One of my all time favorites.

Fresh and Exciting

best movie i've ever seen.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

An expensive and indulgent experiment, Saawariya doesn't quite work because the writing is flawed and the director doesn't seem to notice. Once a master manipulator of human emotions, Bhansali now fails to invest in his characters even the smallest dose of believability. Like cardboard caricatures, lifeless and dull, they rattle off ridiculous dialogues trying to sound like they have something profound to say. How you cringe in that scene where Ranbir convinces Zohra Sehgal to lease him a room, or that one in which he likens being sad to losing a boxing match.Saawariya comes off contrived and fake, and fails to strike a chord. You feel nothing for its characters, at best sympathy for the two young actors trapped in this pathetic, pretentious pap.Starring newcomers Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor as Raj and Sakina, the protagonists in question, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya is a glossed-up, all song-and-dance take on Dostoevsky's classic tale White Nights, and also borrows judiciously from Luchino Visconti's 1957 film version. But where Visconti's black-and-white film stays faithful to the story's intimate set-up and stark feel, Bhansali goes for a larger-than-life, almost kingsize scale, throwing in dazzling colours, opulent sets, imaginatively choreographed musical numbers, a half-dozen references to Raj Kapoor's films, and the kind of melodrama you can expect only in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film - remember Devdas?Well, the problem with varnishing a simple love story with all those embellishments is that the very simplicity of the plot, the fragility of the characters' emotions is lost amidst all that showing-off. What you get as a result, is a love story without soul.

This film takes its time but it gradually grows on you. The beginning is slow and the talky first half feels more like a filmed play. However, the acting is consistently good and there are lovely stylized sets, clearly modeled on Baz Luhrman's 'Moulin Rouge!' Both Ranbir and Sonam do a good job, considering it's their debut. Rani Mukherjee is brilliant as a prostitute. She takes a done-to-death role and utterly transforms it by sheer force of personality. Her song "Sun Chabeela" is a musical highlight. The songs are quite pleasant to watch, although a few could have been cut. Watchable.Overall 7/10

One of the most offbeat, and beautiful Bollywood films i've ever seen. Staged more akin to a Broadway musical than an actual film, the films simplistic storyline, 'set' setting, and loosely fleshed character are singularly both its greatest asset and...(read more) downfall. While these qualities lend the film its dreamlike, fantasy feel, it also leaves too much too interpretation. Too some that may be a bad thing...but this is a fantasy right? Right. So, while the film starts wonderfully with the introduction of characters and Raj stumbling upon Sakina on the bridge, the film does begin to drag towards the second half when Sakina tells her story, why? To the audience, her reason for loving Imaan so deeply is never really explained, it just happens, and that may put some off. Again, open too interpretation. But when has love ever been logical...it just happens. The boxing metaphor was also quite cheesy. Otherwise, the film was very well done. The set/atmosphere is the real star of the film. It has the look of Moulin Rouge with an exotic Indian twist. The films gorgeously choreographed and picturized songs only add to this effect. I wish Jaan E Jann was a bit longer though. The acting is first-rate...Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, and Zora Sehgal all do very well in their supporting roles, with Zora Sehgal being the best of the three...playing the part of a very bitter, disillusioned but spunky loving old lady. She lends the movie quite a bit of life. Ranbir Kapoor is nearly perfect in his debut...his dialogue delivery and mannerisms are very akin to Raj Kapoor, his whole character is pretty much a homage, it looks like he'll be carrying his grandfathers legacy with much success. Moreover, apart from aping his grandfather...he does have great screen presence and can emote very well. One of the finest debuts this year. On the other hand, Sonam Kapoor is quite good, though she dose not carry or get the same amount of screen presence as Ranbir, though she does very well with what she gets. Direction was on par, SLB/Sony knew they were taking a risk with this one, and it looks like it didn't payoff..to this I have too ask, when will Indian audiences learn to grow up? Sadly, it seems Indian audiences for the most part, cant handle thinking outside the 'box'...they want everything spoon-fed too them. So it perplexed me when they accept far more illogical films like say Om Shanti Om than this. Dumb. Anyways, Saawariya is one of my favorites this year...go see it and decide yourself.

Sometimes a film is so so bad, it actually makes you angry while you watch it, and even more so as you're forced to think about it afterward. Where this film went wrong would take too long to note, but the lead actor should find another career. His posturing and caricature of a true film hero was laughable and pathetic. What a waste of Rani Mukerjee, and as for Salman Khan, well, his career continues a steady downward spiral.B'wood is full of films these days starring the sons and daughters of the last generation. This can work out with great success: think Bachhan and Roshan for example. While the female lead, Anil Kapoor's daughter has a future in the Indian film industry, Rishi Kapoor's son Ranbir, should be put on medication following his manic and disturbing attempt at acting.