Director Shaad Ali´s Saathiya provides the industry with only one fear: Too many cooks spoiling the broth.  For, the project as magnanimous as it is contains some of the industries biggest and most talented names wielding the megaphone. Ranging from Mani Ratnam, Yash Chopra to maestro A.R. Rahman and lyricist Gulzar, the re-make of the Tamil film “Alaipayuthe” is most dominantly the only romance Bollywood should really look forward to. In a single shot the dusky reality of producer Mani Ratnam (who has also written the screenplay) will be mixed with the phantasmagoric snow covered grounds that Yash Chopra has earned as his own.

Comparisons are inevitable, and thus those drawn already will prove no fury for the film, whose music by A.R. Rahman has caught the ear of many. After receiving a thumbs down for The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Rahman has once again proven that no Darbar can come up with the overall consistency in excellence like he can. The music, some original and some converted from the  Tamil film is clearly the given insight as to why Saathiya (My love, my friend) is not your mushy Bollywood romance.

And what would a successful (all hopes, of course) Yash Raj film be without Shah Rukh Khan. Mani Ratnam was more than pleased with his work for Dil Se, hence Shah Rukh Khan completes the trilogy of excellent stars for Saathiya, the couple being Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukherjee. Shah  Rukh Khan is more than an element of surprise in Saathiya, his role completely changes the pace of the film. As revealed by the media Shah Rukh Khan plays collaborator to a main lead in their search. Along side them, yesteryear´s actress Tanuja also returns to cinema with Saathiya.

Suhani Sharma (Rani Mukherjee) is a young medical practitioner in Bombay, shy and introvert her life becomes whimsical the minute she steps on the train everyday and sees Aditya Seghal (Vivek Oberoi).

Like any other young female student she believes that "Love is for people who had nothing to do."  Though adamant at first, Suhani gives in to her feelings for Aditya and the two run away after getting married.  The original film and this one, has a song that intensely describes the shades of love, those shades that Suhani and Aditya slowly quest in their journey through love.

During the rainy month of November a tragic incident occurs that separates Suhani and Aditya. Stubborn as Suhani is and vociferous as Aditya is the timing of the incident proves to be the biggest thorn in the bed of roses Suhani and Aditya created. Adtiya is torn, not knowing where to go, who to ask after learning that no one is aware of Suhani´s whereabouts. The dark and wet days of November have now gotten a little darker for Aditya. So, Aditya embarks to find his saathiya, but will his saathiya have found someone else?

Labeling Saathiya an A.R. Rahman musical, as has the promoters, is quite an understatement. No mood, feel or season of love could be expressed as diligently as has by Rahman. This December, see it come alive on screen.