Mohit Suri strikes again! ‘Saiyaara’ craze takes over young Indians

As Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara took over cinema halls this past week, the emotional impact of the film is flooring (in many cases literally) audiences into a state of stunned silence, their eyes overflowing with tears.

Some theatres reported viewers fainting, while social media feeds are filled with young Indians (not just girls) failing to control their emotions, breaking into sobs, right there in their multiplex seats.

Saiyaara is impacting young Indians across the country, perhaps in a manner no other film has in recent times. They are sobbing, yelling at the actors on the screen, and leaving elders in a state of shock.

It is as though the movie is bringing up feelings they had long suppressed. The impact is tangible, and the connection is genuine.

No wonder, Saiyaara is the surprise blockbuster of the year after a run of Bollywood failures.  After just a week in cinemas, it is already the second-biggest Hindi hit of the year after Chhaava, with a first-week box office total of ₹250 crore globally (₹172 crore, domestically).

A worthy successor to 'Aashiqui 2'

So what is it about a little hyped silver screen romance that came out of nowhere and has shaken up a generation that seemed to be too jaded to care for anything beyond the momentary virality on their timeline?

In the film, the two protagonists, Amaan (played by Ahaan Panday) and Zoya (Aneet Padda), discover love amidst turmoil. Their story is slow-burning, intense and unpredictable, the sort that is an all-consuming fire.

Not hesitating to lay bare the dark side of love, this film is notable for its emotional depth and unvarnished honesty. It’s not a glossy fairy tale, but a reflection of love at its most vulnerable.

And the young are lapping up Saiyaara’s brutal honesty, despite critics claiming that it romanticises suffering.

“I haven’t cried at a movie since Aashiqui 2 (another Mohit Suri directorial), but Saiyaara broke me,” said Ritika, a college student. “It felt too real.”

“We came thinking it was another romantic flick,” said a couple after watching the film at a multiplex in Mahagun Metro Mall, Vaishali. “But this hit deeper—it’s about holding on when everything’s falling apart.”

Another viewer noted, “What I loved most was how the characters weren’t perfect. They made mistakes, hurt each other, but still… they loved passionately.”

Saiyaara is about leaving you with constant discomfort, not about giving you a big hug. It allows you to sit with the possibilities rather than trying everything up with a bow. 

This film looks set to end up becoming the heartbreak anthem of our day, thanks to its potent mix of a deeply sincere story, a mellifluous soundtrack (by Mithoon) that is already ruling streaming playlists and fresh faces pulling off some outstanding performances.

Entertainment