Saiyaara

Released in 2025 under the direction of Mohit Suri, Saiyaara presents itself as an ambitious attempt to revisit the romantic musical melodrama for a new generation. Starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film carries not only the expectations that come with a Yash Raj Films production, but also the challenge of introducing two promising faces to the Hindi film industry. With a narrative that oscillates between visual poetry and genre-worn clichés, Saiyaara alternates moments of genuine emotional impact with overly dramatized passages, making its strengths and weaknesses equally apparent.

From its opening scenes, Saiyaara sets the stage for a sensorially lush romance. Warm tones, melodic soundtrack, and emotionally charged close-ups deliver exactly what one expects from a film marketed as a “new ode to love and heartbreak.” Ahaan Panday plays Krish, a young musician with a troubled past and a conflicted heart. Despite his lack of prior screen experience, he delivers a convincing performance in emotionally loaded scenes, particularly when he's forced to confront the vulnerability behind his artistic persona. Aneet Padda, as Vaani, brings a more understated approach, offering natural screen presence and subtle strength in the film’s quieter moments. There’s believable chemistry between them, anchoring the emotional core that the script desperately relies upon.

Mohit Suri’s direction is marked by his characteristic sensitivity to the emotional lives of his characters. Known for films like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain, he brings back familiar narrative motifs: star-crossed lovers, unresolved childhood trauma, late-stage redemption, and music as a form of healing. While this stylistic signature works to some extent, the film stumbles in its reluctance to evolve. Family conflicts—such as an alcoholic, absent father—or the classic “career vs. love” dilemma, are handled with little depth, failing to develop into truly affecting dramatic arcs.

The soundtrack, composed by a collective of seven different musicians, is undeniably the film’s emotional heartbeat. Some tracks effectively translate the characters’ anguish into lyrical form, especially in scenes where music replaces dialogue as the main narrative force. Yet, in other moments, the musical interludes feel overused, as if the film is trying to manufacture emotion rather than earn it. This occasionally undermines the authenticity of what should be the film’s most poignant moments.

Structurally, the screenplay suffers from inconsistent pacing and tone. The first act is promising—introducing its protagonists and emotional stakes with a light but engaging touch. However, the second act quickly falls into predictable territory, and the climax drags on unnecessarily, diluting its emotional payoff. Dialogue becomes increasingly expository, and some plot elements—like the convenient introduction of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis—strain believability and feel more manipulative than sincere.

Still, Saiyaara finds its strength in brief, affecting moments. One of the film’s most memorable scenes comes when Krish returns to the stage where his journey began. The silence in this sequence, charged with emotional weight, stands out as a rare instance in which direction, acting, and music align seamlessly. It’s in these understated moments that Saiyaara proves its potential, revealing what the film could have been had it trusted more in subtlety and less in melodrama.

In the end, Saiyaara is a film that will resonate most with audiences still moved by grand, emotional love stories. It works more as a showcase for two promising young actors than as a true reinvention of the genre. Though it offers heartfelt performances and refined visuals, its narrative fragility and creative hesitation prevent it from fully taking flight. It’s a film that longs to feel contemporary but remains tethered to emotional beats already well-worn by its own director. For viewers seeking musical emotion wrapped in polished aesthetics, Saiyaara may offer just enough—albeit imperfectly.

Saiyaara (2025 / India)
Direction: Mohit Suri
Screenplay: Sankalp Sadanah
Cast: Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda, Rajesh Kumar, Varun Badola
Running Time: 156 min.