Starring –
Vivek Oberoi, Rani Mukherjee, Sandhya Mridul, Tanuja, Satish Shah, Sharat Saxena,
Shahrukh Khan (s.a), Tabu (s.a)
Release Date – December 20,
2002
SYNOPSIS -
Road’ boy Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukherji team up for the first time in
director Shaad Ali’s romantic thriller titled Saathiya
The film tells the story of a girl who thought that ‘love was for people who
had nothing better to do’.
Suhani Sharma (Rani), a pediatric student in Mumbai medical college, was unlike
many girls of her age. A bookworm who spent most of her time studying pediatrics
and doing night shifts practicing surgery, Suhani never thought she could fall
in love.
But one day, a chance meeting with a stranger Aditya (Vivek) on a morning train
to Marine Lines changes it all. It is a case of love at first sight.
The two get married. Suhani gladly accepts whatever Aditya has to offer – a
dingy room with unplastered walls, rickety furniture and a makeshift kitchen.
Financial
insecurities and ego hassles begin to drive a wedge between the happily married
couple and the duo part ways eventually.
However, deep inside both of them there still lingers their platonic love. Both
know they cannot live ‘with or without’ each other.
Wow, this film must really be something. First of all, it is a Yash Raj production. It stars newest heart throb Vivek Oberoi. Second of all, Rani Mukherjee is opposite him. They've already been signed up several other films together. And of course, the music is great. Everyone has already heard by now that Rani has taken the Critic's Award for Best Actress from the Screen Awards. Now that really tells something because Tabu or Manisha usually take that awards but this time it went to Rani. I wasn't sure about the storyline but a lot of people did tell me that it was a story about marriage or where a "Happy" Hindi movie left off.
Vivek
is a great actor. He just entered Bollywood and stays strong with a
bang. In his debut film Company, he left everyone amazed his his
performance. To start off in a debut film, in an arty film is a hard
choice to make. Most stars' debut films are commercial films. Maybe
because they don't want to take a risk in their film being a flop? For
whatever reason it may be, Vivek is here to stay in Bollywood. Not only
can he act, he is also good looking. He played in two off beat type of
films and characters in Company and Road; however, in Saathiya, his role is a
sweet and lovable guy. In my opinion, Vivek's best performance is in Saathiya
because his character shows lots of emotions and undergoes changes.
Rani
was always an okay actress. I never thought highly of her because she was
overrated to me in films like Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. She did do
well in Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke but nothing
impressive to me. I started to like her more after her strong performance
in Mujhe Dosti Karoge. She outshined Kareena with her acting. She
proved that wearing skimpy clothes does not make the audience notice you
more. But after Saathiya, I love Rani as an actress. I always wanted
to see her in a strong movie as the lead heroine. She is so natural and
looks great too.
The storyline is sweet. It shows the relationship between two lovers and a married couple. The beginning was a little slow but good and also picked up towards the end. The music is great and flowed wonderfully. The only song that could have been cut a little is "Chori Pe Chori." It is a cute song and fun to watch but I think at times some parts are overdone.
Overall, the movie is definitely worth watching...and maybe even worth buying. Give the movie a try, it's one of the best of the year.
9 out of 10
NiCKi