Production :
Bhansali initially wanted Rani Mukerji and Salman Khan's extended guest appearance to be hidden from the public but later made public that they would be seen in supporting roles.
The first official teaser of the film was accessed by New York Times on August 25, 2007. The first screening was held October 28, 2007, though only for those associated with the film.
Plot :Ranbir Raj (Ranbir Kapoor), a free spirited idealist – dreamer, arrives in a dreamy surreal town and joins as a lead singer in its swankiest club. Here he bumps into Gulabji (Rani Mukerji), a prostitute, who immediately falls for his naivety and innocent charm. One night he notices a mysterious girl standing alone on a bridge holding an umbrella. As he tries to strike a conversation, she shies away. But he still keeps following her and both end up becoming friends. This mystery girl, Sakina (Sonam Kapoor) forever carries a sadness in her eyes which leaves Ranbir intrigued. But so mesmerized he is with her that his every minute goes into discussing her with his land lady, Lillipop (Zohra Sehgal) and Gulabji.
Just when Ranbir is about to express his true feelings to her, she reveals the reason behind her unhappiness. She tells him she is waiting for her love, Imaan (Salman Khan) to return. A year back before leaving, he had promised that he would be back and meet her on the same bridge that he saw her waiting.
Cast :Ranbir Kapoor ... Ranbir Raj
Sonam Kapoor ... Sakina
Salman Khan ... Imaan
Rani Mukerji ... Gulab
Begum Para ... Nabila, Sakina's Grandmother
Zohra Sehgal ... Lilian
Crew :Executive Producers: Kuldeep Singh Rathore & Deepak Sharma
Producer: SLB Films and Columbia Tristar (Sony Pictures Entertainment India)
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Screenplay: Prakash Kapadia & Sanjay Leela Bhansali, based on the short story White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Dialogues: Niranjan Iyengar
Editor: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Music Director: Monty Sharma & Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Background Music: Monty Sharma
Choreographers: Pappu-Mallu, Ganesh Hegde & Shiamak Davar
Lyricists: Sameer, Nusrat Badr & Sandeep Nath
Cinematographer: Ravi K. Chandran
Art Directors: Omung Kumar Bhandula & Vanita Omung Kumar
Sound Designer: Resul Pookutty
Reviews :Indiafm.com gave the film 1.5 out of 5, saying that "On the whole, Saawariya lacks soul. It's SLB's (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) weakest film to date, in terms of writing." BBC Movies awarded the film 2 out of 5, saying that it was "A case of theatrical style over substance."Overall the film received negative reviews from critics and audiences alike.. The Times of India gave it 3 out of 5 saying that "The film flounders a bit in the movement of the plot and the intensely wordy script with some kitchy dialogues – like Okay Bye — to mar the dreamy ambience". The Hindustan Times gave it 2 out of 5 saying that "Though Bhansali does extract high quality performances from Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, he fails to do justice with the content". However, The New York Times gave the film a positive review saying, "The experience is visually enchanting, cloyingly sweet, at once utterly chaste and insanely erotic, and finally exhausting. Aficionados will not settle for less.
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Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:34 am
