Fanaa (film)

Infobox_Film | name = Fanaa


imdb_id = 0439662
writer = Shibani Bathija &
Kunal Kohli
starring = Aamir Khan,
Kajol,
Rishi Kapoor,
Tabu,
Kiron Kher
director = Kunal Kohli
producer = Yash Chopra,
Aditya Chopra
distributor = Yash Raj Films
released = May 26 2006
runtime = 168 mins
cinematography = Ravi K. Chandran
language = Hindi/Urdu
music = Jatin-Lalit
awards =
budget = $5.3 million

"Fanaa" (Hindi: फ़ना, Urdu:فناء, English: "Destroyed in love") is a Bollywood thriller-romance movie released in 2006, starring Aamir Khan and Kajol in pivotal roles. It is directed by Kunal Kohli who previously directed "Hum Tum", and is produced under Yash Raj Films. The film also stars Rishi Kapoor, Kiron Kher, Tabu, and Shruti. "Fanaa" released on May 26, 2006, in India. Aamir Khan plays the role of a tourist guide in Delhi while Kajol plays a Kashmiri girl. Rishi Kapoor and Kiron Kher play the role of Kajol's parents. The film marked the comeback of Kajol, who was last seen in Karan Johar's film, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

The Story

Zooni Ali Beg (Kajol) is a blind Kashmiri girl who travels without her parents for the first time with a dance troupe of which she is a part of to Delhi to perform. On her journey, she meets Rehan Khan (Aamir Khan), a casanova and tour guide who flirts with her. Although her friends warn Zooni about him, she still wants to experience the feeling of being in love for the first time, and spends time with him. In New Delhi, Rehan shows her the city and starts to develop feelings for her.

Zooni and Rehan decide to marry. Her mother Nafisa (Kiron Kher) and father Zulfikar Ali Baig (Rishi Kapoor) acquiesce to the marriage, and tell her they are coming in from Kashmir for the wedding. Meanwhile, the young couple visit an ophthalmologist, who advises Zooni that her blindness may be surgically curable, though the operation has a slim chance of a full recovery. They decide to take the chance and have the operation before the wedding. Zooni asks Rehan to visit the Rashtrapati Bhawan (president's residence) to invite their friend, the guard Jolly Good Singh (Jaspal Bhatti), to the ceremony. While still recovering from the successful surgery - and before she can see Rehan -- Zooni is told that Rehan has been killed in a terrorist bomb attack on Rashtrapati Bhawan. She is comforted by her parents who have arrived from Kashmir. Zooni feels she sent Rehan to his death in Rashtrapati Bhawan.

In reality, Rehan is a terrorist fighting to liberate the state of Kashmir from both India and Pakistan. As grandson of the mastermind and leader of a key insurgent group, the Independent Kashmir Front (IKF), he is its most trusted operative. He has been plotting and executing terrorist strikes against these two countries, including the explosion in which he is reported to have died and believed Zooni to have been killed in as well. He in truth "had" loved Zooni, but he knew that for his cause, he had to let her go and regretted ever falling in love with her.

Years later, the terrorists are about to pull off a huge strike as a part of their plan. With parts stolen from India, Pakistan and Russia, they hope to build a nuclear explosive device. This device, capable of destroying a whole city -- New Delhi or Islamabad - within a ten mile radius. They will use to pressure both countries into leaving Kashmir. A critical part is missing: the detonator or electronic "trigger" device. Rehan is to bring in this trigger. Meanwhile, the mourning and guilt-ridden Zooni returns to Kashmir and is delivered of a baby boy, whom she names Rehan for his father.

Rehan infiltrates an Indian army unit that is taking the trigger back to Delhi to safeguard it from theft by the insurgents. During a helicopter transport in a remote area, he drugs his colleagues, takes the trigger, destroys the helicopter with a hand grenade and escapes by parachute. A key intelligence operative Malini Tyagi (Tabu) realizes who he is, but cannot deploy forces quickly enough to stop Rehan. He is wounded by the troops, but escapes. Tyagi orders a communications blackout in the area so that he will not be able to contact the IKF.

Exhausted, wounded, and incommunicado with a storm building, he seeks shelter in a remote house. He is shocked to find that the house belongs to Zooni and her father. Neither of them recognize him: Zooni had never seen Rehan as she was blind, and her father had never met him. The child Rehan is very taken with the man, and he likewise develops an affection for the little boy. Later, Rehan admits to his identity, though unable to explain what he has done for the seven years since they parted, or why he played dead. Nevertheless, he still loves Zooni and she loves him, and they marry in a simple ceremony performed by her father.

Soon afterward, through a TV broadcast, Zooni and her father both separately discover that Rehan is the terrorist for whom a manhunt is in progress. Her father tries to stop Rehan, taking him to an Army friend's house so he can use his radio transmitter and then attempting to shoot him. Instead, Rehan accidentally kills him, then uses the radio to contact the IKF. The IKF tell him they will send a pick-up helicopter the next morning. Then, when the army officer discovers Rehan in his home, Rehan kills him too.

Zooni finds her father dead, floating by under the ice in the river near which Zooni and Rehan Jr are playing. When Rehan returns home, and tells her that her father is at the army officer's house, she suspects that Rehan killed him. She takes the "trigger" to her father's friend's house, and radios the army. Tyagi apprises her of the seriousness of the danger, and the risk to millions of lives should the IKF get the device. Before the police or army arrives, Rehan finds her, and tries to convince her to give him the "trigger" so he can give it to his grandfather who is arriving by helicopter, telling her that this way they can have a happy future together. Unable to stop him any other way, Zooni shoots him,while saying "I love you Rehan". His grandfather is angered and aims to shoot Zooni, but Tyagi arrives in time with an Indian army helicopter and shoots the terrorist leader dead and his helicopter down a pistol.

