Finding Fanny Review

What is it all about?

Catching a team of distinguish talents like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Dimple Kapadia with raging superstars like Deepika Padukone and hot favorite Arjun Kapoor in their best powers as actors, servicing not for opening day numbers but for a rich, evocative, quirky, cinematic experience boldly and so beautifully layered with love and life. Fox Star studios and Maddock Films ‘Finding Fanny’ is a cinematic triumph of love and life brilliantly helmed by Homi Adajania arguably his best so far, signaling a new phenomenon in bollywood involving A -list which is ambitious yet intimate, appearing individual but yet can be happily universal (the reason it’s releasing both in English and Hindi), ‘Finding Fanny’ will find solace amongst disciple of art and followers of cinema.

The Story

Homi Adajania and Kersi Khambatta unite after ‘Beign Cyrus’ in Goa for a sharp, wicked, funny joy ride involving Ferdie (Naseeruddin Shah) who for four decades is living without women - one night Ferdie wakes up to the truth that the letter has never reached her lover. Heartbroken and shattered Ferdie is helped by his neighbors who equally are in desperate need of life partners. Tall and beautiful Angie (Deepika Padukone) has lost her husband Joffrey (Ranveer Singh) six years back on the day of her wedding and she still is a virgin. Angie’s childhood friend Savio Da Gama (Arjun Kapoor) is back to the village after a tasteless, womenless life in Mumbai.  Angie’s mother-in-law Rosie Eucharistica (Dimple Kapadia) also a widow for decades is incomplete without love. And a passionate painter Don Pedro (Pankaj Kapur),is always in search of a female muse to paint his next masterpiece. This losers on love get together for a road trip to help Ferdie find his Fanny and during their journey they battle their myth, come out of their mask to finally reach their destination. The writing is witty and realistic though the characters are weird. The Goan accent is not overdone and the Anglo Indian lingo is maintained. The use of English language is free flowing.

What to look out for

Homi Adajania leaves profound impression in ‘Finding Fanny’ an atmospheric wink to Pedro and Fellini type of cinema the helmer takes us on a bitter sweet journey of love which continuously swings from being humorous and tragic but never fails to capture the eye while engaging the mind and also massaging the soul from time to time.

Mathias Duplessy music soothing music makes the proceeding very comfortable. Anil Mehta’s cinematography is lovingly beautiful. Manisha Khandelwal’s production design, Niyati Bane, Anchal Khosla and Namitha Ramaiah’s set decoration take you to a Goan household. Anaita Shroff’s costumes are perfect. A. Sreekar Prasad editing is sharp. Shruti Mahajan’s casting is up to mark.

A master class in superlative performance ‘Finding Fanny’ captures all the actors in their uniquely best act.

Naseeruddin Shah seems to be having a dream run in 2014 if we believed Dedh Ishqiya was excellent. Ferdie in ‘Finding Fanny’ is sheer brilliance. Another testimony why this man is an institution of acting in India.

Pankaj Kapoor is genius as a passionate painter in search of a female muse. During the last reels when he finally paints his passion Rosie Eucharistica the actor surpasses himself.

Dimple Kapadia is outstanding as Rosie Eucharistica simply superb.

Deepika Padukone with all due credit to her achievements in commercial cinema and her wonderful acting in those films it must be said that the glam quotient and fabulous B-town talent has shined brightly as never before as an actress in this film.

Arjun Kapoor is tremendously remarkable as Savio Da Gama looking completely comfortable in this niche role and to say he has done a nice job will be an understatement.

Ranveer Singh in a cameo is good.

What not

Humour revolving around the Cat could have being better. Missed Don Pedro during the climax.

Conclusion: Signaling a new phenomenon in bollywood involving A -list which is ambitious yet intimate, appearing individual but yet can be happily universal, 'Finding Fanny’ helmed by Homi Adjania is a quirky, bold and a beautiful bittersweet gem on love and life continuingly nurtured by wit and flawless performances. Looking for drolly, satisfying, evocative and lovely cinema go ‘Find’ Fanny at your nearest theater.

Rating ****