Review: Saiyaara – A Youthful Musical Love Story!

Bollywood seems to be increasingly drawn to lead characters suffering from life-threatening diseases. In recent times, several films have followed this theme, likely because it allows for a deeper emotional connection with the audience through sympathy and adds extra dramatic layers to the screenplay. Alzheimer’s disease, which typically occurs in later stages of life and causes gradual memory loss, plays a central role in Saiyaara, as one of the lead characters is diagnosed with it, and a love story unfolds around this premise.

Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda) is abandoned by her fiancé on their wedding day, which pushes her into depression. A writer by profession, she pulls herself together on her parents’ insistence and begins working as a journalist. She then meets an angry young musician in need of someone to write lyrics for his compositions. After quitting his band ‘Josh’ due to his temper, he turns to Vaani for collaboration. Together, they create beautiful music—but fate has other plans. This emotional rollercoaster takes the audience through a journey of love, heartbreak, sacrifice, and self-discovery.

The plot revolves around the classic “bad boy meets good girl” trope, highlighting how they tackle life’s challenges together, despite their individual struggles. The screenplay is well-written, though the film could have benefited from a tighter edit—trimming at least 15–20 minutes would have improved the pacing. The dialogues sparkle in places, and a witty dig at “nepo-kids” by Ahaan Panday (actress Ananya Panday’s cousin) adds a humorous touch.

As expected from a Yash Raj production, the film boasts high production values and impressive cinematography.
The music is the heart and soul of the film, with stellar compositions by Mithoon, Sachet-Parampara, Tanishk Bagchi, and Vishal Mishra. Songs like Saiyaara, Barbaad, and Dhun truly stand out. (One full star is for the music alone!)

Director Mohit Suri, known for his emotionally driven breakup tales, once again delivers. He brings out excellent performances from the newcomers. Aneet Padda has a strong screen presence and fully embodies her character. Ahaan Panday is convincing, especially in the second half, though he should work on voice modulation. Geeta Agarwal Sharma shines as Vaani’s mother, delivering a memorable performance. Rajesh Kumar and the supporting cast also perform well.

In conclusion, Saiyaara is a youthful, emotional, musical love story that will surely resonate with the young crowd.

Rating : ***1/2

By Keerti Kadam