping melodies.
Composers Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and others deliver songs that are beautifully integrated into the narrative, elevating emotional beats.
Yet, the heavy reliance on Aashiqui 2-esque tunes makes the album feel more like a tribute than an original creation, a sentiment echoed by netizens who call it a “copycat version” of Rockstar and Aashiqui 2.
Visually, the film is a treat, with Vikas Sivaraman’s cinematography capturing dusky warmth and rainy streets that echo Suri’s signature aesthetic. However, the overuse of slow-motion shots and intense close-ups feels like a parody of his earlier works, particularly Ek Villain’s dramatic flair.
The film’s attempt to address modern issues like mental health and nepotism (with a meta jab at Ahaan’s Bollywood lineage) is bold but underdeveloped, leaving the narrative feeling like a rehash of old ideas.
Plus Points:
– Soulful, Aashiqui 2-inspired soundtrack that resonates emotionally
– Visually lush cinematography
– Heartfelt story plot that strikes emotional chords
Minus Points:
– Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s debut performances and Romantic Chemistry
– Cliched screenplay with predictable tropes
– Over-reliance on Aashiqui 2, Rockstar, Kabir Singh, and Ek Villain similarities
– Inconsistent pacing and manipulative second half
– Lack of originality in music and storytelling and Lack of Emotions.
Verdict:
Saiyaara is a visually stunning, melody-driven romance that fails to hit the right emotional notes and also fails to break free from Mohit Suri’s own shadow. It feels like a parody of Rockstar’s tortured artist, Kabir Singh’s volatile passion, Aashiqui 2’s tragic love, and Ek Villain’s intense romantic, with a screenplay that leans too heavily on clichés.
The Aashiqui 2-inspired songs, while beautiful, lack the freshness that made Suri’s earlier works iconic.
Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda Passable as newcomers, but the film’s predictable arc and lack of originality make it a one-time watch for die-hard romantic drama fans.
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