‘Sairaaya’ is a surprise blockbuster only for those who weren’t watching closely

Alert: Spoilers ahead about Saiyaara’s plot.

Soon after Saiyaara’s release on July 18, a Mumbai screenwriter joked on Instagram that he had thrown away his horror comedy script and would be pitching a romantic film instead.

Mohit Suri’s musical, starring Aneet Padda and first-time actor Ahaan Pandey, is a box office scorcher, earning reportedly over Rs 83 crore in its opening weekend – a feat for a movie with untested leads.

Saiyaara has broken the myths that nepo-debutants are doomed to fail theatrically – Ahaan Panday is Chunky Panday’s nephew – and that it’s the age of action-based films and Stree-like horror comedies. Saiyaara has confirmed that young audiences still want love stories – but black, without cream and sugar.

Produced by Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films, which is known for its sunny romances, Saiyaara stars Panday as struggling bad-boy rocker Krish. His talent and temper hide his troubled relationship with his alcoholic father. Padda plays poet-writer Vaani, who is nursing a severe heartbreak.

The plot brings them together to work on a song. They fall in love over some crackling tunes. Midway, Vaani is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Krish struggles to accept their fate, but remains a dutiful lover.

For industry watchers, Saiyaara’s success is a headscratcher. Does it do anything new? Yes, it does – but also not really.

Writer-director Mohit...

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