The final scene shows Zooni and little Rehan laying flowers on the graves of Rehan Senior and Mr. Ali Beg. Zooni tells him that it's easy to choose between good and bad, but life sometimes presents two bad choices or two good ones and Rehan Jr kisses his father's grave.

Cast

* Aamir Khan ... Rehan Qadri aka Rehan Khan
* Kajol ... Zooni Ali Beg
* Rishi Kapoor ... Zulfikar Ali Beg
* Kiron Kher ... Nafisa Ali Begum
* Tabu ... Malini Tyagi
* Lara Dutta ... Zeenat (Special Appearance)
* Shiney Ahuja ... Suraj Ahuja (Guest Appearance)
* Gautami Kapoor ... Rubeina (Ruby)
* Sharat Saxena ...
* Lilette Dubey ... Madam
* Shruti Seth ... Fatima (Fatty)
* Jaspal Bhatti ... (Jolly Good - Sardarji)
* Vrajesh Hirjee ... Balwant/Cartoon Network (as called by Lilette Dubey in the film)
* Master Ali Haji ... Rehan (Zooni & Rehan's son)
* Sanaya Irani ... Bobo
* Satish Shah ... Colonel

Reception

The film has collected a worldwide gross of Rs. 110.89 Crore without a release in Gujarat. [http://www.boxofficeindia.com BoxofficeIndia] . According to boxofficeindia.com, "Fanaa" is the 5th biggest hit of 2006.

The film received great reviews from critics. [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fanaa/ Review from Rotten Tomatoes]
[http://www.mouthshut.com/product-reviews/Fanaa-925062236.html Review by mouthshut]
[http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/12456/index.html Review by Taran Adarsh, indiaFM] ]

Filming Locations

The film was originally planned to be shot in Kashmir before the lead heroine backed out due to the continuing insurgency in that region. The director chose to move the Kashmir segment to the Tatra Mountains [in polish: Polskie Tatry ] (a part of Carpathian Chain) in southern Poland, which also provides suitably snowy and mountainous terrain. Among several other locations it was filmed at certain historical locations in Delhi including the Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, Purana Qila and Lodhi Gardens.

Controversy

Aamir Khan while promoting his film in Gujarat made some comments regarding the Gujarat chief minister's handling of the Narmada Dam and the necessity to rehabilitate the displaced villagers.Fact|date=February 2007 These comments were met with outrage from political parties such as BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the Indian National Congress.The government of Gujarat demanded an apology from Aamir Khan. Aamir Khan refused to apologize, saying "I am saying exactly what the Supreme Court has said. I only asked for rehabilitation of poor farmers. I never spoke against the construction of the dam. I will not apologise for my comments on the issue." [cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/may/25aamir1.htm|title=www.rediff.com/movies/2006/may/25aamir1.htm ] An unofficial ban of "Fanaa" was put in place for the entire state of Gujarat. Protests also occurred against the film and Aamir Khan which included the burning of posters of the star in effigy. As a result, several multiplex owners stated that they could not provide security to customers. Thus, as these threats exist, most theater owners in Gujarat have refused to screen the movie.Fact|date=February 2007

Producer Aditya Chopra moved a petition to the Supreme Court of India asking them to direct the Gujarat government to provide protection to all cinema halls that wanted to screen the film, but it was rejected. [cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/05fanaa.htm|title=www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/05fanaa.htm ] Their response was that if a cinema was concerned for their protection they could call on the police.

Addressing the media, director Kunal Kohli said, “All theatre owners or exhibitors who wish to release this film can request for protection and the government should extend support. We as filmmakers request all theatre owners of Gujarat to come forward and release the film. We have earned 47 Crores (both domestic and overseas) in the first week and have lost approximately 6 to 7 crores of business in Gujarat. However it's not about money... it is about a principle. As a democratic country where Aamir has a right to say what he feels, even the people of Gujarat, who are protesting have the right to say what they feel ... but in a democratic fashion, and not by burning posters and threatening people." [cite web|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2006/06/05/7225/index.html|title=www.indiafm.com/news/2006/06/05/7225/index.html ]

A single privately owned cinema in Jamnagar, Gujarat, screened the movie with police protection despite the threats. [cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/06fanaa.htm|title=www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/06fanaa.htm ] It ran for over a week to great demand and packed showsFact|date=February 2007 before being withdrawn again following a self-immolation bid by a man protesting against the screening. The man, Pravin Joshi, entered the bathroom of the theatre during intermission of one of the screenings and set himself on fire. He suffered 70% burns and succumbed to his wounds 9 days later.The Punjabi community was outraged at the fact that Jolly Good Singh and Rajeev Singh were killed without a second's thought.

Music

The music of "Fanaa" was composed by Jatin Lalit, with lyrics provided by Prasoon Joshi. Five songs are featured in the movie, while the soundtrack contains seven songs. This was the last movie for which Jatin-Lalit composed as a duo (they split afterwards).

The following are the details about every song of Fanaa:
* Aamir Khan and Kajol are talking in Chanda Chamke and Mere Haath Mein.

Awards

Filmfare Awards

*Filmfare Best Actress Award - Kajol
*Best Male Playback - Shaan - Chand Sifarish
*Best Lyricist - Prasoon Joshi

Zee Cine Awards

*Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female - Kajol
*Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male - Shaan - Chand Sifarish

IIFA Awards

* Best Lyricist -Prasoon Joshi
* Best Male Playback- Shaan

Star Screen Awards

* Best Male Playback - Shaan

ee also

*List of highest-grossing Bollywood films

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0439662|title=Fanaa