If it were any other SRK movie, that would be a much tougher call for me. I haven't read much about Saawariya yet, and I do not at all care for Salman Khan, generally speaking. But Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is great, and Black was such a lovely film. However, Farah Khan's debut Main Hoon Na is probably my very favorite Hindi film (when I'm forced to choose, anyway), so I have very high hopes for Om Shanti Om. Of course, I had very high hopes for Salaam-e-Ishq too, and what a letdown that was. For once I think I'll put my gas pedal where my mouth is and the drive three hours each way to get to the Chicago suburbs to see it opening weekend.

Om shanti om looks like it's going to be a whole lot of fun. Saawariya, I just can't tell from the promos what kind of film it is going to be. Moody and ponderous? Sweeping and romantic? I can't tell.

As for for the directors: When it come to Bhansali, apart from Black, which I haven't seen, my opinion of SLB films is completely anti-correlated with how recent they are - Khamoshi is magnificent, HDDCS is okay, and Devdas is execrable. So it's hard for me to get too excited about Saawariya. It will be good to see how the latest Kapoor scion performs, though.

As for Farah Khan, her Main hoon na is a clever film that uses SRK's overwhleming (and I don't mean that in a good way) star presence properly - by making fun of it. Om shanti om promises to do more of the same and I'm looking forward to it for that reason.

If both of them play in the theater in my area, I'll go see both. If I had to choose between the two, I guess I'd give a slight edge to Om shanti om, subject to revision when the reviews come out.

So it's obvious neither of you are SLB fans. Fair enough. But I was not impressed with Farah Khan's debut in MHN at all. The film is typical candyfloss mainstream SRK stuff. And I don't know what the are trying to prove with SRK doing a Hrithik in the promos. Obviously they are starving for as much publicity as they can get their hands on.

Yes you're definately right - very little has been said about Saawariya. But that has an opposite effect on me than it has on you. The lack of publicity and shut-lip attitude about the film is really driving my curiosity. Me being an enormous fan of SLB's also drives my intrigue towards it. For me there's not discussion - Saawariya all the way. And it will all start on the 21st with the release of the music.

Oh dear, the abs. That is a very, very weird thing, what he's done to his body. His right to do, of course, but so very strange. Someonenn on a blog somwhere said it looks like his head has been photoshopped on to Hrithik's body. I find it completely creepy and highly unnecessary.

Aakash said - "The film [Main hoon na] is typical candyfloss mainstream SRK stuff."

See, I didn't see it that way at all - it was a self-conscious parody of that stuff, which is what made it enjoyable (tolerable even) to me. This wasn't Shah Rukh the slick, smarmy, earnest loverboy - his character was placed out of his element and was awkward and nerdy as a result - the only time he strutted was in his own fantasies. That kind of self-awareness makes a HUGE difference. Remember - I can't STAND him as a romantic hero.

"SRK doing a Hrithik" appears to me to be the same kind of thing. It's just not meant to be taken seriously. Some of his fans are uncomfortable with the look because they find it unattractive - it helps in my case, I suppose, that I don't find him attractive in the first place.

I think that you are right that the air of mystery around Saawariya only works if you have some other reason to be excited about it, such as looking forward to seeing SLB's next work. If you're neutral to SLB as I am, you'd need something more.

And just for the record - I'm not vibrating with excitement for either of these releases; I'm talking about a distinction between mild and milder interest. Loins of Punjab Presents - now that's a film I'm losing sleep waiting for. :)

Wow this is a difficult one. I adore SRK, and yet I like SLB's work. I don't think I've ever been totally disappointed in his work. Farah is good but still not a match for the expertise of Bhansali.

I'm with Carla. I thought Main Hoon Na was a loving, very deliberate parody, embracing and winking at conventions. I adore it and am hoping for more of the same from Om Shanti Om. Someone just commented on my reveiw of Jaan-e-Mann how fun movies are that are made by people who know and love Bollywood and include that in the films.

I'm with Carla. I thought Main Hoon Na was a loving, very deliberate parody, embracing and winking at conventions. I adore it and am hoping for more of the same from Om Shanti Om. Someone just commented on my reveiw of Jaan-e-Mann how fun movies are that are made by people who know and love Bollywood and include that in the films.

