Saawariya

You know, maybe we all knew underneath that Saawariya and Om Shanti Om were going to be terrible. I mean, any movie that gets so much hype and publicity is bound to be a flop, even if it isn’t the worst movie you ever watched, since everyone expects an epic masterpiece. No dramatic sagas here, just melodramatic attempts at picturesque sets. Both OSO and Saawariya have been panned by critics, but Saawariya got the brunt of it I think. Shah Rukh Khan was nailed for over-acting in OSO, but he’s been doing that for the last 20 years, we’re used to it, and it’s unlikely he’s going to stop now…and apparently Deepika Padukone was not all that bad. Saawariya was ripped into however, with Sonam and Ranbir Kapoor proving, unfortunately, that they’re not exactly the superstars of tomorrow.

Here’s some examples of the reviews:
“…a stark, lovely story about romance born and rekindled over four nights — and, picking out its barest heart, proceeds to smother it in mixed-up layers of trite melodrama.” - Rediff.com
“The film could have been a cinematic masterpiece if Bhansali had focused more on developing the characters in depth rather than resorting heavily to their dramatic presentation. The silhouette of a veiled girl waiting on a bridge is appealing to the eye, but it doesn’t make your heart flinch.” - Apunkachoice
“Alas, Saawariya is all style, no substance. When a director of the calibre of SLB attempts a love story, you expect to experience the various emotions that you generally associate with romance. Sadly, the emotions you experience while watching Saawariya is sorrow and after the screening, anguish.” - OneIndia
“Saawariya can be mistaken for an experimental musical play. The film is a fable without a moral lesson. A dramatic poem without any actual drama. A story without a plot. It’s an energizing myth of a dream woven on screen, but perceived only by the creator.” - Bookeazy Blog

But director Sanjay doesn’t care though and he knows that because of the immense brainwashing we all went through, we’re still going to watch the movie. Unfortunately, I think he’s right. I know I will.

“Media manipulation won’t kill my film. I’m open to healthy criticism and debate. But not prejudiced criticism. In the opening weekend we’ve had massive audiences all over the world connecting with the film,”

“The huge barrage of criticism hasn’t prevented people from appreciating my merger of raga-based melodies with a Broadway-styled play. Only a handful of critics are trying to influence the audience to go against the film. The final verdict comes from the unbiased viewer,”

Even the unbiased viewers aren’t giving you good reviews Sanjay. But we can all go watch the movie and despair at the wasted hours in our life. I think that’s what Sanjay would want.