“Sanam Teri Kasam” is a 2016 Indian romantic drama film made by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. It features Harshvardan Rane and Mawra Hocane in the leading roles. Along with delivering an emotional plot, the movie has a strong love ballad and a heart-wrenching tragedy which, along with other factors, helped the movie earn a significant fanbase over the years.
With the relationship between love, sacrifice, and fate, Sanam Teri Kasam aims at modern day tragic romance that captures the hearts of its viewers, by relaying a beautiful and touching tale.
Story Summary
The focus of the movie is on Saraswati “Saru” Parthasarthy (Mawra Hocane), a traditionally conservative south Indian woman who is well read and hails from a very orthodox south Indian family. She has to contend with a domineering father who has planned ad arranged marriage for her to an ‘ideal husband’. Unfortunately, lauded for her basic and timid demeanor, she hardly ever gets proposals, which makes her family ashamed.
Things take a turn for Saru when she encounters Inder Parihaar (Harshvardhan Rane), a rebellious bad boy living in the same apartment complex. Inder has a reputation for being a nuisance in the society as he often gets into brawls and has no sense of direction in life.
Inder’s ultimate goal with Saru’s makeover is to help her find a suitor. Inder helps Saru change her appearance in hopes of making it easier for her to find a suitor. However, a miscommunication causes Saru’s father to disown her, forcing Saru to move in with Inder. Inder’s love for Saru grows, although she is completely oblivious to his feelings. During this time Saru and Inder become deeply emotionally intimate with one another.
Saru receives diagnosis of a terminal illness, bringing their love story to an abrupt end. With the undying love of Inder by her side, Suru is able to find joy in the moments that she has left. The film’s climax reveals to the audience that Inder has lost the love of his life, leaving him heartbroken, yet forever cherishing her in his memories.
Main Cast & Performances
Harshvardhan Rane as Inder Parihaar – An actor who powerfully and intensely embodies the role of a troubled man who seeks redemption in love, delivers an intense performance.
Mawra Hocane as Saraswati “Saru” Parthasarthy – An actress who magically embodies the traits of innocence and sorrow, seamlessly capturing the character’s transformation.
Manish Choudhary as Jayram Parthasarthy – Takes on the role of Saru’s stern father who brutally emotionally abuses her and brings imbalance to the family.
Sudesh Berry as Inder’s Father- Inder’s father struggles with being a good father while also highlighting the conflicts between a father and son.
The love story feels authentic and Harshvardhan and Mawra’s on-screen chemistry brings out the emotions in the story very well and is one of the best parts of the film.
“Music is the Soul of The Film”
The film has one of the most remembered features because of the songs and Sanam Teri Kasam is no exception. Himesh Reshammiya composed the film’s score perfectly showcasing love’s tender agony, yearning, and passion. Some of the cherished songs are:
“Sanam Teri Kasam” – A wistful romantic piece which won the hearts of many.
“Tera Chehra” – The song encapsulates the feeling of wanting someone.
“Bewajah” – A light fragile tune that reminds of heartbreak.
“Kheech Meri Photo” – A chipper and ecstatic song which depicts Saru’s metamorphosis.
Each one of them is an important piece in the grand scheme of the movies narrative making the experience an instantaneous recollection.
Themes & Analysis
Love beyond appearances
The movie shows how true love goes beyond appearance and social status. Its about emotional connect with a person.
Family vs Individual Freedom
Saru’s conflict with her father embodies the clash between her tradition and value versus her freedom of choice.
Unconditional love hurts where there is too much silence
One of the most tragic elements of the movie, Inder’s love for Saru in silence, is one of the most painful parts of the film. Sometimes love is shown through deeds rather than words.
Fate & Tragedy
The film illustrates that love is accompanied by loss, which is why not all stories end in love.
Cinematography & Direction
Aesthetically, the film is beautiful, and so is its cinematography, thanks to directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. The colors, lighting, and locations used all add value to the emotions of every single shot. The film contains romantic scenes, emotional confrontations, and even dramatic turns and twists, making it appealing to the audience.
The pacing of the film is slow, but the execution of the plot is engaging, allowing the audience to empathize with the characters and their struggles.
Critical Reception & Audience Response
Sanam Teri Kasam received mixed to positive reviews upon its release.
Critics have differing views, mostly appreciating the music and emotional scenes and performances, but none seemed happy about the predictability of the story and the melodrama in it.
Some audiences enjoyed the film for its tragic love story. After some time, it seemed to gain a cult like following over romantic movie lovers.
The film did moderately well in the box, but gained immense popularity over digital platforms with millions of views and fans, earning the film dedicated admirers globally.
Why You Should Watch It
If you are a fan of love stories and loved Aashiqui 2 or Veer-Zaara, then this one is for you.
The score alone makes it a film filled with emotions, passion, and heartbreak.
The film is made a cut above the rest due to Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane’s performances. The cinematography combined with the emotions within the plot infuses a sense of originality and creativity, lingers on the viewer’s mind.
Conclusion
Sanam Teri Kasam is a disturbing yet stunning novel that discusses concepts such as love and sacrifice. The combination of its beautiful music, powerful portrayal, and sad love story enables the movie to win the hearts of many even after many years of its release. Even though this movie does not score high on originality, it hits strongly on emotional aspects of the viewers and is intricately designed which makes it unforgettable for people who admire romantic drama.