By - Amit kumaR Agarwal
It has been almost a month since the release of Saiyaara (25-days to be precise) and the film is still landing solid-punches at the box-office. Imagine, when the films with biggest superstars struggle for audiences on the second Tuesday itself; Saiyaara had a strong 100+ audiences at 1.30pm show in the afternoon on it's fourth Tuesday - that is the level of success of the film.
No wonder, the film is now the 11th highest grossing movie of all time in Hindi cinema - by the end of it's run it should be the 10th highest grossing movie of all time, unless War 2 juts in between.
Nevertheless it has cemented it's place firmly in the history of Indian cinema and it will be a long time, decades, in fact; before an all new cast film pips it.
So what worked for the film. There are many theories floating around of what worked for the film, few are given below:
- Emotionally resonant story and characters
- Relatable characters
- Connection with Gen Z
- Soul-stirring music and aesthetic appeal
- Indie aesthetic
- A fresh approach to marketing and casting
- Reviving the romance genre
- Challenging the star system
The fact is, all or few of these attributes are there in almost half of the new releases, yet they fail; so it is all important to know, what was it that worked for the film.
Saiyaara struck a chord with the emotions of the audiences at large. Even on the fourth Tuesday, there were audiences crying and leaving the audi with moist eyes.
While the general belief is that the film connected with the emotions of Gen Z, I feel that the film connected with emotions of all those people that have been in self-less true-love at some point or the other in their life.
I have seen 60-70 year-olds leaving the cinema with moist eyes.
While the naysayers have attributed the emotional reactions and the 'crying' videos - as a smart marketing strategy. Yes, there might be such influencer videos, but there have been genuine 'tears' too! If it was so simple to make a film a blockbuster, I challenge people giving such absurd theories, to market their film or content such. They will know the reality for sure!
Frankly, the characters were well-etched; a female lead finding back her confidence is seamlessly contrasted with a high-flying, full on attitude, male lead whom the female lead reins in. Juxtapose this with male lead helping the female lead to find her voice.
Again, the hero might be full of angst, but he is always there for the heroine, all through her suffering, silent. Never questioning the heroine, her parents, or even the doctors treating her.
This utopian entity, male or female is something that YRF is a master of creating - be it Chandni, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and now Saiyaara.
This 'utopian' entity will go well beyond Saiyaara; and whenever, YRF struck this utopian 'lover' right, they have struck gold.
And now a prophecy - if Aditya Chopra ever makes Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge again - same script, same dialogues - the hero has to be Ahaan Pandey (a decade back it was Ranbir Kapoor, now he won't be available) - and Aditya will see - he is again laughing all the way to the bank.