Hari is a young man raised at a rural gaushala alongside his father and his faiba. Standing in for someone on an ordinary day, he catches sight of Leela and falls headlong in love. Their song-laced courtship then has to survive the distance between where the two of them stand in life.
Saiyar Mori Re takes its name from a beloved Gujarati garba, and the film wears that folk-romantic spirit openly. Directed by Vishal Vada Vala, it follows Hari, played by Mayur Chauhan, a young man raised at a rural gaushala alongside his father and his faiba. Standing in for someone on an ordinary day, he catches sight of Leela, played by singer and actor Yukti Randeria, and falls headlong in love. What follows is a slow, song-laced courtship that has to survive the gap between where the two of them stand in life.
This is village romance in a traditional key, closer to the folk-musical strain of Gujarati cinema than to the slick urban comedies that dominated the year. The soil, the cattle shed and the seasonal rhythm of rural life do a lot of the storytelling, and the music is the emotional spine rather than an interruption. Chauhan plays Hari with an unforced sincerity, and Randeria brings a singer's ear to a role that leans on melody and longing.
Mainstream critics gave the film little coverage, which is common for smaller regional releases pitched at the home audience rather than the review circuit. What it did earn was a warm response from viewers who sought it out, reflected in an unusually high IMDb user rating of 8.1, a number worth reading as devotion from a niche crowd rather than broad consensus. Taken on its own terms it is earnest, rooted and unhurried, a film that trusts its songs and its setting more than its plot. Those allergic to slow, sentimental romance will find it thin. Those who love the folk register will find it heartfelt.
Verdict
An earnest folk-flavored village romance that lives on its songs and setting. Heartfelt for the right viewer, slow for everyone else.
What works
- Rooted, authentic rural texture
- Music carries real emotional weight
- Yukti Randeria's singerly presence
- Sincere, unforced lead performances
What holds it back
- Slow, sentimental pacing
- Thin, familiar plot
- Little mainstream critical vetting
- Niche folk appeal, not for everyone
Cast & crew
Cast: Mayur Chauhan (Hari), Yukti Randeria (Leela), Jahnvi Patel, Mehul Desai
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Vishal Vada Vala
More Romance Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Saiyar Mori Re worth watching?
An earnest folk-flavored village romance that lives on its songs and setting. Heartfelt for the right viewer, slow for everyone else. Kevu Che rates it 3 out of 5.
What is Saiyar Mori Re about?
Hari is a young man raised at a rural gaushala alongside his father and his faiba. Standing in for someone on an ordinary day, he catches sight of Leela and falls headlong in love. Their song-laced courtship then has to survive the distance between where the two of them stand in life.
What is the IMDb rating of Saiyar Mori Re?
Saiyar Mori Re (2022) holds an IMDb rating of 8.1 out of 10.