‘Saawariya’ : A tale of four nights of love and rejection

'Devadas' and 'Black' famed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's latest 'Saawariya' (Beloved) is a timeless story of two young star-crossed lovers- a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl released at Liberty cinema Colombo and Concord Dehiwela on November 9 in collaboration with the worldwide release. The first Indian movie produced by a Hollywood production house, the film is said to be based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story, White Nights.

Debutantes Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, the son and daughter of two veteran Bollywood actors Rishi Kapoor and Anil Kapoor play the lead roles while Salman Khan and Rani Mukerji do the supporting roles.

Saawariya is the love story of two lonesome youngsters over a period of 4 successive nights. The charming, free-spirited Raj (Ranbir Kapoor) is a dreamer, who comes to a quaint, picturesque town in Shimla, known for its lakes, mist, heavenly snowfall, rains, and tall swaying pine trees.

Raj believes that he's found the perfect place to inspire his inner artistic instinct. The bright, fun-filled winding streets of the mall come alive with singing clubs, rustic folklore, dancing, love ballads, flourishing colonies of artists and weavers, and chants from the monastery - all woven in perfect harmony into a magical dream. All is perfect until at a bridge one night, he stumbles across the shy, mysterious, and melancholic Sakina (Sonam Kapoor) with a secret past.

Their chance encounter kindles into friendship and an impromptu romance. As one night passes another, Raj falls more and more in love with Sakina and tries to win her heart, while Sakina begins to trust him enough to share her secret. But when Sakina reveals why she cannot reciprocate his love, Raj is unable to accept her past and is driven into a whirlwind of desire, madness, and romance.

Referring to his choice of two newcomers Bhansali said, "I decided to do a fresh, simple love story with newcomers. I didn't want big stars. This was the challenge I undertook,". Both had assisted him during the making of 'Black'. Back then, Sonam was a plump girl who weighed 90 kgs. Bhansali had advised her to work on her body to get back in shape to play the leading lady in 'Saawariya'. Sonam worked hard and within a few months she lost 30 kgs. Ranbir, on the other hand, was told not to build his physique. Bhansali wanted a lean-looking hero.

In 'Saawariya' Bhansali has banked on new music director Monty Sharma, who did the background score for 'Black'. The film's music album has 11 songs, of which one number has been composed by Bhansali himself.