Director: Shaad Ali
Starring: Vivek Oberoi, Rani Mukerji and Shah Rukh Khan
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actresses in Bollywood are as beloved as Rani Mukerji. Ever since her rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Mukerji has transformed into one of the finest actresses in the Indian film industry. Whether it’s star-crossed lovers, prostitutes or housekeepers, Mukerji has suggested she can portray various characters. Through her ability to portray characters that are compelling, she has created a legacy which has proven lasting. Mukerji’s greatest strength as an actress has always been her versatility. Mukerji’s greatest strength as an actress is her courage to take risks. She is one of those actresses which has never been afraid of taking risks in her career by playing characters which aren’t commonly likeable. Despite reaching age of retirement, Mukerji has never lost her passion for making powerful entertainment. An incredible icon in India, Mukerji has become one of the most beloved actresses in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a lasting career, Mukerji has crafted many memorable movies which are definitely without any doubt worth watching.
I’m a big fan of Mukerji and adore all the films she has made throughout her career. However, “Saathiya” has always been my favourite. Ever since its release in 2002, Rani Mukerji’s movie has stood a test of time as an iconic Bollywood classic. Packed with breathtaking production, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best Bollywood films ever made. At the centre of it all is an iconic performance by Rani Mukerji, who embodies a woman that faces broken marriage. Ultimately, “Saathiya” remains a masterpiece because of its strong message. Unlike most Bollywood movies, the film tackles universal themes everyone would relate to. It delivers a profound message about the sacrifices involved in romance which would resonate with everyone. A mesmerizing Indian masterpiece capturing romantic relationships, there are many strong reasons why “Saathiya” is a movie that is definitely without any doubts worth watching.
Set in modern India, “Saathiya” tells a story of a couple that elopes with consequences which leads to trauma. Vivek Oberoi portrays Aditya Sehgal, an aimless college student whose life lacks a direction. Aditya is a rebellious college student without a strong sense of direction in his life. Aditya’s life drastically changes why he falls madly in love with Suhani. Suhani is a bold woman with a strong worldview on education. Despite their differences in personality, the two get along well with each other. Falling madly in love, Aditya immediately married Suhani in the hope of building a bright future. However, their marriage is soon threatened by circumstances of fate beyond their control. Torn apart by fate, Aditya and Suhani are forced to all of a sudden separate. Facing a dilemma, Aditya begins to question whether he will ever find love that he is seeking in India.
Shaad Ali is a newcomer to love stories. Before he directed “Saathiya”, Ali had never produced a romantic film in his career before. It marked Ali’s directorial debut and first forays into the romantic genre. It was the filmmaker’s attempt to capture the hardships of Indian lovers torn apart by barriers, but he succeeded. Visually, the film is a strong feast for the eyes. Through captivating cinematography, Ali captures the hardships faced by a couple falling madly in love. Ali effectively uses montages to capture the powerful bonds between a pair of lovers. For instance, montages enhance the Saathiya musical sequence. During this strong scene, Aditya and Suhani bond together in a fantasy dream. One admires montages capturing the lives of couples that are in love. Montages are tricky techniques to use in Bollywood movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” did suggest clearly, montages elevate films about childhood lovers. Nevertheless, it worked very well in this film. Using strong cinematography, Aditya captures the lives of lovers which seek freedom in Indian countries.
Another admirable aspect of “Saathiya” which is worth discussing is the production design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Shaad Ali successfully uses musical numbers to capture traditions of weddings in India. In Bollywood, most movies are driven by over the top musical sequences without any meaning. Musical numbers often become a diversion that distract from stories. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. For instance, the musical numbers showcase weddings in the Chalka Re scene. During this unforgettable scene, Suhani forms a dance at a classic Indian wedding where she first meets Aditya. One appreciates dance choreography capturing the bonds between a pair of lovers at a wedding. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. A.R. Rahman’s music is integral towards the success of the movie. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing painful burden which lovers in a doomed affair bear. Through phenomenal production-design, Ali captures romantic relationships between two lovers that decline.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “Saathiya” is a captivating Indian classic that is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses non-linear storytelling to capture the progression of a romance over the course of time. Mani Ratnam’s finest strength as a screenwriter is his abilities to capture the decline of romantic relationships over time by non-linear storytelling. The film deftly switches back and forth between two timelines: Aditya’s past flashbacks of a romance with Suhani and present-day trauma experiencing an accident in India. Through this extraordinary non-linear structure, Ratnam created compelling Indian lovers viewers can easily relate to. Non-linear storytelling is a tricky technique to use in Bollywood films. Most Bollywood movies are driven by a straightforward linear structure to avoid confusing audiences. As Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots” demonstrated, non-linear storytelling elevates movies about college students. Nevertheless, it works really well on this film. Through a superb screenplay, Ali captures the commemorated bonds between a pair of Indian lovers today.
One admires astonishing performances.
Vivek Oberoi delivers one of his best career performances as Aditya. Oberoi first gained appreciation for playing gangsters in classic gangster movies. With “Saathiya”, however, Oberoi portrayed his first ever romantic role. It’s not easy to portray an Indian man which elopes with a lover but Oberoi succeeded. It’s a role that gave Oberoi a chance to showcase his charisma as an icon in Bollywood Cinema. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, desperation and resentments of a man falling in love in a doomed romantic affair. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most underrated actors working in India today.
Rani Mukerji is remarkable as a woman whose plans of marriage are threatened by pursuit of career that causes damage. Mukerji is one of those actresses which has always excelled at playing characters that are madly in love, and “Saathiya” demonstrated her strengths as an actress. As Suhani, Mukerji successfully uses body language to capture the emotions of a woman which is madly in love. Whether she’s joyously flirting with Aditya or getting angry at her parents for arranging her wedding in India, Mukerji effectively uses her body language to capture the emotions of a woman in love. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actresses working in India today.
Finally, “Saathiya” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing marriages which end in India. Unlike most Bollywood movies, the film discusses universal themes everyone would be able to relate to. It discusses relevant themes including identity, family and marriage which would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be Indian in identity to appreciate the movie. It delivers a strong message about marriage which would definitely resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Saathiya” remains one of those rare Bollywood movies that everyone would adore.
Fans of Rani Mukerji will definitely appreciate “Saathiya” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A captivating romantic classic, it celebrates a fantastic Indian actress that has left behind a legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 25 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about lovers engaging in illicit romantic relationships eloping with consequences that are frightening, it’s a breathtaking reminder about a commemorated actress that has accomplished a huge fan following through her abilities to portray characters which are compelling whose engaging movies are definitely without any doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 