Directed by: Mohit Suri
Produced by: Akshaye Widhani
Cast: Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda
Music by: Songs: Sachet-Parampara, Tanishk Bagchi, Rishabh Kant, Mithoon, Vishal Mishra, Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nisami Score: John Stewart Eduri
Rating: 4/5
Tejal Sinha
Mohit Suri returns to the big screen with Saiyaara, a film that carries the emotional weight and visual poetry his cinema is known for. This time, he introduces a new romantic duo—Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda—who rise to the challenge of headlining a story that explores heartbreak, healing, and the redemptive power of love. Rooted in emotional honesty and musical depth, Saiyaara is a tender reminder that pain and passion often walk hand in hand.
Plot:
Saiyaara unfolds as a brooding love story between two emotionally fractured individuals—Krish (Ahaan Panday), a volatile street performer battling inner demons, and Vaani (Aneet Padda), a guarded young woman with a past that weighs heavily on her. Their worlds collide under unlikely circumstances, and what begins as friction slowly evolves into connection. Mohit Suri frames their journey through the lens of emotional survival—where love is not an escape, but a confrontation of everything they’re running from. The film steers away from traditional romantic tropes, focusing instead on how pain can forge deep bonds between broken souls.
Highlights:
What elevates Saiyaara above standard romantic fare is its emotional sincerity. The film doesn’t try to manipulate the viewer with grand gestures or superficial highs. Instead, it lets vulnerability take centre stage. The title track, ethereal and heart-aching, becomes the film’s emotional heartbeat, surfacing in key moments to underline the gravity of unspoken feelings. Another standout is the way Suri builds atmosphere—the silences, the stillness, and even the moments of confrontation are all grounded in a poetic sadness that lingers. Vaani’s character, in particular, is written with striking agency—she’s not just a romantic interest but a woman in control of her healing process.
Drawbacks:
Despite its emotional resonance, Saiyaara does falter in its narrative structure. The first half meanders through slow-burn moments, and while the introspective tone works for character-building, it may test the patience of viewers craving urgency. Some transitions—like Krish’s rapid rise to fame—lack buildup, feeling more like plot shortcuts than organic progression. A subplot involving Vaani’s past relationship is introduced with promise but fades without resolution, making parts of her arc feel underexplored. These gaps don’t derail the film, but they hold it back from becoming a seamless narrative experience.
Performances:
Ahaan Panday marks his debut with surprising maturity. He brings a raw energy to Krish—his anger, recklessness, and eventual softening are convincingly portrayed. The performance feels lived-in, especially post-interval, where he dials down the angst for a more controlled emotional beat. However, it’s Aneet Padda who truly impresses. As Vaani, she blends fragility with fierce resolve, offering a deeply empathetic portrayal of a woman carrying invisible scars. Her quiet strength grounds the film, and her chemistry with Ahaan unfolds in slow, meaningful layers. Together, they create a romance that feels earned, not imposed.
Technical Aspects:
Visually, Saiyaara is a treat. Cinematographer Vishnu Rao crafts a world soaked in greys and golds—urban yet intimate, somber yet striking. Every frame feels intentionally composed to mirror the characters’ emotional states. The editing is patient, allowing scenes to breathe, while the sound design quietly heightens internal tensions. Mohit Suri’s music instincts remain sharp—while not every song is chart-topping, they integrate beautifully into the storytelling. The haunting background score and the sweeping title track do most of the emotional heavy lifting, binding the narrative together even when the script wavers.
Verdict:
Saiyaara may not reinvent the romantic drama, but it doesn’t try to. Its strength lies in its emotional conviction and the quiet power of its central performances. Mohit Suri continues to explore the bittersweet terrain of doomed love and inner healing, and while the storytelling has some uneven stretches, the film’s heart never falters. With two promising newcomers, a powerful soundtrack, and visuals that linger, Saiyaara is a film that feels personal—flawed, yes, but deeply felt. It reminds us that love is not about perfection but about persistence, even in pain.
