Comments on: Akshay Shah Reviews SAWARIYA (Hindi, 2007)

By: abzee

abzee — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:01:11 +0000

“And doubly glad,you and Sandy made up as I think it was just an unfortunate misunderstanding.”

Like the universe, NG too has a unique way of balancing things out. So on the day Akshay and Sandy patched up(yin), things between me and Sandy soured(yang).

The whopper is, I don’t even know what I’ve done wrong this time around!

By: Elvis

Elvis — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:10:33 +0000

Akshay,
Fabulous review and next to Rangam,the most appropriate review of the movie.
And doubly glad,you and Sandy made up as I think it was just an unfortunate misunderstanding.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:59:08 +0000

Nitesh: Glad you liked SAWARIYA! Those that have seen it Have mostly appreicated it..

By: To Each Its Own » Archives » Review Saawariya : Name’s Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor.

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:36:30 +0000

[...] – Since alls fair in Love, War and (now) Bollywood, I suggest you go here and here for non-biased [...]

By: Nitesh

Nitesh — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:06:43 +0000

Akshay bhai…i too liked saawariya and saw the film woith my parent. My father said the same good things about the movie that your father said.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:45:12 +0000

Jay: I think you’ll like this one, it’s not a masterpiece, and do keep your expectations slightly on the lower end, which probably isn’t hard given the kind of treatment the movie has gotten!

A.Shah

By: jayshah

jayshah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:43:34 +0000

Akshay…great review and has actually influenced me into giving Saawariya a chance maybe next weekend…only few people I trust on such matters

And if your reviewing a mushy love story, a Bhansali one at that, with all the songs and giving it a good score…then frankly its a must watch for me.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:38:53 +0000

Thanks Shah….Ranbir is here to stay!

A.Shah

By: Shah

Shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:25:54 +0000

Akshay bhai… agree with u this time 100%.
The movie is definitely worth a watch, Ranbir makes an awesome debut n the movie is a painting on screen. It really transports you to a different world.

my rating is 7/10 as well (yup, i liked it more than OSO)

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:17:17 +0000

Thanks Jesse, I think so! It’s definetly not a * movie!

A.Shah

By: Jesse

Jesse — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:14:35 +0000

Thanks for the review Akshay. Saawariya looks like it got the raw deal from the media.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:52:18 +0000

Sheeru I don’t doubt Sonam will get a few more chances!

A.Shah

By: sheeru

sheeru — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:49:13 +0000

i have faith in sonam…i still think the big directors are gonna sign her…deepika might get a spot in the karan johar and chopra camp though…thats what i think…doesnt sonam have rakesh’s next film???

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:39:40 +0000

Thanks Flora!

BTW Can anyone imagine SLB directing a MUGHAL-E-AZAM remake? He’d go mad!

A.Shah

By: flora

flora — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:33:55 +0000

good review akshay shah,one of the few positive ones out there for saawariya

By: sandy

sandy — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:33:18 +0000

That is so sweet Akshay but there’s really no need to apologize.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:26:29 +0000

Sandy: Don’t know if there ever is a right time for these kinda things, but sorry if i’ve said something in the past that may have hurt/annoyed you!

A.Shah

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:24:09 +0000

I don’t actually think Sonam is gonna hit the top bracket! If she does, i will be very surprised and I wish her all the best. But the younger female audiences (and there were a lot of them today) just didn’t like her. Perhaps it had something to do with her rejecting their “dream boy” Ranbir, but the amount of EWW and UGH’s I heard today leaves me to believe otherwise. Even mum commented “somethings missing”.

BTW she does look a LOT like Anil Kapoor in parts, silly statement I know..

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:21:58 +0000

Thanks Sandy!

By: sandy

sandy — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:20:04 +0000

“But deepika has pretty much blown away sonam. Poor girl, I do think both of them deserved better launch.”

Well said and sad but true. Guess, it’s not enough just to be a star kid.

