Saawariya—Sony Pictures (Blu-ray)

Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 2/5

This is one of those films I would have missed completely if it hadn't shown up on my doorstep for review. This musical reminded me a bit of Moulin Rouge with its sensational production design but its execution is a lot like a stage play. There are only so many locales and the musical numbers reminded me more of a musical video in their dubbing and execution than a feature film. Nevertheless this is still a fun movie with great visuals, better than expected music and a different look at love.

This is a breathtaking transfer from Sony. I have no doubt that I will be using this quite often for demonstration purposes because of its exceptional contrast and depth alone. Colors are vivid and dimensionality is first rate. I was blown away by how good deep contrast and blacks were with this film and the sense of depth in the image is nearly without equal. Results may vary depending on the display used but this is one to showcase a reference grade display device.

The 5.1 Dolby TrueHD mix is presented in the native Hindi language. The dubbing was a bit off in the first sequence but thankfully that goes away quickly leaving a VERY immersive mix and nearly seamless soundstage. The musical numbers are all dubbed, which doesn't blend as well as the standard dialogue, but dynamics and the sheer sense of envelopment are extraordinary. Deep bass is superb at times with some nice infrasonic touches from time to time that had my walls shaking.

Extras include a look at the production of the film plus some footage from the film's premiere.

While I wouldn't say it is in the same league as Chicago or Moulin Rouge, Saawariya delivers stunning photography and a great production design that was a lot of fun to watch. The A/V presentation is outstanding and fans of musicals should definitely give it a look!

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