Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salman Kahn. Dir: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Rating: 3/5
Raj, and idealistic, free spirit and musician, finds himself in his ultimate dream when he arrives in a picturesque, unnamed town.
One night while wandering the streets he spots a young woman dressed in black and crying alone on a bridge in the town.
This chance encounter introduces him to the beautiful Sakina, a shy and melancholic girl, who, on first sight, steals his heart.
But Sakina is pining for her absent lover Imaan.Undeterred by the constant presence of Imaan is Sakina's thought Raj attempts to win her heart.
This movie really is Bollywood's attempt to appeal to a Hollywood audience as it becomes the first Hindi-language film to be produced and distributed by an American studio.
But at two hours, and not really moving from the town sound stage it really does fail to achieve this objective. Also missing from the film is the feel of India that movies like Devdas and Laagan brought to the screen.
It's not a bad film bit it's not the artistic spectacle that so many had expected and may be too long for those new to this genre, although it is quite short by Bollywood standards.
It's a solid film containing catchy songs and, as expected, it's visually stunning with a lush palette of greens and blues.
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali made a brave move when he cast when newcomers Ranbir and Sonam Kapoor, not related but both from an established Indian acting lineage, to carry this movie.
But both do well Sanjay as Raj is the likeable everyman hero Raj who learns a few harsh lessons about life and love along the way.
And Sonam does her best with this rather limiting character that barely highlights this young actresses talents.
Despite it's flaws of trying to be something that it is not, a Hollywood film, Saawariya casts a romantic spell despite not being the Moulin Rouge that everyone expected it to be.
Bollywood should stick to what they do best, they are the biggest film industry in the world, there is no need for them to jump on the Hollywood bandwagon.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw