Finding Fanny Fernandez

Rating: 4 / 5

I’m not a person who regularly goes and watches movies produced by anyone remotely related to Bollywood. But since Being Cyrus (and Cocktail being a momentary blip), I have the utmost respect for Homi Adajania. And Finding Fanny is a ray of sunshine in this dark time (according to me), for Hindi cinema. Even though I watched the English version, it is still a Bollywood movie.

Though I would like to clarify that it is not like any other Bollywood movie I’ve ever seen. It is beautiful, funny in ways that Bollywood directors would not understand and sensible enough to realize the flow of the movie. Finding Fanny is a movie about, well, finding Fanny. Better known as Stefanie Fernandez. The quirky journey, which brings out aspects of all the characters, covers almost the full movie. The ensemble cast is phenomenal with the older actors doing brilliantly to outshine Padukone and Kapoor.

A warning to anyone who enjoys the kind of humour Bollywood churns out. This movie is not for you. Watch it if you want, but don’t curse because you don’t understand it. For one thing, fans of Bollywood will feel when the Interval arrives just 45-50 minutes into the movie. The film drifts along at its own pace, headed without much direction, but with every visual meant to please your eyes. Padukone looks stunning throughout the movie, Gareebon Ka Wolverine (thanks AIB) looks rakish, as he is supposed to. The funniest part of the movie is the cat’s storyline, which might be the only redeeming factor for most people. But the fact that Adajania has made Finding Fanny look as beautiful as, say, the ridiculously expensive Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara at less than half that film’s budget is credible. Goa, even without the beaches, has never looked more stunning.

Having said that, Finding Fanny is not even half as quirky as Adajania’s directorial debut, Being Cyrus. It is still a fun watch, maybe a one-time watch for most people. But I promise you, you will leave the cinema hall with a smile on your face. This review contains absolutely nothing that will spoil your first watch of the movie. But please, do not miss Finding Fanny and Adajania’s quirky look at life in rural Goa.

P.S. How did I ever forget the soundtrack? It is beautiful beyond comparison. Such a breath of fresh air to not see people dancing around on screen and tons of background dancers assisting them. Inspite of the absence of typical Bollywood music, this movie is stunning. Go figure.