White Nights – Fyodor Dostoevsky (Movie: Saawariya)

My entry for the ongoing BlogChatterA2Z 2021 Challenge for the letter ‘W’, the book and movie I would like to write and review about is ‘White Nights’ by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. The book was published as a short story in 1848. The book has been adapted many times for the screen, the movie that was adapted from the book that I will review is a Bollywood Movie titled Saawariya(2007) directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The movie is also the debut of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor.

Synopsis of the book

The story is about a young man who falls in love with a woman, who cannot reciprocate his love as she is in love with another man and is narrated in the third person.

Central characters

Raj– The protagonist who is a singer, portrayed by Ranbir Kapoor

Sakina– A girl waiting for her lover, portrayed by Sonam Kapoor

Gulab– A prostitute, portrayed by Rani Mukherjee

Imaan– Sakina’s lover who returns, portrayed by Salman Khan

Story

Set in a fictional town that is popular for its RK Bar, a young man Raj comes there to find a job as a singer. Raj is a carefree, fun-loving man who stays as a PG with the aged Lillian who only keeps people she likes. She says Raj reminds her of her son who left to join the army but never returned. Raj also befriends Gulab, a prostitute and becomes good friends with her.

One night he meets a girl Sakina who he saves from a drunkard man and falls in love with her. He confesses his feelings to her which she rejects saying that she is in love with Imaan who had promised to return on Eid. She’s been loyally waiting for him to return. Raj is disappointed but keeps hope and prays that Imaan doesn’t return.

On Eid night, he proposes to her in front of the whole town, but she leaves to meet Imaan at their designated spot. Raj is very hurt and tries to sleep with Gulab, who in turn throws him out and gets him beaten by her henchmen.

End

Raj goes to where Sakina is waiting for Imaan and seeing her disappointed consoles her. Sakina decides to accepts Raj’s proposal and the two set out for town to share the happy news when Sakina spots Imaan under the bridge they were supposed to meet. Sakina is in a dilemma and looks towards Raj, who lets her go to Imaan as she only loves him. Raj’s love remains unrequited.

This blog is a part of the BlogChatterA2Z 2021 Challenge.

https://www.theblogchatter.com/