Saawariya Review

That old cliche? about Indian films having seven songs and five dances is pretty much confirmed with this bright Mumbai-based story about Aditya, Vivek Oberoi, an electronics engineer from a well-to-do family who falls in love with Suhani, Rani Mukerji, a medical student from a middle class family. Initially resistant to Aditya's charms Suhani eventually succumbs after an intensive courtship that takes place on the Mumbai rail system. When their respective relatives meet and have a falling out their only solution is to marry in secret. And when their secret is discovered they're forced to set up house together where a few of life's realities intrude. Saathiya is a Hindi remake of a South Indian Tamil film by the established director Mani Ratnam who was actually a mentor for Shaad Ali, the director of Saathiya. Ratnam chose his protege to direct the remake and it's Ali's debut as a director. It's a bright, bouncy big screen experience with likeable performances, a rather overly melodramatic ending, and some enjoyable songs and dances. I loved the one where Aditya and Suhani change matching outfits about eight times within the one song, to go with the different locations. It's overt fantastical tone obviously conforms to cultural specifics that will most probably be more popular in Mumbai and Delhi than in Melbourne or Sydney, the two cities where it's getting a release here.