Saawariya (or Saanwariya another pronunciation) (Hindi: :सावरिया, Urdu: سانوریا, translation: My Love) is a 2007 Hindi film produced and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film is based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story "White Nights".

Co-produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and released on 9 November 2007, it is the first Bollywood movie to receive a North American release by a Hollywood studio,^[1] shortly preceding Walt Disney Pictures' animated feature Roadside Romeo (2008), and Warner Bros.' Chandni Chowk to China.^[1] Additionally, it is one of the first Bollywood films to be released on Blu-ray Disc.^[2]

The film marks the debut of both the lead actors; Ranbir Kapoor (son of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh) and Sonam Kapoor (daughter of Anil Kapoor).^[3] It also stars Rani Mukerji and Salman Khan in cameos and Zohra Sehgal in a supporting role.

Plot[link]

The story is narrated by Gulabji (Rani Mukerji), a prostitute who frequents RK Bar (the town's most luxurious club). She introduces the audience to the bar's lead singer, Ranbir Raj (Ranbir Kapoor) whom she lovingly calls "Saawariya" (or loved one), who is a free-spirited and kind-hearted guy with no worries at all. One night, while sleeping on the street, he and Gulabji meet. Despite knowing what Gulabji does, Raj still treats her in a friendly manner and, unlike other men, is kind to the other prostitutes and tries to brighten their sad lives. When he tells Gulabji that he needs somewhere to stay and a job for a living, she tells him that there is only one woman who'll give him a place to stay. That woman is Lilian (Zohra Sehgal) - but she allows only those she likes. Raj decides to meet her the next morning.

Raj meets Lilian, and they have a very emotional chat, during which Lillian reveals she had a son who left her many years ago and never returned. After being overwhelmed by the sheer genuineness of Raj, she agrees to let him stay with her because he reminds her of her long lost son. Raj goes out for a walk in the night and meets a mysterious girl dressed in black and holding an umbrella. He tries to talk to her and starts following her, but under the wrong impression, she shouts at Raj and tells him to go away. Raj tells her that he will go away, but on the condition that he'd escort her to safety, lest someone with bad intentions would follow and trouble her. Then, as predicted by Raj, a drunkard begins following her and Raj saves her from him. Raj insists she allow him to escort her to her home, to which she agrees. Raj then discovers that her name is Sakina (Sonam Kapoor), and that night Raj falls in love with her.

After thinking about her all night, Raj decides to confess about his feelings to Sakina. When he calls to her the next night after resigning from his job so he can see her, Sakina ignores him and refuses to speak to him. Raj gets angry with her but the pair reconcile. He takes her to his favorite place, on the top of town clock building. In front of a picturesque scene of the blue moon and a train arriving on the horizon, Sakina reveals that she is in love with someone: his name is Imaan (Salman Khan), and explains to Raj how she fell in love with him when he boarded at her house. Imaan left the house but promised to return on Eid for Sakina. It has been a while and Imaan has still not returned for her, though she has been waiting for him faithfully. Hearing this, Raj does not confess about his feelings and becomes heart-broken.

Although Raj now knows that Sakina doesn’t love him and her friendship was not love but just pure friendship, he readies himself to help her anyhow. However, his love-lorn heart refuses to believe that there is someone called Imaan. He asks Gulabji for advice, who advises him to tell Sakina how he feels. With the entire neighborhood cheering him on, he decides to propose to Sakina on the night of Eid. He takes Sakina to RK Bar and sings his favorite song for her. Sakina remembers that it’s time to meet Imaan at the bridge and leaves. Following her, Raj tells her that he has discovered that there is no Imaan and it's all a myth; upon hearing this, Sakina hurts Raj, telling him to let her go. Raj goes to Gulabji, saying he wants to be with her for the night (referring to her profession), insulting her. Gulabji, who loves Raj but knows that he loves Sakina, gets deeply hurt by this and gets Raj thrown out of the brothel onto the street, where he is beaten up by a few of Gulabji's hench men. She tells one of her colleagues that even though she loves Raj, this is not the way she intends to love him and if he gets entangled in the world of prostitutes, he will forever lose his pure soul.

He returns to the place where Sakina is waiting, where Imaan has still not arrived. Sakina, befuddled and heart-broken, becomes sure that there is no chance of Imaan coming back, so she decides to be with Raj, as she knows how much he loves her. Raj tries to make Sakina happy and succeeds; they enjoy the first snowfall. When they are returning home, they pass the bridge where they first met and see Imaan waiting for Sakina. Torn between the two: her true love and the love of the guy who loves her unconditionally, Sakina hesitates as she steps toward Imaan. Raj, however, tells her to go and reunite with Imaan.

The movie ends as a tribute to yesteryear great Raj Kapoor, where Raj walks and sings exactly like him from Shree 420, retreating into a side street and walks off, remembering the sweet moments he spent with Sakina.

Cast[link]

• Ranbir Kapoor as Ranbir Raj (referred to as "Saawariya" by Gulabji)
• Sonam Kapoor as Sakina
• Rani Mukerji as Gulabji
• Salman Khan as Imaan
• Zohra Sehgal as Lilian aka Lilipop
• Begum Para as Nabila / Badi Ammi (Sakina's Grandmother)
• Vibha Chibber as Naseeban
• Atheya Chaudhri as Jhumri Aapa
• Kenny Desai as Mr. D'costa (Owner of RK Bar)

Production[link]

Bhansali initially wanted Rani Mukerji and Salman Khan's extended guest appearance to be hidden from the public^[4] but later made public that they would be seen in supporting roles.^[5]

The first official teaser of the film was accessed by New York Times on 25 August 2007.^[6] The first screening was held on 28 October 2007, though only for those associated with the film.^[7]

Story controversy[link]

After the release of the film, it became embroiled in controversy. There were charges that the plot was lifted from the Tamil movie Iyarkai, without the permission of the film's National Award winning director S. P. Jananathan.^[8] But, the story of Iyarkai itself is loosely based on "White Nights", a Russian short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky, just as Saawariya claims to be.

Soundtrack[link]

The soundtrack for the film was released to mixed reviews on 19 September 2007. Indiafm gave the music three out of five stars, stating that, "The title song would be remembered for months to come, if not years, the others do not really go that extra distance".^[9]

Reception[link]

Despite high expectations for the film, Saawariya did not live up to its expectations throughout the Indian audience. On the other hand, Saawariya got mixed reviews in other countries. It maintains a 39% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes^[10] and a 44% Mixed or average rating on MetaCritic^[11]. Newcomers Ranbir and Sonam's performances were praised, and Ranbir Kapoor won Best Male Debut at the Filmfare Awards. The film was commercially a flop.

Awards[link]

Filmfare Awards[link]

• Best Male Playback - Shaan, Jab Se Tere Naina
• Best Male Debut - Ranbir Kapoor
• RD Burman Award - Monty Sharma [1]

Screen Awards[link]

• Most Promising Newcomer - Male - Ranbir Kapoor

Stardust Awards[link]

• Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female - Sonam Kapoor^[12]
• Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Male, Ranbir Kapoor^[12]
• Standout performance by a Music Director - Monty Sharma
• Standout performance by a Lyricst - Sandeep Nath, Yoon Shabnami

IIFA Awards[link]

• Best Male Debut - Ranbir Kapoor
• Best Playback Singer (Male) - Shaan (Jab Se Tere Naina)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Saawariya at the Internet Movie Database
• Saawariya at Sony Pictures

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