MOVIE REVIEW: Finding Fanny

Published Sep 22, 2014

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Finding Fanny

Director: Homi Adajania

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Naseerudin Shah

Classification: 10-12 PG L S V

Running Time: 106 minutes

RATING: ****

IN the tradition of Homi Adajania’s off-beat movies Being Cyrus and Cocktail, Finding Fanny is a humanistic absurdist comedy that really never seeks to be too pretentious. It is a dark road trip comedy, ultimately a crowd pleaser and better than most of what’s out there.

Plot

Five dysfunctional inhabitants from the quaint sleepy village of Pocolim (Goa) set off on a road trip in search of an old postman, Ferdie’s childhood love. While nobody knows if Stefanie “Fanny” Fernandes is alive, dead or just a figment of someone’s imagination, the travellers get lost and the journey takes an unexpected detour into life-changing circumstances.

Verdict

Irresistibly charming, Finding Fanny is about unfulfilled desires. It explores the lifestyles and mannerisms of the common man who is on a road journey to discover his most precious purpose in life.

It is charismatic and never shy to direct its message in the most forthright fashion. Adajania takes us by surprise as he narrates a straightforward screenplay, brought alive by outstanding performances, crisp dialogue and witty behaviour.

Strong praise for the direction and flawless script by Adajania which provides so much substance to each character and frame. Most notable is the underlying theme of love in the feel-good story. Adajania conveys the theme in a manner that is rare and remarkable. The climax can only be described as unforgettable.

The cast is deserving of the best ensemble accolade as all the performances are nothing short of superb, but the showstoppers are Naseerudin Shah, Dimple Kapadia and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun gives a great performance, as he plays a rebellious character you will love to hate. Dimple is the standout, which is not surprising as she excels in this type of cinema and dares to play the middle-aged curvaceous woman with poignant ease. Naseerudin and Pankaj Kapur are among the most respected drama actors in Indian cinema. They are a delight to watch in comedic parts. Deepika is a woman with simplistic charm and portrays this with precious maturity and appeal.

Recommendation

It’s a humble and utterly feel-good film about life. Strongly recommended for the mature love-seeking audience.

• Celebrity journalist and media personality, Varshan Sookhun, presents the lifestyle show The Midday Spice on Lotus FM, 92.5 to 103.8 FM, Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm. He also presents Bollywood Billboard from 2pm to 5pm on Lotus FM on Saturdays.

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