Not deterred with the failure of Pardesi Ho Gaya, this veteran director and producer is back with his latest offering that he names on himself Saawan - The Love Season starring none other than Salman Khan. Here's a one on one chat with Saawan Kumar Tak.

What is Saawan - The Love Season about?
It's a love story. You will find all the ingredients of a love story in this film. People like to watch love stories. In India, everyone loves music. Music plays an important part in Indian culture and traditions. By the grace of God, the music in my films is always good. Every film maker says that his film is different. Even I'll tell you the same. It's hatke because there is no villain in this film. There are no conflicts related to money and villains. None of the problems which the audience has seen till date will be seen in this film. Yet, it has a zabardast conflict.

There are no conflicts related to money and villains. None of the problems which the audience has seen till date will be seen in this film. Yet, it has a zabardast conflict.
Tell us about Salman Khan's role in the film.
He comes in the film, eleven minutes before the interval. Then he is there till the climax. The entire setting of the story changes, once Salman Khan enters. The audience has never seen Salman Khan the way they will see him in Saawan. His getup is very special. The promo has already been released. The feedback that we got for Salman's look is phenomenal! Such positive feedback encourages us. The film is on Salman's shoulder. The entire climax depends on Salman Khan. It's a very different film. You won't see any love triangle. Salman's character is new. No one has seen any character like that.

What does the title Saawan signify?
Well my name is Saawan and it has nothing to do with the film title. The film name Saawan is related to the love. It signifies the loves season. It's a completely romantic film.

Kapil Jhaveri and Saloni Aswani were in your earlier film, Dil Pardesi Ho Gayaa, which unfortunately didn't work. Why did you decide to repeat them in lead roles, this time as well?
I had given these two kids a chance through my film, Dil Pardesi Ho Gayaa. It's not they who failed me. I failed them. There was a problem in their careers because of me. I was feeling extremely guilty. I was confident about their talent. That's why I wanted to repeat them. Even they were in the process of improving themselves. Both of them have been working out and have been giving importance to their appearance. I was convinced that they are ready made actors. By the grace of God, this movie will work. I hope that it works for their sake.

Having Salman Khan as co-star is big privilege

By Manissha Despaande, Bollywood Trade News Network
Glamsham.com

Saawan Kumar Tak isn't the only one who is raving about Salman Khan. Actresss, Salloni Aswani, who plays the female lead in SAAWAN - The Love Season, admits to being absolutely bowled over with Salman's gracious presence and his tendency to help his co-stars. "He is the kind of person who goes out of his way to co-operate with his co-stars. What I liked most about him is the way he'd come to my rescue. At times Saawan-ji would not be able to hear me in the din and reprimand me for not reciting a dialogue properly but Salman would tell him that he'd heard me say it properly. He's a fabulous co-star to work with and having him for a co-star is a big privilege," she says.

In the film, she plays the role of a student who comes for a vacation with her friends and falls in love with a young boy (Kapel Jhaveri) after much persuasion. "The story takes a turn when Salman arrives and gives a very big twist to the whole story. The fun-loving girl suddenly finds herself coping with a very different set of circumstances," she reveals.

She also has a lot to say about Salman's involvement as an actor. "A majority of actors switch on and off but he continues to live the character for a long time after the shot is over. I remember when the cameraman would say "cut", he would still remain in the character for a long time," she recalls.

Incidentally, Salloni admits to being an ardent Salman fan for a long time. "I have not missed a single Salman film till date so when Saawan-ji told me that I was being paired opposite him, I jumped at the idea. It was like a big achievement for me at this stage in my career," she says.

SAAWAN gets thumbs up from the censor board!
By Manissha Despaande, Bollywood Trade News Network

Saawan Kumar's SAAWAN - THE LOVE SEASON, which has Salman Khan in the lead, has been awarded a 'U' certificate without any cuts. According to Saawan Kumar, the Examining Committee members who viewed the film on March 30, liked the film immensely and immediately gave it a go-ahead. "They commented that they had not seen a cleanly made film with a similar intensity, minus any show of vulgarity for a long time. They also liked Salman's performance in it," Saawan Kumar revealed, adding that apart from the exception of a handful few films, all his films have been awarded a 'U' certificate so far.

