Mirzya early review: Harshvardhan, Saiyami's debut praised, but their chemistry needs work

Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher's debut film Mirzya directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra released on this Friday, 7 October. And just like new borns, the duo have been welcomed with open arms by the film industry on Twitter.

Tweets praising the film, and congratulations to the lead pair were seen floating on the micro-blogging website.

N a big WELCOME to new babies @HarshKapoor_ & @SaiyamiKher #Mirzya .. such a lavish debut! God bless!

— Farah Khan (@TheFarahKhan) October 7, 2016

All the best for #Mirzya release @SaiyamiKher @HarshKapoor_ @RakeyshOmMehra @cinestaanfilmco The headiness of it all!Now to process.Bless u

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) October 7, 2016

All the best @RakeyshOmMehra, #Bharathi @SaiyamiKher @HarshKapoor_ , Rajiv, Shyam & team #Mirzya .. Wish you all a grand success

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) October 6, 2016

Saw #Mirzya. BREATHTAKINGLY STUNNING. Take a bow @RakeyshOmMehra. Everybody has raised the bar. And with @HarshKapoor_ A STAR IS BORN.:)

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) October 4, 2016

#Mirzya A beautiful film that's made for the Big screen with 2 new beautiful performers! @HarshKapoor_ @SaiyamiKher ❤️👍all the best u guys!

— Sooraj Pancholi (@soorajpancholi9) October 2, 2016

#Mirzya every frame exudes beauty!! @HarshKapoor_ , the innocence you bring to Adil. @SaiyamiKher the warmth u bring to Suchi. So beautiful.

— Athiya Shetty (@theathiyashetty) October 2, 2016

Saw two emerging stars in #Mirzya @HarshKapoor_ @SaiyamiKher ... @RakeyshOmMehra amazes with some breathtaking cinema once again!

— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) October 2, 2016

Such a special actor @HarshKapoor_ ... All your hard work shines thru my friend ! #Mirzya a cinematic experience

— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) October 1, 2016

Loved Saiyami Kher's assured debut in 'Mirzya'. Watch this girl! Kajol meets Deepika Padukone. https://t.co/tPTvAXlQ0J

— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) October 1, 2016

Hearing such wonderful things about the film and Harsh. All the best team Mirzya. https://t.co/wA2NKUHoR1

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 1, 2016

The duo tweeted about their premiere in pride:

This will go down in history as a day neither of us will forget... Our first world premiere for our first film #Mirzya pic.twitter.com/9Letfo8f8c

— Harshvardhan Kapoor (@HarshKapoor_) October 6, 2016

A dream come true for me as I walked the @BFI red carpet with my family... @AnilKapoor, @sonamakapoor & @SaiyamiKher #Mirzya pic.twitter.com/FFb7Sgj0lb

— Harshvardhan Kapoor (@HarshKapoor_) October 6, 2016

A moment that we will cherish for a lifetime. @HarshKapoor_ let's hope we have many more to follow pic.twitter.com/LzC6gLGx7M

— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) October 7, 2016

However, the reviews that have been published so far, have a different story to tell.

Shubhra Gupta in this Indian Express review says:

In terms of acting potential, neither newcomer lifts off the screen, but Kapoor fares a little better than his affectless leading lady: he appear to have a quiet spark which may surface after some more polishing. Mirzya tells us it’s going to be more about setting the scene, as it cross-cuts in time — some sequences are as spectacular as anything we’ve seen recently — than giving us characters that will instantly grab us, and keep us with them. This problem plagues this lush, good-looking production right through, and makes it much less of a film than it could have been.

Pinkvilla's review reads:

It is unnerving to sit through a retelling of a story that has nothing new to say, no new perspective to bring forth. By the last scene, it feels like a star-kid launchpad (a term Mehra so despises) that doesn’t attempt to be a good film. The real hero of the film is indeed, the cinematographer Pawel Dyllus. He spins an intricate canvas; shot lucidly with warm bright colors, oozing the energy of the story.

Rohit Vats in this Hindustan Times review says:

The undercurrent of a passionate love never reaches the surface. Despite gloss and technical wizardry, the audience fails to feel the pain. It becomes tough for them to root for anybody. You keep watching everything from a distance.

Meena Iyer in this Times of India review says:

Harshvardhan and Saiyami come from good acting stock. But they’re still rough around the edges. Harsh manages to give glimpses of his vulnerability and intensity as a performer. And, also his physical strength (the shirtless scene). While Saiyami, who withholds emotions in a few scenes, sparkles, Anuj makes an impressive debut.