Friday, September 12, 2014

Finding Fanny



Rating : 8/10
Release Date : 12th September, 2014
Time : 102 minutes
Director: Homi Adajania; Writer : Homi Adajania, Kersi Khambatta; Music : Mathias Duplessy
Starring : Deepika Padukone, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj Kapur, Arjun Kapoor, Anand Tiwari, Ankur Tewari




Naseeruddin Shah : is a shy, solemn loner, the post master in a village where no one posts or receives any mail, still is a choirboy singer even though his days of being a boy are well behind him. And he brays, nay, sobs inconsolably as he receives a marriage proposal he’d made to his beloved Fanny via mail, forty-six years ago. It was never posted ! And the only one who understands him, is willing to help him is the girl he considers to be like a daughter, who he thinks will make one lucky bugger a great wife…Deepika…


Deepika Padukone : ethereal, leggy, flashing that dimpled smile of hers, a vision in floral dresses, floating through their tiny Goan village, remains upbeat despite all that’s happened to her, with her husband choking to death on her wedding day, she till today isn’t sure whether she should’ve accepted her hubby’s proposal or gone with his friend instead, her quiet admirer, the quiet, quite infatuated… Arjun….


Arjun Kapoor : left town the day Deepika was going to get married. Rumour has it he went to Mumbai and was successful in some business. Is now back in their village. Not happy about how things have turned out. Prone to angry outbursts. Alone in his dilapidated house, which is falling apart. And working on his old car, which is also falling apart. Which he’s just sold to…Pankaj….


Pankaj Kapur : is the new man in town, an award winning artist, a painter who earns huge sums for his every brush stroke. Is enjoying his solitude, the idyllic sylvan surroundings, his alcohol. And is also indulging in his fetish for ‘big’ women…by ogling at Dimple…


Dimple Kapadia : who does have a really large ass ! Also happens to be Deepika’s mother in law and house mate, the woman who makes the tiny village tick, the one who organizes everything and loves being the centre of attention…the type who will try to commit suicide but will cough first to make sure someone is watching…the stingy type who will hide the cookies if she thinks her guest is eating too many…the type who feels too many drinks don’t agree with her legs. Gout? Inquires Pankaj, solicitously ? No, she laughs, it makes them spread open…


These five quirky characters set off on a drive to locate Naseer’s precious Fanny. In the dilapidated car. From the village that we’re assured is so tiny, you cant locate it on a map. And interesting things happen on the way.



This is one of those delicious movies where its not so much about the story but more about the characters and the conversations. Where the script and the dialogue is, quite refreshingly, actually king. Where the music sets the mood but doesn’t overpower. Where the performances by the stalwarts, Pankaj, Naseer are every bit what you would expect – they get into the skin of their assigned roles, changing body language, their walk, their way of talking to ensure we believe in them. Pankaj, in particular, has more scope to display his intensity, especially in a little bit towards the end.




Dimple is very good too, dominating yet hesitantly finding her way through the challenges life has thrown at her. Arjun has probably the most unidimensional role and he does it credit. In acting chops, probably the one who has to go the furthest, but he can still hold his head high after this one. And Deepika…ah, sweet, lovely, Deepika! Anyone who doubts whether she can act…I mean, really act…better be advised to watch this one. None of the histrionics, over the top gestures and mannerisms of say, Chennai Express…just subtle changes of expressions, a slightly quizzical mien of inner happiness with just a smidgen of indecision.



This is one of those films which is about journeys, self-discovery, life and more. The lessons made easy with the humour and the idiosyncratic dramatis personae. Set in a place where we all wish we could be…simpler, where time seems to stand still. And its not so much about Finding Fanny, but finding love…at any age…

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love the laid-back, peaceful, warm and tolerant nature of the Goan people, their distinctive lifestyle is quite different from the rest of India... Goa has a soul, indigenous culture, very distinct by its sheer diversity.. The palm- fringed coastline, its much more than beaches and sea. During the monsoon Goa is at its most beautiful, with greenery sprouting all around. A perfect celestial home for the wanderlust traveller.. A Tourist Paradise..a place to relax,.. no wonder I keep going there year after year.. At times, things fall into your lap and you lap them up, because they are irresistible !

