Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara, starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has become one of the most talked-about films in recent times — but not just for the reasons filmmakers might hope. While the movie has earned big at the box office and gained a massive fan following, a parallel wave of online reactions branding it “cringe” has taken over social media. From viral IV drip videos to dramatic sobbing in theatres, the public’s reaction to Saiyaara has triggered a unique mix of emotional awe and second-hand embarrassment. So why are so many people cringing after watching Saiyaara? Let’s break it down.
Over-the-Top Audience Reactions Spark Cringe Culture
One of the biggest reasons Saiyaara is being labeled “cringe” is due to the extreme audience behavior being shared across platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit. Viewers can be seen crying uncontrollably, clutching their friends during emotional scenes, and even fainting inside theatres. One of the most viral videos shows a young man watching the movie while still attached to an IV drip, wiping tears from his face. While some praised the fan’s dedication, many netizens mocked the intensity, calling it “performative” and unnecessary.
Such emotional outbursts, while possibly genuine, have been described by critics and online users as overdone and dramatic, making them difficult to take seriously — especially when the film features relatively new actors with no prior screen legacy.
The IV Drip Incident: Peak Drama or Peak Cringe?
The IV drip video in particular became a flashpoint for ridicule. People questioned the priorities of a person who, instead of resting in a hospital, chose to attend a film screening. Comments like “This generation needs saving” and “Bollywood needs to calm down” flooded the post. This incident went viral not because of the film’s content but because of the surreal nature of the fan’s actions — turning what was supposed to be an emotional movie experience into a spectacle.
Social Media Memes and Parodies Add Fuel to the Fire
The internet, never one to let drama go unnoticed, responded by flooding timelines with memes. From sarcastic comparisons of Indian youth crying in theatres while Chinese youth build AI, to parody reels mocking the stadium scene where Krish (Ahaan Panday) walks away from fame for love — the online world quickly turned Saiyaara into a cringe-worthy cultural moment. Popular meme pages have made entire skits exaggerating fan reactions, further shifting the movie’s reception from emotional to unintentionally comedic.
Accusations of Being a Copycat Film
Another reason for the backlash is that Saiyaara has been accused of borrowing heavily from the Korean classic ‘A Moment to Remember’, with some even calling it a near scene-to-scene copy. While inspiration in Bollywood is nothing new, the lack of originality has made some viewers feel manipulated emotionally, leading them to call the film “melodramatic and derivative,” thereby adding to the cringe factor.
Too Much Hype, Not Enough Substance?
Finally, the combination of massive marketing, high-profile launch, and a social media campaign that built up Saiyaara as an emotionally life-changing film may have set expectations unrealistically high. When audiences saw what many considered a formulaic love story with exaggerated reactions, disappointment turned into mockery. Instead of being moved, many left theatres confused by the buzz.
🧾 Conclusion: When Emotion Becomes a Meme
While Saiyaara has undeniably struck a chord with many viewers and continues to rake in impressive numbers at the box office, it has also become a symbol of how emotionally-charged films can walk a fine line between moving and melodramatic. Whether fans faint in devotion or netizens laugh in disbelief, Saiyaara has managed to become more than a movie — it’s a full-blown social media moment, for better or worse.
You can watch the Saiyaara reaction by “The Indian Express” in this video
