Saiyaara Movie Review: A Dreamy Debut That Struggles to Soar
Mohit Suri returns to familiar territory with Saiyaara, a melancholic love story set against a backdrop of emotional turmoil and youthful passion. Starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in their debut roles, the film treads the well-worn path of heartbreak, longing, and poetic despair—a hallmark of Suri’s earlier hits like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain.
While Saiyaara brings visual elegance and a soulful soundtrack, it falters in narrative depth and emotional impact. The leads sparkle in moments, but the script never quite allows them to sizzle.
Director: Mohit Suri
Cast: Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda
Genre: Romantic Drama
Rating: 3/5
Saiyaara Movie Review: Plot Summary
Saiyaara follows the story of Aryan (Ahaan Panday), a brooding musician burdened by trauma, and Tara (Aneet Padda), a spirited young woman with dreams that stretch far beyond her family’s expectations. Their paths cross under unlikely circumstances, leading to an intense yet turbulent romance. As their relationship deepens, past secrets and personal ambitions pull them apart, testing the limits of love, sacrifice, and destiny.
Performances
Ahaan Panday makes a sincere debut. While there are occasional traces of nervousness, his screen presence is undeniable. He embodies the tortured lover trope with commitment, if not finesse. Aneet Padda, on the other hand, brings grace and restraint to her role, showing glimpses of future promise. Together, they share a natural chemistry, though the emotional arcs they are given often feel repetitive and undercooked.
Direction and Screenplay
Mohit Suri’s directorial style is unmistakable—dim lighting, haunting melodies, and slow-motion heartbreak sequences. However, where his previous romantic tragedies gripped audiences with raw intensity, Saiyaara feels overly stylized and thin on substance. The screenplay is predictable, filled with dialogues that aim for poetic but sometimes land as melodramatic.
What’s missing is the emotional resonance that Suri’s best films have managed to achieve. The narrative meanders in the second half and relies too heavily on cliché romantic conflicts without meaningful development.
Music and Cinematography
If there is one undeniable strength in Saiyaara, it’s the soundtrack. Composers deliver a range of melancholic tracks that complement the film’s mood. The title song “Saiyaara” is already trending and adds weight to the emotional beats of the film.
Cinematography captures the urban chaos and quiet moments of intimacy with equal finesse. The visual palette—rich in muted blues and dusky tones—enhances the moody atmosphere that defines much of the film.
Audience and Critical Reception
Initial social media reactions to Saiyaara have been mixed. While some viewers hailed it as a “superhit” and praised Ahaan Panday’s debut as a “star-making turn,” others found the film underwhelming and emotionally hollow. The polarized response highlights a divide between fans of stylized romantic dramas and those seeking narrative originality.
Critics have largely echoed similar sentiments: praise for the leads’ earnest efforts, applause for the music, but disappointment in the film’s lack of narrative punch. The film has been awarded an average of 3 stars across major outlets.
Box Office Performance
Despite the mixed critical reception, Saiyaara has performed surprisingly well at the box office, particularly among younger audiences in metro cities. Its opening weekend figures have surpassed expectations, thanks in part to aggressive promotions and curiosity around the star kids’ debut.
Whether the film maintains momentum in the coming weeks will depend on word-of-mouth and repeat value—two factors that may be limited by the film’s slow pacing and predictable plotline.
Saiyaara Movie Review Final Verdict
Saiyaara is a visually rich, musically resonant debut platform for Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. But beneath the film’s glossy exterior lies a hollow core. While the film tries to evoke deep emotions, it often ends up skimming the surface of a much deeper story that could have been told.
It’s not without its charm, but Saiyaara ultimately plays it too safe, delivering familiar heartbreak in an era where audiences are craving fresh takes on love and loss.
Recommended For:
Fans of Mohit Suri’s earlier films, romantic drama lovers, and those who enjoy stylized cinematic heartbreak.
Not Recommended For:
Viewers seeking originality, strong character arcs, or plot-driven storytelling.