The film is being released on April 6 with 400 prints all over the world, with over 100 prints in Mumbai alone. Saawan Kumar has specially chosen to release it a day earlier to cash in on the Ram Navmi holiday, which falls on April 6. According to him, the exhibitors are eagerly looking forward to the film's release considering that all Salman starrers have a great opening.

An interview with Director Saawan Kumar
Friday, March 31, 2006
Director Saawan Kumar Tak''s Saawan - The Love Season is due for release, and just as every film-maker goes through an intense emotional experience during the making of each of his films, Saawan Kumar Tak too experienced the same.

The film is his 19th in a career of 30 years, and he says, "I have written, produced and directed Saawan - The Love Season like all my other films but the making this film has left an indelible impression on my mind." He says he owes the feeling entirely to Salman Khan, "who has given a heart rendering performance in the film, one of his best in recent times. His dedication and involvement in the film is something that I will never forget as much as his eagerness to help a producer in need."

Here, Saawan Kumar takes us through the making of Saawan - The Love Season, and more:

"When DIL PARDESI HO GAYA did not meet the box-office expectations, I promised the two leading actors, Kapil Jhaveri and Salloni Asvani, that it would be my responsibility to ensure that they settled down in their careers. I felt I owed it to them considering that I had launched their careers. The big question was however the choice of an actor for the central character in the film. When I wrote the character played by Salman, I knew that only a big star of the stature of Salman or Shah Rukh could do justice to it. Since I knew Salman, I decided to approach him knowing that he would not be able to accommodate too many dates for me in his tight schedule.

"I was quite delighted when he initially acceded to spare a few days for the film but the course of the film changed soon after he gave the very first shot amidst a huge crowd that had gathered on the day. He delivered the dialogues in his impeccable style and paused for a while after he heard the thundering applause of the crowd that had gathered. Then he called me in his van and told me that the character he was playing was too good to be justified in a span of 20 days. I saw that he'd taken a great liking for the character.

"The next day I sat down and restructured the story line to accommodate songs, scenes and some additional dramatic portions in the film. Moreover when this project started things started falling in place. I then roped in Johny Lever and before I knew it, the film was progressing at break-neck speed. It was as if destiny had designed it for me.

"Ironically, the story of the film unwinds against a background of two conflicting beliefs-destiny and coincidence. The hero believes in destiny while the girl he loves, believes that everything in life is about sheer coincidence. The two meet in Cape Town where an intense love story blossoms between the two but tragedy strikes when the boy loses the girl. The lovelorn hero, who is desperate to get back to his love, keeps yearning for her until the power above comes to his rescue and endows him with unique intuitive ability of foresight. That's when he meets his lover once again under mysterious circumstances and rescues her from an accident that he foresees.
"The honesty and conviction with which Salman has rendered his performance in the film, is visible in each of its frames. He is the kind of actor who lives and breathes his character through the completion of the film. His intense, brooding look in the film and the stark honesty in his eyes, amply justify his deep involvement in the film. His dedication was also evident in the fact that he specially decided to grow stubble in order to give his character the look of a tormented lover. Moreover his longhaired look in the film, has given an added intensity to his character.

"The film also has a 7-minute qawalli number picturized on Salman, which has been composed by Aadesh Srivastava. To keep the entertainment element alive, I have also added a parallel comedy track on Johny Lever and Bobby Darling."

"The picturesque locales of Cape Town where the story takes off, have given the film an ideal backdrop. I hope destiny makes its presence felt once again and makes the film a roaring success at the box-office."

