Fanaa - Movie Review
Published: April 29, 2010
Starring Aamir Khan, Kajol
Because of their length, Bollywood films almost always have an intermission, and the intermission is usually preceded by a surprising cliffhanger to keep audiences interested in returning for the second half. Introducing a cliffhanger in the middle of a film is extremely effective in bolstering the narrative (many Western films that sag halfway through could use one). Fanaa has one of the best intermission cliffhangers ever—making it difficult to review the film without ruining the surprise. However, you’ll find no spoilers here—Fanaa is too good to give away.
The story begins in Kashmir—a territory disputed by India, Pakistan, and China—and a place as beautiful as it is troubled by periodic war and terrorism. (In fact, the film was shot in wintry, mountainous areas of Poland because of unrest in the region.) Zooni (Kajol) is a blind, young Kashmiri woman who has been invited, along with her female classmates, to travel to Delhi and perform a song and dance in the capital for Republic Day. Her parents (played by Rishi Kapoor and Kirron Kher) are reluctant to let her go, but they also want to encourage her to be independent, so they relent.
Their reservations are warranted, however, because the girls’ tour guide in Delhi is a flirtatious rogue, Rehan (Aamir Khan). As soon as Rehan lays eyes on Zooni, he comes on strong and doesn’t let up. Even though he’s clearly trouble and her friends try to warn her off, Zooni falls for this charmer, partly because she loves all his sweet-talking attention and partly because he doesn’t treat her like a child the way everyone else does. She may be sweet and innocent, but she’s also a capable woman, and Rehan challenges her to think and act for herself.
Fanaa is the first—and to date, only—time the two leads have been paired, and they have a remarkable connection. The initial sparks between their characters turn into fireworks when they end up in bed together the night before she’s supposed to return to Kashmir. Of course, as their feelings for each other deepen, Rehan gets scared and tries to push her away, however unsuccessfully. But if you think this is a conventional romance about a man who can’t commit, think again. What happens next comes out of left field—and it completely works. The story not only changes direction, it changes genre, but the emotional thread from the first half of the film provides the necessary continuity into the second half, so while the shift is abrupt and unpredictable, it’s still congruent and believable.
Fanaa marked Kajol’s successful comeback to film after a five-year hiatus (she took time off to start a family). She won her fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance as Zooni.
Fanaa is rated Must See.
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