Rating: 4/5 Star (Four stars)
Star Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj Kapur
Director: Homi Adajania
What's Good: Performances, Cinematography and the novelistic approach of the narrative.
What's Bad: It's a loopy plot that invests too little on its story. But does that perturb? Not one bit.
Loo break: None
Watch or Not?: It is not often that I can recommend a film with this confidence. Finding Fanny
was an exhilarating film that is consistently enjoyable. From the first
scene to the last, my smile stayed. Full of unexpected moments, filled
with cheeky delight and a bold approach, this isn't the kind of film
you'll get very frequently. Everyone will certainly have something to
take back from this film. For some, it is hassle free breezy
entertainment and for me, it was a lesson in what Homi's muse Gabriel
Garcia Marquez puts well, "There is always something left to love."
User Rating:
Set in the village of Pocouli, that the map doesn't mention either,
the way of life and it's pace is as you wish for. Angie, a young widow
lives with her mother in law Rosie who is often referred to as the first
lady of the village. Angie's best friend Freddie is the local post
master who gets the undelivered letter he had once posted to hos lady
love, Stephanie Fernandez proposing marriage to her. The letter never
reached her and is back in his hands 46 years later. Angie convinces him
to go meet her and find out what she would have said had she received
it.Angie, and a bunch of oddballs set out on a journey to find Fanny for
him and end up discovering their own selves, their desires and their
love!
Deepika Padukone and Arjun Kapoor in a still from movie Finding Fanny'
Finding Fanny Review: Script Analysis
The script isn't a work of genius I
admit and so are the caricaturish characters in the film. But they are
unpredictable and plotted to care and love. That's what works. More than
anyone it is Don Pedro who has a certain affinity towards large women
who work as his muse. A self proclaimed lover of the body, he isn't
exactly what a pervert stands for. The scene where he is finished with
painting Dimple is what explains the character of the man with such
honesty.
The best thing about the script is its
simplicity. It is a layered film and one will prefer to understand it
from their own perspective. I particularly felt a certain empathy with
Deepika; I did get her. When in the film, she tells Arjun that if she
could smoke and roll away into slumber after sex, she would be the one
doing that. And in another when exasperated with Don, she curses him
aloud. It is at no level a comedy at all. Despite its light moments, the
film has a heavy story to tell if you are willing to look beyond and
notice it's subtleties. It's never on the face but you journey towards
it as the story progresses.
The broken English dialogues rather kept
me more entertained. Don't scream you will scare the robber away'
exclaims Dimple in a scene or in the amusing words of Don Pedro when he
blurts out, It's difficult to overcome the fear of the Dark especially
in the day. To much light my dear!' The lines have their own
unconventional charm to keep you engaged. And as for the story, it says
more when it tries to little. That is the beauty of it.
Finding Fanny Review: Star Performances
Deepika Padukone is so brilliant in her
role as Angie. She is probably the one with whom I bonded instantly. Her
fluidity with her craft is memorable. It definitely enables her to
create an instant liking for her charcater and she brings Angie to life
like no one else could have.
Arjun Kapoor matches up the caliber of
his team with his own unique enthusiasm. He is fascinating to watch and
the metaphorical use of the kid who shows him the middle finger
everytime he passes by, helps get a better view of his role. Kapoor is
pitch perfect with his angst and innocence and both in equal measures.
Nasseruddin Shah is an institution of
brilliance. And yet again, he proves that he knows how to mould himself
as per his films. Known as the Romeo of Pocouli, he is endearing and
does so with perfection.
Pankaj Kapur with enthrall you with his
brilliance. He gives Don Pedro, his own eccentricities probably. How
else will explain the ease in his shades of playing him. It's marvellous
to watch him always and I can safely say Pedro would have lost meaning
without.
Dimple Kapadia is exemplary. Kapadia
plays Rosie with her stern demeanor and yet in the pre climax scene
where she vents out at Arjun, after being used by Pedro, she delves a
real flair to it. She knows how to make her roles crackle and Rosie is
just another example of her versatile caliber.
Finding Fanny Review: Direction, Editing and Screenplay
And afterall, it is how Homi treats his
story. It is smooth, Heady, subtle, sublime, all rolled in one package.
Shot brilliantly, the trick of the film is in its engrossing
storytelling. At no point will you get bored, at no point will your
smile vanish. Though I had my own issues with the climax, I had my share
of laugh when Nasseruddin Shah finally gets a glimpse of his lost
Fanny. The anti climax and the monologue are all Adajania props, I don't
quite enjoy but hell, when the man gives us a film this heartfelt, it's
hard to complain. As told earlier it isn't a plot derived film, but
when Adajania juxtaposes a lecherous Don with the simplicity of
Fernando, he says a lot without wasting many words on it.
Technically the film is very sound. It
is well shot, and we'll executed with a pleasant Goan background score
and smooth music to give the audience company.
Finding Fanny Review: The Last Word
Finding Fanny isn't much about
quirk as much as it is about discoveries and revelations. Despite the
ending being on the disappointing side and the threadbare plot, it is
the magnificent Performances that creates a certain kinship with its
audiences. It doesn't play on the stereotype and is neither some path
breaking film but I came out with a good experiences, a few well
intended laughs and some wonderful Performances. Don't miss this. If you
have the patience to unravel a treasure, Finding Fanny has one in hold for you. I am going with 4 stars.
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