Saawan - Music Review
By Joginder Tuteja, March 16, 2006 - 14:26 IST

There was a time when producer-director Saaawan Kumar was known for his dramatic films in the 70s and the 80s. He also gave Salman Khan a superhit film in the form of 'Sanam Bewafa' [1991] but post that he is still waiting for an elusive hit. There are tow reasons why his latest flick 'Saaawan – The Love Season' is special for him. Firstly because he reunites with Salman Khan after a decade and a half and secondly the movie's title and his name are common! The film also stars the same lead pair of his last film 'Dil Pardesi Ho Gaya', Kapil Jhaveri and Saloni Awasthi, with music by Aadesh Srivastava and lyrics by Saaawan Kumar himself. If one looks at the track record of films by Saaawan Kumar, most of them have boasted of decent music. One hopes that 'Saaawan - The Love Season' is no exception.

Remember songs from early and mid 90s that had Govinda, Akshay Kumar and the rest gyrating to fast pace songs in a campus setting? 'Punjabi Aankhonwali' is one such track that is in appreciation of a Punjabi girl's eyes. And if one hears closely, there is also a line that goes like "Ladki Ye Kudiyon Mein Hai SALMAN". Hero worship anyone? A time pass number, if nothing more, by Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan, one is surprised to see its placement at the very beginning of the album as it definitely doesn't belong to the kinds that mark an good opening! One gets a little apprehensive that whether there would be something better in store as we move along!

One of the favorite composer duos with Salman Khan, Sajid-Wajid get an opportunity to compose a qawalli 'Tu Mila De'. But don't expect a riotous outing as this time around the qawalli has a sad theme and belongs to the 'dard-e-judaai' genre. Who else but Sonu Nigam would have been apt for singing such a track and he delivers completely. A catchy tune, it is a gift in platter for all Salman Khan fans who are sure to love his performance while the song is played on screen, especially in the B and C centers.

Kunal Ganjawala gets himself into the trap of 'O O Oyoo' from 'Bheege Honth Tere' [Murder] once again with 'Jo Maangi Khuda Se'. A sugar coated love song that moves at a leisurely pace and has romance written all over it especially with aid from Kunal's lovelorn rendition, it makes for a decent hearing and actually grows on you as you hear it a couple of times. Yet another above average song that helps in sustaining your interest in the rest of the album, it may actually help if the song is publicized soon for it to be noticed more.

After Kunal, even Jaspinder Narula comes up with a solo rendition of 'Jo Maangi Khuda Se'. Well, this time around you start liking it from the very first note of the song itself though there is a surprise in store with the way in which Aadesh Srivastava has worked around Jaspinder's voice and modulated it in a big way with the help of technology. Instead of high bass, her voice has a metallic feel to it that sounds completely different from what you have heard of her in last decade or so. Hear it to believe it!

Vasundhara Das, who is generally extremely selective about her work in Bollywood, croons 'Ready For Love' that belongs to the 80s disco category. A Hinglish number, it turns out to be extremely ordinary with equally ordinary lyrics. A song about a girl who says she is ready for love now (whatever that means!); it appears to be a stock tune that Aadesh may have created at least a decade and a half back. And no, even the nostalgia factor doesn't get you interested in the proceedings. This one belongs to 'skip this song' category! And imagine, we thought that Vasundhara Das was being selective all this while!

'Maine Pyaar Kiya Tumhe Reason Se, Bas Love Hi Hai Reason, Saaawan - The Love Season'  – Ok, so such lyrics are pardonable for just two 'Reasons' - Aadesh's soulful tune and good singing by both Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan. A love song, obviously, one wonders if the tune may have worked a little better if the lyrics were different from the current form. What is noticeable though about the song is the lead pair of the movie, Kapil and especially Saloni, who look good with each other in it.

Arabic tune marks the beginning of 'Mere Dil Ko Dil Ki Dhadkan Ko' and one understands that this is yet another song belonging to Middle-East. A situational song sung by Shreya Ghoshal, it instead seems tailor-made for Kavita Krishnamurthy. Yet another ordinary number that may have been heard in at least a couple of dozen versions in the past, it comes dangerously comes to 'Pyaar Do Pyaar Lo' [Jaanbaaz], especially when Shaan comes on the scene. Avoidable!

