Watching this film I think I learned a lot about modern Indian culture. I was also very intrigued at the way that the plot of the film crossed several genres and combined a number of classic story-telling archetypes: 'the star-crossed lovers,' 'the village pastorale,' 'the saga of family honor,' 'the courtroom drama,' etc.
In order to appreciate any form of musical drama, it's necessary to 'surrender' to theatrical artifice, and seen in that light, 'Veer-Zaara' is no more illogical or 'unrealistic' than a classic Vincent Minnelli Musical or a 'serious' Verdi opera. I was never once bored - in spite of its three hour plus running time. However, I did rate 'Veer-Zaara' seven out of ten, because I found it consistently entertaining, and often entirely delightful. It is the first Bollywood musical I have ever seen, and as such, I lack the critical perspective necessary to make an informed judgement about it. 'Veer-Zaara' was shown as part of an international film series at my local public library.