Anonymous said...

You seem to be completely smitten by Deepika...showing off her toned figure and long legs... "Darling, the legs aren't so beautiful, I just know what to do with them."- Marlene Dietrich.. A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet...

Anonymous said...

It hits the nail on the hesd. The nuances are brilliant. I was bowled over when I saw the trailer first. Clean and flawless. This one spells impact. A haunting soundtrack and the visuals... It sticks. It's deep.. Finding Fanny is a light-hearted take on life's deeper philosophies..wrapped in an old-world charm so refreshing... Soak it in with port wine or Find Feni... In absolute terms of course, Deepika has bettered herself quite a lot..her smile is captivating.. The two ageing men came across as an everyday man.... He could have been your next-door neighbour angling for a rum and a chat. He could have been the hilarious uncle who overstays his welcome and walks around with his bathrobe half open. Arjun with his beard (looks like my Sonny).. And it was this feeling of sitting in a car driven by someone constantly accelerating that was exhilarating.. Dimple reminded me of the advertisement she used to feature in the '80s's... 'Crowning Glory'..was it ??

Anonymous said...

Off now.. PTM tomorrow :( else would have continued... .... Sleep well...

Anonymous said...

It hits the nail on the head. The nuances are brilliant. I was bowled over when I saw the trailer first. Clean and flawless. This one spells impact. A haunting soundtrack and the visuals... It sticks. It's deep.. Finding Fanny is a light-hearted take on life's deeper philosophies..wrapped in an old-world charm so refreshing... Soak it in with port wine or Find Feni... In absolute terms of course, Deepika has bettered herself quite a lot..her smile is captivating.. The two ageing men came across as everyday men.... He could have been your next-door neighbour angling for a rum and a chat. He could have been the hilarious uncle who overstays his welcome and walks around with his bathrobe half open. Arjun with his beard (looks like my Sonny).. And it was this feeling of sitting in a car driven by someone constantly accelerating without knowing how to drive properly that was exhilarating.. Dimple reminded me of the advertisement she used to feature in the '80s's... 'Crowning Glory'..was it ??

Anonymous said...

Casanova of the Konkan..

Anonymous said...

The story stayed with me long after I had left the theatre... Sometimes you feel the characters are playing a part of you...( It has been a weird fantasy since adolescence..to do it in a moonlit night, the perfect ambience... ) The contentment on Deepika's face, till she climbs atop him on a gorgeous night, being a virgin widow for six years..

Anonymous said...

Arjun was working on the car when his instincts registered someone watching him. He blinked at the striking prettiness of the dusky coppery-complexioned girl holding a cane bag who stood quietly just within the next opened window. Wearing a simple housemaid's dress, her curly long blackish brown hair, she was evenly but warmly returning Arjun's stare.... Only his lifelong innate reserve enabled him to mask his jolting inner reaction as, collecting himself, he blurted, "looking good"....

Anonymous said...

The surreal long leggy lady creates desire in a painter...a source of inspiration for a writer.... A muse so lean, lithe n lissome... Deepika is elegant in her most natural and subtle performance ever. Sans make up..tenuously stringing the story together.. Happy yet vulnerable.. Only she could carry that shade of lavender so well..under the star studded night, lying on the grass, gazing at the dark blue sky...when she says "let's complete the task you started".. She is truly elegance personified....

Anonymous said...

I had a chance of seeing her from a distance in 2006. Was awestruck... Mesmerized by her beauty.. 'Hath lagaao to maile ho jaaye'... My grown up son is her die hard fan. Hasn't skipped a single movie of hers.. Wish could get a daughter (in law) like her in future..

Anonymous said...

Can romance be a substitute for reality ?

Amit Sinha said...

a bit over rated. some of the situations were contrived. falls short of what it could have been with the talent at its disposal.

Anonymous said...

Even on a moonless night it is possible to navigate with the help of the faint glow emanating from these celestial bodies...

Anonymous said...

Sometimes in love, the best things are worth waiting for...

Anonymous said...

The Moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to... Maine poochha chaand se ki dekha hai kahi mere yaar sa haseen... Chaand ne kaha....