'Fanney Khan': Anil Kapoor's performance makes this impractical story work, to an extent
Fanney Khan
The music and newcomer Pihu Sand are equally good.
As you watch Anil Kapoor playing musician Prashant Sharma, a star in his heydays in his locality, now a blue-collar employee, going all out to make his daughter Lata the star that he could never become in this week's 'Fanney Khan', you wonder why the actor would have agreed to be a part of an awful film like 'Race 3'.
Kapoor is in fine form in Atul Manjrekar's new film. As Prashant Sharma aka Fanney Khan of his chawl, Kapoor brings in a certain amount of vulnerability to his character making Prashant an endearing man. You understand his probnlems, his circumstances and the lenghths he goes to make his daughter happy.
A local star in his heydays, Prashant could never make it big like his idol Mohammad Rafi. So when his daughter is born, he names her Lata and wants to make her as big a star like her namesake. Lata does have a melodious voice, but because of her weight is fat-shamed at almost all the singing competitions she takes part in. She herself idolises pop sensation Baby Singh (Aishwarya Rai) and aspire to be a star like her. She is like any other teenager, conscious of her own self, brat to her parents and trying desperately to fit in.
Her father, on the other hand, wants her to have faith in her own talent. The film in the beginning briefly touches upon the new ills of modern day society. From fat shaming to earning quick bucks and climbing the success ladder by compromising on morals. But the film merely does a token service to all these issues and ultimately suffers because of an impractical plot.
In a bid to make his daughter a star, Prashant with the help of his colleague-confidante Adhir (Rajkummar Rao) kidnaps Baby Singh. And that's when slowly the film starts losing its credibility. The second half struggles to stay afloat as the story goes haywire with too many loopholes in it. The pop star willingly stays on with her kidnappers from the very beginning not being afraid ever of the men who have held her captive. Then the climax has an elaborate revelation all on live television which is hard to digest.
The ludicrous climax though has a fantastic song, 'Mere Jaisa Main Hoon' which talks about embracing one's unique identity. Pity the film at large doesn't delve deeper into the issue.
The film's most defining performance is by Anil Kapoor himself who pulls off an honest, endearing act. His onscreen daughter, newcomer Pihu Sand too is superb in her role as the teenager trying hard to fit in. Pihu plays her character to the hilt and I'd look out for more of her in Bollywood. Divya Dutta as Kapoor's wife delivers well.
Perhaps the biggest letdown in the film is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She looks gorgeous no doubt but delivers all her dialogues with a strange accent - making it appear that she has difficulty speaking in Hindi. Her and Rajkummar Rao's romance does not look convincing either. Talented Rao is also grossly underused in the film. He does get a few lines that provide laughs but overall Rao's character doesn't leave an impact.
The film's music,though, isa winner. Especially the songs composed by Amit Trivedi. Each of them hummable and melodious.
'Fanney Khan' ultimately suffers because of an impractical plot line that is unable to keep it toegther by the end.
Its a well-intended film, and you can see how genuine Anil Kapoor's act is. Forget the fact that it'splot makes little sense because Anil Kapoor's act as the simple man with lofty dreams makes it worth a watch.