By: sandy

sandy — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:15:19 +0000

Nice review Akshay, certainly one of your best.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:11:00 +0000

Abzee: Was it you that had the theory that K is actually the geek that Kashyap shows us in his flashback? and the rest of the movie is portrays K as to how he FEELS when he smokes as opposed to what he is in reality?!

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:09:51 +0000

BTW watching SAWARIYA was somewhat of a strangely nostalgic experience, my dad was 5 years old when he went to see SHREE 420 in Bombay with his dad in cinemas, in his 20’s when he went to see BOBBY with his wife(my mum) and now in his 50’s he watches the next gen with SAWARIYA!

I hold his view on films in high regard as he’s a bigger movie buff than me…and when I asked his views on Ranbir Kapoor…all he said was “the magic of RK lives on”!

By: abzee

abzee — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:01:47 +0000

“one of which is that K doesn’t actually exist, and that one makes sense the most”

Although I don’t agree with this theory(I think NS is pretty self-explanatory once you get the drift of what it actually is), but still I’m curious to read it. Please do post. I’m loving how in NS, Bollywood has probably had its first film that can be subjectively interpreted.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:57:49 +0000

Beld: fair enough, heck even NO SMOKING i’ve appreciated a LOT since I saw it the second time, and have come up with 3 theories as to what the movie is about which I will present in coming days…one of which is that K doesn’t actually exist, and that one makes sense the most!!

And yes, Sonam has got a raw deal, the girls don’t like her!!! Her giggling evoked quiet a few UGH from the younger female audiences. BTW for a matinee show SAWARIYA was 60% here.

And yes, your bhabhi deepika is just amazing..

A.Shah

By: beldevere

beldevere — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:54:33 +0000

Aksh
Reason I compared to jbj is it seems to be getting some niche acceptance only. And of course, you were gung ho about jbj and this. You seem to like to buck the trend…lol.
Btw, I think the biggest loser maybe sonam here. At least ranbir is not going to be compared to srk. But deepika has pretty much blown away sonam. Poor girl, I do think both of them deserved better launch.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:51:04 +0000

Thanks Sombhai!

By: som

som — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:48:30 +0000

Akshay:thanks a lot for your wonderful thoughts on the movie.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:44:50 +0000

Beld: Bhansali has always been a director “I don’t care” much for. What I mean is i appreciate his movies, and no doubt he’s talented, but he’s often too indulgent(KHAMOSHI and HDDCS are his best IMO) but he surprised me here. Ultimately the heart and soul of the movie is Ranbir. And I don’t think is a JBJ type deal at all what so ever!

A.Shah

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:43:28 +0000

Also I feel the timing is wrong for this. This is not a boy and girl live happily ever after love story, and on Diwali time people want happiness.

When the movie finished I asked a couple of ladies who knew Mum what they thought, and both had tears in their eyes and answered one word—-Beautiful…that about sums it up!

A.Shah

By: beldevere

beldevere — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:38:28 +0000

People were comparing oso to jbj. Looks like sawariya is going to go the jbj way with some niche audiences liking it.
Seriously, I think the hype and slb’s ego is hurting this movie. With 2 newcomers, they should have done a low key promotion and released it against lesser competition. I think the hype is causing the reviews to be harsher than they probably should be. But again, I really don’t like slb movies except for hum dil….

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:32:37 +0000

BTW this is a genre I don’t like much at all, teen love stories…but this one has totally surprised me.

BTW Sheeru, this is only a short story which the movie is based on, and I think Bhansali has done a tremendous taking that in to considersation. BTW When I read comments like WHAT COUNTRY IS THIS SET IN? WHAT ERA IS THIS SET IN etc I realized a large number of critics had missed the point….it’s a fairytale damnit!

A.Shah

By: sheeru

sheeru — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:32:15 +0000

Tango and Abzee guyz just go watch this movie man…Im pritty sure you guys will enjoy it.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:30:02 +0000

imgr8: you’re too kind! I’ve only written what i’ve experienced! It does have flaws..but man it’s nowhere near as bad as reviews have made it out to be.

