The first thing that hit me was- that it was a very well made movie. All the elements were in place and that formula worked for most of India.
Throughout the music, our characters are singing about pain and loss and the transformative power of love. In Dhun he states, his 4 walls are his home and that he doesn't have a lot on him to give. In Humsafar he is singing "chahat duniya mein sabse behtar marham hain yaara". Barbaad is sung to show his rejection of love out of fear, "tere aane se dard chala jayega, isi baat ka darr hain mujhko", It's not very new that pain can trick the brain to see it as a comfortable space to sink in. But joy isn't supposed to be lived in crumbs. Vaani steps in to show him that. In Tum Ho Toh, he sings "Teri aakhon se lelu saare andhere tere, meri jaan baatenge milke saare savere mere", of course the song was made to talk about the transformative power of love. The man that saw no light, was dying to brighten the coming future with his love. Cliche? Yes. Powerful? Yes. Saiyaara is talking about her absence that becomes her presence in his life while still hoping to meet her some day again [How prophetic were his lines though? I can hear Saiyaara playing in all gullies in my neighbourhood]
I am glad she was aware that her condition was eating him and his career out. Vaani leaving everything behind so that he could work without being hurt by her- I don't know if I should call it bravery or recklessness. But is it love if there is no madness? This belief works in the world of cinemas, so I decided to enjoy it. The movie wants us to see it as Vaani's absence giving him a renewed reason to go back to music and excel in it.
I am thinking about Saiyaara song. The chorus- "tu toh badla nahi hain mausam rootha hain", I know he is talking about her alzheimer's but Tanishq baghchi has said this song helped him during his break up. The chorus is essentially talking about a relationship which love alone wasn't able to sustain and that has crumbled due to severe circumstances- long distance relationships, compatibility issues that can't be overcome, family issues, or health conditions like in the movie. I DO NOT think it applies to relationships where one person just chooses to stop being in love. If you are applying it there, it's pretty naive (correct me if I am wrong you're free to) If that person changes within a day, abandons you and you keep singing "tu badla nahi hain", it's naive, and a borderline Stockholm syndrome.
Another part I loved was "Main toh tere aasuon ka bana hu" from Barbaad. Probably he was talking about assimilating all her overwhelming emotions which made her cry= like happy tears, sad tears, angry tears, frustration tears. He is almost asking, "who am I if not for your emotions and thoughts?" Or he could be talking about the tears he shed when she left. He also says his laughs carry her echo. What a soul blend. Wow.
Krish kapoor represents the people who have experienced loss and pain and don't trust anything except that happiness eludes them. He sat and shared tables with the heavy emotions all his life and has tries to find his comfort in those emotions that stay as opposed to "happiness" which has been like a butterfly more than a permanent emotion in his life. Who wishes to risk another wave of sadness after happiness departs? He tells Vaani, "Happiness doesn't last long in my case", I am hesitant to call it a prophecy, but Vaani's Alzheimer's diagnosis might have assured that belief again. I think he was very brave, to choose to love and stay, while sidelining the bated breaths the anticipation of losing her any time. Whatever made him stay for her, definitely made us stay for the movie too. With whatever love she had planted in him, he decided to fight for their mutual happiness , excelling at his music was just a medium to reach to her. I always say "fate is a string of choices", that is to say if you wish to keep it, work for it. I am a big time avoider of regrets that come with not trying your best/ taking risks. I hate their existence and I try my best to expel them from my life. This movie was very much in line with all my beliefs so I loved it. I worked for me as well :) Saiyaara was good as it is. It did not need the whole violent crying reels😂 to go viral.
It's a bittersweet ending.
PS: I love that he drops her home on time. I absolutely adored it. I love these kinda men who respect my boundaries. Also, I loved how relieved ahaan's expression was when she yelled out his name in the mountains. Relief could have been shown in many ways, but he portrayed it so well, I could feel a broken man's struggle to meet his lover finally finding light.
