This was one movie I was looking forward to because of the exciting trailers and the songs that were released prior to the release of the movie. Maybe my expectations were too high because Fanney Khan as a film was a total let down!
Based on a Belgian film; Everybody’s Famous, Fanney Khan is about a father’s dream and aspiration for his daughter. Anil Kapoor is Prashant Sharma aka Fanney Khan a simple lower-middle-class man who once dreamt of becoming a singing star but now he wants it all for his daughter, Lata ( Pihu Sand). Fanney works as a crane operator during the day and composes tunes sitting on the terrace at night. His life revolves around his quest to make his only child a singing star someday.
Image Credit: Movie – Fanney Khan
While the first half deals with the issue of body shaming about how body image has become such a huge part of celebrity culture and all the pressure that comes with it. It also deals with a rebellious young girl Pihu, who is talented as a singer but lacks the looks and figure required to be a star. She also doesn’t think much of her father and thinks he’s a loser. The film shows how parents strive hard to see their children happy at any cost; even if they have to kidnap someone!
Image Credit: Movie – Fanney Khan
However, all these issues somehow tend to take a backseat in the second half, from the minute Baby Singh aka Aishwarya Rai Bachchan enters the lives of Fanney and his loyal friend Adhir (Rajkumar Rao) when the duo kidnap her. Baby Singh seems at ease with the kidnappers right from the time she is kidnapped, there is no trace of fear on her face. Then begins her journey of playing house with Adhir, where she seems to be comfortable enough in a closed down mill, not to long to go back home to her high rise apartment! They’re seen playing a scene right out of Jagjit Singh’s ghazal; ‘yeh tera ghar yeh mera ghar’! Cooking romantic meals together, playing cricket etc. for a moment you forget whether she was kidnapped or the two have eloped!
Image Credit: Movie – Fanney Khan
The only good thing about the film is the film’s perfect casting; Anil Kapoor as Fanney Khan, the father who works hard day and night just to see a smile on his daughter’s face totally nails it. He is convincing as a mill worker and also as an emotional father who loves his daughter immensely.Rajkumar Rao as Fanney’s sidekick Adhir is delightful. His comic timing and talent adds the fun element in the film.
Image Credit: Movie – Fanney Khan
Newcomer Pihu Sand is real and relatable and she also plays her part as the spoilt, annoying, rebellious teen well so much so that you actually almost want to slap some sense into her! Divya Dutta is brilliant as usual, she plays Pihu’s mother and confidant and Fanney’s loyal wife in the film. Her reactions in the scenes where she watches the crowd making fun of her daughter or when the daughter ignores the father when he’s playing a tune he has composed, is applause worthy Divya is a bundle of talent.
Except for the Mohabbat number in the film where she looks drop dead gorgeous, Aishwarya Rai looks like she’s on a real life vacation even on screen! As someone who has been kidnaped, and later as she joins into the who silliness of the kidnapping she falters. Basically she is just playing herself.
The climax of the film was disappointing and unreal, at least the way the whole situation is glorified and treated. Watch Fanney Khan only for the brilliant performances of the actors.
