Saiyaara Review – Does This Hyped Romantic Drama Truly Deliver?

Some movies arrive quietly, build an audience slowly, and surprise you later. And then there are films like Saiyaara where the hype comes crashing in before you even press play. Ever since its theatrical release, Saiyaara has been trending on social media, with emotional reels, fan edits, and endless claims that it’s the “tearjerker of the year.” The hype got to me. Every scroll on my feed was someone sobbing over this film or declaring it the ultimate heartbreak saga of the year.

So yes, I was intrigued. But I’ll be honest with you,  I didn’t sit down with a box of tissues, ready to cry. I went in because the hype was impossible to ignore, and I wanted to know if this film really was the emotional rollercoaster people were talking about. Now that Saiyaara has dropped on Netflix, I finally got the chance to see for myself. And here’s my verdict: it’s moving, it’s well-crafted, but it’s not without its flaws.

Let’s break it down.

Love, Loss, and Everything In Between

At its heart, Saiyaara is a story about love, art, and sacrifice. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film follows Armaan (Ahaan Panday), a passionate musician chasing his dreams, and Meera (Aneet Padda), a poet whose words carry both beauty and sadness. The two meet, connect instantly, and what follows is a romance filled with music, longing, and the kind of grand emotions Bollywood has always loved to put on screen.

The plot isn’t groundbreaking. Two artists from different walks of life fall in love, only to have fate and circumstance test them in heartbreaking ways. But it’s the treatment that matters. Instead of giving us just a straightforward love story, Saiyaara wraps its narrative in songs, montages, and poetic conversations. The romance builds slowly, with stolen glances, meaningful lines, and melodies that speak louder than words.

The first half leans into the sweetness of new love, the kind of youthful energy that makes you smile. The second half, however, digs into the darker side: misunderstandings, sacrifices, and choices that leave scars. It’s in this shift that the film tries to hit emotional peaks, and while it sometimes soars, it occasionally stumbles into melodrama.

And if you’ve ever been swept away by a love story that felt way bigger than real life, parts of this one will hit close to home.

Newcomers Who Steal the Show

What surprised me most about Saiyaara was how much the performances carried the story.

Ahaan Panday steps into his first major role with sincerity. As Armaan, he’s not perfect sometimes raw around the edges, but that actually works in his favor. He captures the earnestness of a struggling musician who wears his heart on his sleeve. His emotional breakdowns, his moments of joy, and his passion for music all feel believable. It’s not flawless, but the honesty he brings makes you believe in Armaan, and that’s what stays with you.

Aneet Padda as Meera is the film’s quiet strength. She has this poetic presence that feels authentic, and she doesn’t overplay her emotions. In a story that sometimes dips into melodrama, her restraint adds balance. There are moments where her silence speaks louder than dialogue, and that subtlety keeps the film grounded.

Supporting actors add texture but don’t always get enough screen time to stand out. Still, their contributions help flesh out the world around Armaan and Meera. The chemistry between the leads, however, is the true anchor, not explosive, but believable in a way that keeps you invested.

Tunes, Frames, and Heartbeats

You can’t talk about Saiyaara without talking about its music. Mohit Suri has always been a director who leans heavily on soundtracks, and this film is no exception. The songs aren’t just background fillers; they drive the story forward. They’re used to underline emotions, to transition between key moments, and to immerse you in the characters’ inner lives.

Some tracks are destined to top playlists, while others may feel a bit too similar to older Bollywood romantic ballads. Still, when the music works, it elevates the narrative. A couple of sequences are designed entirely around songs, almost like mini-music videos, and while that can test your patience if you’re looking for pace, fans of music-driven cinema will love it.

Visually, the film is stunning. From rain-soaked streets to dreamy close-ups, the cinematography paints love as both intimate and epic. The color palettes shift with mood, warm tones for romance, cooler ones for heartbreak. It’s classic visual storytelling, and while it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does what it sets out to do with style.

The Online Buzz vs What Actually Hits

When Saiyaara dropped on OTT, social media had already done half the job of selling it. My feed was filled with teary-eyed reels, captions about how “this one hits right in the heart,” and endless tweets calling it the most emotional film of the year. Naturally, I went in expecting a full-blown tearjerker. And to be fair, some moments do live up to that buzz. The performances in the heavier scenes are heartfelt, the soundtrack lingers after the credits, and whenever the story leans into its core drama, the heartbreak, the sacrifices, it absolutely clicks. Those are the parts where I thought, Okay, this is why people were talking about it.

But the reality is a little different. Saiyaara isn’t flawless, and the hype sometimes oversells what it delivers. The second half drags, stretching some emotional sequences instead of deepening them. A few scenes lean too heavily into melodrama, and certain twists are predictable enough to dull the impact. Yes, the film has strong moments that justify the chatter, but it doesn’t sustain that intensity throughout. For me, the reality was clear: Saiyaara is moving and worth a watch, but it’s not the life-changing emotional epic social media made it out to be.

Final Verdict – Worth Your Weekend Binge?

So, is Saiyaara worth your time now that it’s streaming? Absolutely. It’s a sincere, beautifully shot love story carried by strong performances and music that lingers. Is it flawless? No. But the flaws don’t outweigh the experience.

For me, Saiyaara is that kind of film, moving, watchable, a little frustrating at times, but still worth the ride. It may not make everyone cry, but it will remind you of why love stories, told with sincerity, never truly go out of style. So, if you’ve been swept up by the online buzz, give it a try. Whether you end up sobbing or just humming along to the songs, you’ll understand why this film became such a conversation starter.

By the way, if you’re into grounded film thoughts, underrated thriller picks, or just plain honest recommendations, I’m over on Instagram:@bingewatch_perspective.  That’s where I post quick recaps, hot takes, and those offbeat gems you might’ve missed.

After finishing Saiyaara, I couldn’t help but think of Su From So, another film that had me eagerly waiting for its OTT release. If you loved the mix of humor, drama, and heart, this one’s a must-watch too.

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