I will probably go see both films. But first Is Om Shanti Om -- I'm a sucker for romance and this one looks like breezy and fun with some eyecandy-laden songs and Shahrukh Khan. I don't care if he has a six pack or not--he can woo me in a potato sack for all I care. And I'm interested to see what Deepika Padukone is all about since he seems to really be promoting her. Saawariya looks good but will probably be one of those heavy Oscar-ish films with a tragic ending. I agree with Carla--its really hard to tell with the promos.I too was unimpressed with Devdas when I saw it the first time and have yet to see Black. But Devdas was one of the first Bollywood films I ever saw, and having since re-watched it, I learned to appreciate the direction, sets, costumes, music, etc. I liked it a lot better the second time I saw it, and so I am now anxious to see Black and Saawariya. But thats my point--I think I will be able to like Saawariya( I may even love it), but I KNOW I won't have to try to like Om Shanti Om.It will come naturally with all of its cheesiness and shahrukh-ness. And I will love every minute of it. And that's the difference, and why my answer is --Om Shanti Om~!

@Nidanisa: you say you're a sucker for romance...and then say you'd go for Om Shanti Om over Saawariya? I don't get it....

Nidanisa - I'm exactly the same about SRK. I have no need for this new look - I just need for him to do his thing, and from all the promos I've seen, I think he's going to be at the top of his game in OSO.

Aakash-Maybe I got the wrong impression of Saawariya. Like Carla stated, the previews are pretty sketchy, or at least the ones I have seen. On the other hand, I see OSO as a love story, from what I have heard it is supposed to be about a man who loves his woman so much that, after he dies at a young age, he comes back for her in his next life. And, although I know that with a SRK romance it is either a hit or miss(you either get him or you don't), since I somehow found myself slowly but surely being captivated by the SRK romantic hero persona, I KNOW this will be a film I will enjoy.If Saawariya IS a beautiful,even tragic, love story, then yes, you are right, I may end up prefering it to OSO.But as of right now I am looking forward to seeing OSO a little bi more. Well, maybe more than a little bit! Anyways, I will be anxious to see what happens once these movies come out.. Who knows, I may be singing a different tune after I see both films(which I plan to do). Beth--let's hope we're not dissapointed by this one!

I dont' think either film will disappoint. They are both romance - but with very very different angles. If you are the SRK lovey-dovey type, then there's no surprise that OSO is much more awaited than Saawariya. I think SLB wanted it that way. But yeah, I think we've debated this clash enoug.

Deep down I wish both didn't release on the same day. SLB deserves to have a very wide audience...and we he wont get that because Farah.

Aakash

Has anybody heard the soundtrack to Saawariya? I just picked up a copy today and its amazing!!!! Even the cd jacket is beautiful. Then again, I get overly excited about this stuff....lol With my luck neither films will be showing in my lame hometown Milwaukee! I'll probably have to wait until December or longer for the dvd... at least I'll get to hear some of the details from you guys!

For me its hard to choose. Both movies have great soundtracks, so I am going to see both. Being a SRK fan, I'll go see OSO first

SOUNDTRACKS OF SAAWARIYA AND OSO:

I've posted on both these @ these two locations:

Saawariya: http://www.jaman.com/a/group/0G2KS8e712r8/discussion/0QIcmNT6Deo0/

My Saawariya Music Review: http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=092207071813

OSO: http://www.jaman.com/a/group/0G2KS8e712r8/discussion/0074s0nO1dZE/

My OSO Music Review: http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=091407101238

Hope you enjoy :)

Nidanisa - I live about 2 hours south of Chicago and might be driving up for OSO - you should consider coming down and joining me! :)

Beth--Thanks for the invite--We may have to do just that! I just saw a promo for OSO for the song with the 31 celebrity cameos and SRK and Kajol reprise their handshake from Kuch Kuch Hota hai! Aww!!! I'm actually really stoked today because I just found out Laaga Chunari Mein Daag is playing at my local theater! I finally get to see my first Bollywood film on the big screen!

I had that same reaction to the KKHH bit. Can't wait!

Thanks for sharing the reviews Aakash! I'll have to get the OSO soundtrack next!

Haha no problem! I'm probably going to check both of these out on opening weekend. Friday Night - Saawariya. Saturday Night - OSO.

Should be another great discussion after the films release :)

shantipriya or deepika i love om shanti om coz deepika is in it not SRK u r the best inthe whole world nd ayshwariya cannot match ur beauty shes nothing infront of u. no one in the world is as beautiful as u u r the only angle inthe world that god have send to show how he can creat beauty. u r one of the most beautiful creation of god nd he must be happy of u. i like u alot victory_error@hotmail.com irex ur lovingly

oK aakash where are the discussions after the film released?? It was fun to read this one... i really wana know what were ur reactions after seeing both films....!!!