Ironically Saaawan Kumar's last film 'Dil Pardesi Ho Gaya' had much better music where he had reunited with Usha Khanna as a composer. A 'heard today, gone tomorrow' kind of album from all accounts, 'Saaawan - The Love Season' is surprisingly an average album for a Saaawan Kumar movie when one expected him to go full throttle in his comeback effort.

SALMAN ON TOP OF CAREER
By S. Kumar - Eye TV India Bureau

Tete-a-Tete

As reported earlier in these columns, Salman Khan is coming back in a big way with his former mentor director-cum-filmmaker Sawan Kumar Tak in the latter's 'Sawan-The Love Season'. Others in the cast are Saloni, Prem Chopra, Ranjit, Johny Lever and Bobby Darling. We chatted with director Sawan Kumar who had launched Salman some 14 years ago in his 'Sanam Bewafa'.

Excerpts of chat with Sawan Kumar:

Why did you title the movie 'Sawan -The Love Season'?

We titled it so as Salman happened to love during the Sawan month.

Was Salman your first choice?

Yes, after completing the script, we strongly felt that Salman only will fit the bill. You will agree with us too after watching the movie.

Did you find any change in Salman since you launched him in your 'Sanam Bewafa' some 14 years ago?

At the time of 'Sanam Bewafa, Salman was at the learning stage. Since then he has turned a star. He is an all-rounder now. He can handle any role easily. Besides, he has undergone several ups and down in life and one can find these reflected in his acting.

Has he grown long hair and a brief beard and got contact lenses now?

Yes, he has turned stronger with contact lenses. He appears on the screen in a new avatar.

Has Salman played some risky stunts in the movie?

Yes, he has shown amazing feats. However, his role is emotional as well as romantic in the movie.

Did you shoot the movie abroad?

Yes, it has been shot at beautiful locations in Dubai and South Africa.

What's the story all about?

The hero and the heroine meet in Cape town and later come to know that both hail from Mumbai. They make friends and soon fall in love with each other.

http://ww.smashits.com/news/bollywood/interview/5282/salman-on-top-of-career.html

´Saawan´ : Salman´s Character Creating Waves ! Publicity Blitz To Follow
By: Abid

Eros Multimedia is planning a publicity blitz for Saawan Kumar's 'Saaawan...The Love Season' , starring Salman Khan in a pivotal role . The company , which holds the exclusive rights for the Overseas territory , has placed an order for as many as 200 trailers!Salman's character has already started creating waves on the sattelite channels , thanks to the slick , imaginative promos and obviously Eros wants to strike while the iron is hot .Written , produced and directed by Saawan Kumar with music by Aadesh Shrivastava , the film stars Salloni Aswani and Kapel Jhaveri in the romantic lead .

Planetbollywood.com

In an unprecedented publicity blitz, Eros Multimedia has ordered a whopping 200 trailers of Saawan Kumar's SAAWAN - THE LOVE SEASON exclusively for the Overseas territory, for which they hold the rights.  Starring Salman Khan, Salloni Aswani, Kapel Jhaveri, Prem Chopra, Ranjeet, Bobby Darling, Johny Lever, the film is written-produced-directed by Saawan Kumar and has music by Aadesh Shrivastava.

Salman can see tomorrow
By IndiaFM News Bureau, January 30, 2006 - 01:45 IST

Salman Khan will be seen in a unique avatar in Saawan Kumar’s Saaawan – The Love Season. In the film he has the divine ability to see tomorrow. Using this quality, he rescues the heroine from an accident that he foresees. Though he is doing a special appearance, there is a qawalli number picturized on him, which has been composed by Aadesh Srivastava. We’re sure that Salman’s role will be quite interesting to watch

EXCLUSIVE: SAAWAN STILLS