Review: Fanaa

Fanaa
Stars: Kajol, Aamir Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Tabu
Directed by: Kunal Kohli
Released: 2006

Okay so, there is a lot wrong with this film, let me just start by saying that so you're prepared. We start off with Zooni, a sweet young but blind girl who is looking for Mr. Right. She travels with her friends to Delhi to perform in a dance for independence day. And of course, if you're going to the capital of your country, you don't just dance right? And of course you're going to find someone to show you the sights, right? Right! So they hire sweet, handsome and poetic Rehan who seems to fall instantly in love with Zooni despite her blindness. Her friends do not take kindly to this, but that doesn't stop Zooni from going out to meet her charming tour guide so he can give her a private tour of Delhi.

Going against the odds, Zooni and Rehan slowly fall in love with each other. The night before Zooni is due to board the train and go back to her home in Kashmir (really shot in Poland with gorgeous scenery) Zooni and Rehan meet up at his house and find themselves in a not-so-innocent situation. After a night like that, the two lovers decide that they cannot be apart any more, and they decide to get married. But first, Zooni goes to the doctor the get her eyes examined and discovers that there is a surgery that will give her her eyesight back. She quickly agrees to it and prepares for the day of her surgery. Her parents come down from Kashmir to support their daughter and their future son-in-law, but disaster strikes and Rehan is presumed dead due to a terrorist bombing. Zooni finds it hard to move on, but goes back to Kashmir with her parents. Little does she know, Rehan is far from gone and has a huge secret - one she never saw coming.

The first hour or so of Fanaa when Zooni and Rehan are falling in love is my very favorite. I love watching them grow closer, and it was these scenes that made me start to like Aamir Khan and, more importantly, my very favorite actress Kajol. It was just about everything a Bollywood romance should be. With singing and dancing in the rain in Dekho Na and lighthearted flirty songs like Chand Sifarish. I felt that the plot twist in the middle was a little odd and definitely unexpected, but that can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Fanaa is most definitely a movie that had not been seen before (although similar stories would come about ie: Kurbaan) and it was a chance to see one of the best jodis in Indian cinema shine.

The acting was a sheer and epic win on all the main actors' parts. Kajol very much deserved her best actress Filmfare award and made a very good choice picking Fanaa to be her comeback film after marriage and the birth of her daughter Nysa. Aamir Khan is an actor with a lot of charm and masculinity, but surprisingly enough, I always find that who he is paired with in a movie is very crucial to his performance and whether or not I will end up enjoying it. But, as I stated earlier, he and Kajol are amazing together and really should get doing some more movies soon. Perhaps the most surprising person was Rishi Kapoor. This was the first look I'd ever had of him and boy am I glad for that! I would soon come to realize that he spent a lot of time during his prime as a hero romancing girls that looked too young and innocent for him, but he is bloody fantastic as a father in a film. He was a sweet old man and very loving towards his little Zooni.

Besides the great acting and mindblowing scenery, Fanaa had great music to go along with it. There is not one song from that film that is not on my iPod. I love it all - from Chand Sifarish to Chanda Chamke to Mere Haath Mein. All were great and it was very nice to see the classic random Bollywood songs with the multiple costume changes that I adore more than any other.

Despite the half-ridiculously predictable/omg I didn't see that coming plot line, Fanaa has enough great assets to make it a good and enjoyable film. A win in my book and a must-see if you like true chemistry between a hero and heroine.

Rating: 7/10