Why is Saiyaara winning hearts (and the box office)?

India Today

6 days ago

'Saiyaara' has collected over Rs 100 crore in just four days - unprecedented for a film starring debutants in India. Its popularity, constantly rising since day one, is not limited to the box office response. The YRF biggie has taken over the internet with memes, reels, discussions, debates and that one question: Why is this even working?And honestly, it's a fair question.advertisementIn a country where theatres have become a secondary medium of entertainment after OTT, a film starring fresh faces, no star pull, no promotional blitz has caught the audience's heart in an unimaginable way. Most theatrical releases were being rejected left, right and centre - and then 'Saiyaara' came along and won everyone over. But, again, why?
It's important to understand that there is no definitive formula to determine what works for the audience. Anyone who claims otherwise is either lying or has no sense of the creative business - especially when it comes to cinema. You simply can't predict the public's mood. There's no right answer to why one film clicks at the box office while another flops.Sometimes, it's about the nation's collective sentiment - like 'Pathaan', where audiences rallied behind Shah Rukh Khan after his son Aryan was arrested in a drug-related case. Sometimes, it's an anticipation built on legacy - like 'Pushpa: The Rule', riding on pure love for the franchise.But, 'Saiyaara'? Truth be told, it offers nothing new except its fresh faces. The love story is classic Mohit Suri - passionate, emotionally charged, where the leads wear their hearts on their sleeves and are ready to take on the world. The film shows old-school romance and doesn't even claim to redefine love. So then what is it? What is making audiences flock to theatres, express their emotions so loudly, and become almost unapologetically involved with what's unfolding on screen?The answer probably lies in what made 'Sanam Teri Kasam' re-release so surprisingly successful earlier this year. That film - available for free on YouTube - worked like magic in theatres. And 'Saiyaara' seems to be setting the same trend... again.The film has its heart in the right place. It talks about emotions that are timeless but still not fully understood. You see, when it comes to the matters of love, no matter how wise or experienced, no one can claim to understand it entirely. Love is as complex to process as it is to feel. But, across generations, cultures and languages, one truth remains: when you fall in love, you do it with all you have, and all you are. 'Saiyaara' leans into that truth.advertisementIt tells a familiar story in a language we all understand - music. 'Saiyaara's' music is its soul. Mohit Suri spent around five years collecting these melodies, crafting a world where every note feels like a line of poetry written in calligraphy. Even the trailer and promos kept things mysterious. Who were these two? How did they fall in love? What broke them so deeply? Did they ever meet again? Did one of them die? The air of curiosity pulled viewers in. And when the story of Krish Kapoor, a rising singer, and Vaani Batra, a shy songwriter, unfolded on the big screen, it broke the internet and the box office alike.'Saiyaara' speaks directly to this generation. It reflects their disillusionment, their buried trauma, and their search for meaning in a hyper-curated world. Krish wants to make it big the old school way, while the world chases blue ticks over real talent. Vaani simply wants to exist quietly in an age obsessed with loud influencing. Their parents are trying - sincerely and awkwardly - to help them shine while protecting them from a world they no longer understand. It's all heartbreakingly relatable.advertisement'Saiyaara's' biggest win is this: it has brought an entire generation back to the theatres - a generation far more comfortable watching (and creating) content on their phones and iPads. For them, going to a theatre is an outdated idea, reserved for family outings or Marvel finales. And yet, they showed up. Not because of hype, but probably because they felt something.They say love is a universal language - maybe they also meant it's a generational one. The Hindi film industry has spent years churning out romantic-comedies, romantic-actioners, romantic-thrillers - all in the name of love. But 'Saiyaara', despite its familiar tropes, revives a genre that's been missing from the big screen for far too long. And history tells us that when Bollywood truly invests in a soul-stirring love story, magic happens.From 'Aashiqui' to 'Aashiqui 2', 'Rockstar' to 'Kabir Singh', 'Veer-Zaara' to 'Sanam Teri Kasam', Hindi cinema has consistently struck gold when it tapped into the ache of eternal, unwavering love. 'Saiyaara' treads the same path but brings along some magical music, grounded settings, and characters who feel real. They don't romance in the Swiss valleys or flaunt the Guccis and Drios of the world. They aren't fighting monsters or chasing world domination. They are just two people trying to heal, love, survive - and maybe, build something together.advertisementYou don't need to prepare yourself to watch 'Saiyaara'. No need to know character arcs or past stories. You just walk in, hum along, feel something, and walk out a little more emotional than when you came in. It's entertainment, yet, but it's also effortless and, therefore, massy.And perhaps that's exactly why 'Saiyaara' is working.It doesn't scream for attention. It doesn't try too hard to reinvent the wheel. It simply reminds audiences of the kind of cinema that once made them fall in love with love. At a time when every film is obsessed with being clever, loud, viral or franchise-worthy, 'Saiyaara' is just sincere.It offers no pretense, no big statements - just two people, their emotions, and the melodies that stitch them together. It's like the cinematic equivalent of a long-forgotten love letter: timeless, comforting, and deeply personal. In the noise of everything else, probably a whisper of a film that manages to reach the loudest corner of the audience's heart.So why is Saiyaara working? Maybe the real question is - why wouldn't it?- EndsTrending Reel