FINDING FANNY (ENGLISH): ‘Finding it funny’ is an understatement! [3.5/5]

Early in the collective journey to find the love of an old loner’s life; when the later reacts in anxiety, ‘Isn’t it hot today?’, the man on driving seat and with the least interest in such trip throws away his apathy, “I am feeling cold”…“You must be in fever then” “no, it’s a statement of sarcasm”, he clarifies straight-faced & boldly. That should also be the preliminary and precautionary declaration to viewers as what they should expect from Homi Adajania’s smartly written, deliciously performed and dynamically directed comedy-drama FINDING FANNY.

Set in an unreal-unheard village of Goa, Fredie [Naseeruddin Shah, tastes as good as old wine] is a lonesome postman with no letters to deliver. His life gets an awakening knock when someone drops an old undelivered letter to his doorstep. It was written by him 46 years back and for his love of life then, Fanny. It is an end to his years-long wait but to give it a possible fresh new start to find Fanny, there’s Angie [Deepika Padukone as bright & shine as the morning Sun] who, despite her 15 min-short married life firmly believes in, “No one deserves an incomplete love-story”.

There’s also Angie’s heavily-structured crabby-grumpy old mother-in-law Rosalina [Dimple Kapadia in an all juicy-spicy avatar], a bitter, harsh & sulking love-interest to Angie [Arjun Kapoor’s best till date] and last but never the least, the amazingly vibrant but lecherous womanizer artist in search of a new muse for his painting, Don Pedro Cleto Colaco [The powerhouse and an institution in himself Pankaj Kapoor]. Together, they all are on a ride to find love in their lives.

FINDING FANNY is dark-dim & gloomy in emotions where every character is either with broken hearts or in deep abandoned state of mind seeking the missing piece in their lives but the way they behave and presented on screen is very caricature-ish yet far more realistic than any Bollywood mainstream cinema. So, there is plenty of room for humor that comes from the wit in the nature of being that character and belonging there in the said situation. Point to be noted here is that you have to be very attentive and alert to not miss any of the punches hidden or underlined in any regular verbal exchange. Special mention to the writer!

The lingo is rooted, earthy and well in-synced with the spirit of English speaking Goan people. Anil Mehta’s visual strokes are like travel postcards. The old houses with fences, bricky textures, neatly stuffed rooms with furniture and props slowly getting into antique mode and picturesque landscapes of Konkan belt are vividly captured. Mathias Duplessy’s tingling music constantly keeps you engaged in the scene. And if not anything, the performances will floor you right away. Naseer’s cute smiles, Pankaj’s lustful eyes, Arjun’s burst of anger, Deepika’s naive beauty and Dimple’s richly layered emotions, there are reasons more than just one to not miss it.

After his last being a 100 Cr club entrance (Deepika-Saif starrer COCKTAIL), FINDING FANNY is like Homi’s homecoming to what he had promised with his first (BEING CYRUS). No non-sense performances, grave humor and a good hand at writing. It is easily one of the most refreshing films you’ve seen this year! [3.5/5]