Saajan
1991 · Directed by Lawrence D'Souza
Original language: Hindi
- drama
- romance
The story
Breaking conventional barriers, a poor, disabled orphan befriends the son of a wealthy businessman. However, their friendship is put to the test after both friends fall in love with the same woman.
What it’s like
Bright, sun-warmed Bollywood melodrama of the early nineties, with lavish song sequences set against open skies, flowering gardens and saturated primary colours in costume and set design. The camera leans into big emotional faces and sweeping dance numbers, and the music, all swelling strings, bouncing rhythms and sentimental ballads, carries most of the feeling. Pacing alternates between buoyant romantic set pieces and heavier stretches of rivalry and heartbreak, so the mood swings from giddy to wistful and back. Melodramatic in register and openly sentimental, it treats loyalty, class difference and a love triangle with earnest tenderness. Expect some fistfights and raised voices, but nothing graphic. It suits a comfort rewatch, a family evening, or a weekend afternoon when you want something sincere, tuneful and emotionally big. It is for people who enjoy old-fashioned romance, singalong soundtracks and friendships tested by love.
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