Mohit Suri's "Saiyaara": A Romantic Revival

Mohit Suri Brings Romance Back to the Big Screen with "Saiyaara"

New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) - Each evening, director Mohit Suri dedicates two hours to responding to calls and messages from viewers of his latest hit, "Saiyaara." His main curiosity: "Did they cry while watching the movie?" Featuring newcomers Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda, "Saiyaara" has significantly resonated with audiences, earning Rs 300 crore since its release on July 18. The collaboration between Suri, famed for films like "Aashiqui 2" and "Hamari Adhuri Kahani," and the romantic film powerhouse Yash Raj Films has been termed a perfect blend.

Suri, known for his debut with "Zeher" in 2005 and films like "Kalyug" and "Ek Villain," shares that this level of success is unprecedented for him. "When I go home, I tell my wife to give me two hours because the evening show is ending, and everyone is on the phone. I want to ask how they liked the film. How did they feel when they left the cinema while crying?" says Suri.

The heart of "Saiyaara" covers the journey of a musician with anger issues and a lyricist recovering from heartbreak, with their music sitting at the core of their love story. Initially planned as a follow-up to "Aashiqui 2," Suri ended up partnering with YRF, allowing "Aashiqui 3" to move forward with Anurag Basu at its helm, featuring Kartik Aaryan.

Suri is content with the unexpected directions his career has taken. "The 'Aashiqui 3' thing... it was too nascent. I don't commit until I have a script ready. They needed to start quickly so I was glad when Anurag took over. Without the pressure of sequels or a star-studded cast, I focused solely on crafting the film," he explains. The liberation from commercial constraints meant he followed his vision without aiming to outdo "Aashiqui 2."

Despite "Saiyaara" being one of his career's largest hits, the reality hasn't fully sunk in for the 44-year-old director. "Youngsters, families, everyone appreciates this film. I am not in the partying phase of life anymore; my children's pride brings another kind of happiness." When producer Aditya Chopra saw the rough edit, he predicted it would easily surpass Rs 100 crore at the box office, a prediction Suri initially doubted, opting instead to fine-tune during editing.

Opting to keep lead actors Ahaan and Aneet away from initial promotions, Suri wanted the film to speak for itself. "I believed arming these kids with a strong story, narrative, and songs would give them a fair shot rather than focusing solely on looks or photographs," he added, indicating that relying on substance over style is not a novel, but rather a rediscovered approach.

Music serves as "Saiyaara's" heartbeat, with tracks like "Saiyaara," "Dhun," "Humsafar," and "Tum Ho To" capturing audiences' attention. Suri, who works on music while scripting, believes in its transformative power. "I make music while writing. A great song can alter emotions, make you cry, laugh, or dance," Suri shares. Crediting Ramgopal Varma's insight on films shaping themselves, Suri sees "Saiyaara" as possessing a life of its own.

Not worried about memory loss being considered a cliché integral to "Saiyaara's" plot, Suri focused on emotional impact rather than spectacle. "I didn't set out to impress with dazzle but to touch. I aimed for familiarity, something audiences love," he concludes.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)