Finding Fanny

I cannot classify Finding Fanny as a Romantic Comedy but it is one.  I cannot classify it as a satire but it is one.  I cannot classify it as a Romance movie either but it is one.  To typecast Finding Fanny under one genre of cinema would be a travesty because it has a bit of everything in it.  And therefore I will take the safe way out and put it under that ever safe genre called, “Drama”.

However, the mix of genres, do little to improve the quality of the final product.  If anything it leaves the audience feeling incomplete.  Its languid pace and the immense predictability of the script are not offset by the brilliant performances of three key members of the cast – Nasseruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur and of course the gorgeous Dimple Kapadia.

Finding Fanny is set in a languid fictional village that you cannot find on a map of Goa called Pokoli.  The inhabitants, like typical Goan village folk know everything about everyone in the village.  As the poker faced Savio D’Gama (Arjun Kapoor) says, everyone’s business is everyone’s business in Pokoli.

Ferdinand aka Ferdie (Nasseruddin Shah) is the only person in the Pokoli Post Office.  His life is turned upside down when one fine night he receives a letter from 46 years ago.  A letter that he had sent to the love of his life at that point in time – Stephanie aka Fanny.  He confides with his good friend Angie (Deepika Padukone) and together they hitch a plan to Find Fanny.  After all, everyone deserves to know whether their love was reciprocated or just a one way street.

Finding Fanny has several high points.  Homi Adajania’s usual quirky direction and cinematography will appeal to a select audience.  Goa looks much more beautiful than it actually is through Homi’s lens.  Every character is beautifully fleshed out and bought to life through some great casting.  If there was a misfit in cast it would be Deepika and I will talk about that in a bit.

The costumes are superb for everyone in the movie except Deepika.  They portray a Goan like s/he actually is.  Homi also does a good job with the eccentricities in characters such as Don Pedro Cleto Colaco (Pankaj Kapur), the painter who fancies large women such as Rosie (Dimple Kapadia) (I never thought I would every use the words large and Dimple Kapadia in the same sentence).

If there was a disappointing aspect of Finding Fanny, it would be in the portrayal of Angie.  Yes, there was significant effort put into make Deepika look “de-glam” but it was just not enough.  The costumes were summery and a bit too modern for the average Goan.  You cannot keep your eyes off Deepika and if that was the intent then – mission accomplished.

Continuity errors plague the entire movie and the predictability doesn’t help either.  After a 6+ week forced abstinence from cinema, my welcome back wasn’t the brilliant one that I expected.  I loved Being Cyrus and was expecting something on those lines.  I was left wanting more.  Watch on TV if you want to.  This one doesn’t need to be seen on the big screen.  6 on 10.  The additional point is because Homi kept is really crisp to about 100 minutes.  Good show on that point. 

Watch the trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O86FUOrlkY