Tango: A star is born…..Ranbir has a long career ahead of him and I wish him all the best! I hope he revives the RK banner. As for theatres..how MUCH do you like Bhansali’s cinema bhai? And how curious are you to see Ranbir?

Sheeru: Completely agree with everything you’ve said! It’s an indulgent film, but it’s been ripped and even held on the same pedestal as AAG?!?! Comeon now!!!

Thanks for the kind words Abzee…and yes Rani is amazing here. I have yet to see LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG..but this is one performance of hers i’ve loved after a long time:-)

A.Shah

By: abzee

abzee — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:24:07 +0000

“Rani Mukherjee is outstanding. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a Rani Mukherjee performance, but as the zinda-dil prostitute Gulab she is absolutely amazing, and no doubt deserving for a Best Supporting Actress Nomination.”

Love Rani, always did. My favourite mainstream actress since Sharmila Tagore.

By: abzee

abzee — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:20:52 +0000

Great review Akshay. I have a feeling that I’m gonna like this movie. Kafka and Dostoevsky within 3 weeks! Is Bollywood finally waking up to the world of expression- surrealism and realism?

By: Tango

Tango — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:20:51 +0000

** well written**

BTW- Knowing me well and my tastes DO YOU THINK I SHOULD WATCH IT IN THE THEATERS ?

Sonch samajh kar jawab dena, kyonki agar if…. to tum jaante ho kya hoga

By: sheeru

sheeru — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:18:44 +0000

Wicked review bro…agree on almost everything you said here…i have a feeling this will go down as one of SLB’s most underrated films…the film has alotta flaws…and ppl expect SLB to dlevier a flawless flick..he aint god…i dont think his past films were flawless either…the film does dissapoint…but i dont know if it coulda been made any better man…that’s where Im confused.

By: Tango

Tango — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:18:02 +0000

Thanks Akshayshah. Weel written as always. I was very keen to hear your views abt Ranbir

“Folks, put your hands together for the Ranbir Rishi Raj Kapoor, the heir to the throne of one of India’s oldest film families. As I’ve always said, star-kids making their debut is akin to a double-edged sword. On one hand they have the platform to make a dream debut with the biggest of banners and budgets; however on the other hand that certainly does manifold the expectations on the kids to perform. The hype surrounding Ranbir Kapoor was incredible, and without a single shred of doubt Ranbir Kapoor lives up to expectations. Given he’s present in almost every frame in the movie Ranbir shoulders the expectations of SAWARIYA supremely well and is no doubt extremely talented. So who is he like? Does he remind one of his father Rishi Kapoor? Or grand-father Shri Raj Kapoor? The biggest compliment one can give Ranbir is that he possesses the best of both his father and grand-father. No doubt Ranbir pays a tribute to the legend Raj Kapoor here and right from his get-up, his goofy charm, and at times his chaplin-esque mannerisms which draw an instant reminder to Mr. Kapoor in AWAARA and SHREE 420. The first thing that strikes you about Ranbir is his confidence, not only does he look absolutely smashing (and no I’m not talking about the over-hype, blink-and-miss butt scene) he has an strange sort of charm and charisma which is hard to describe in words and that often reminds one of Rishi Kapoor, specially in the romantic scenes. His goofy grin, searching eyes and rubber-band like movements wins the viewer over from the first time he comes on-screen. Granted there are places where he comes across as raw, and this always going to be case given this is his first film, but there are other times like the emotional sequence where he surprises with his command over the medium and one forgets that he’s a newcomer, the climax sequence being one of them. Ranbir Rishi Raj Kapoor….welcome to Bollywood and all the best for the future.”

By: imgr8

imgr8 — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:16:34 +0000

I m now going to worship Akshay’s work for one full day I hope I feel the same way about the movie when I see it tomorrow