“Fanney Khan” review: A melodramatic film with a heart of gold.

What stands out with a film like “Fanney Khan” is the heartfelt story and emotion that the film tries to connect us with. There is a reason why I wrote “tries”, but more on that later. This film has the right intentions, and the story of a father wanting to have his child fulfill the dream that he couldn’t is something that has the power to really resonate with the audience. We all have dreams and we all have hopes. Such themes are always universal by nature and have a much greater appeal. One can call “Fanney Khan” a human story for the masses. So why the word “tries”? It’s because it’s a journey that is mostly relatable, but mixed with a certain level of melodrama for the sake of emotional manipulation. They could have kept it a bit more real.

With a dream in his eyes and a tune in his heart, Anil Kapoor plays Fanney Khan, father to a teenage daughter, Lata, played by Pihu Sand. Meanwhile ‘Baby’, played by Aishwarya Rai, is a gorgeous singer. While Fanney is the star of his chawl, he hopes to have his daughter reach greater heights. With the help of his trusted friends and sidekick, he plans to kidnap ‘Baby Singh’. So ultimately two worlds collide, the world of dreams fulfilled, and the world of illusions. Can one help the other? That is ultimately the basis of the film! The strength of the film is the thought and the attempt of spreading a message through extreme plot decisions.

The screenplay starts off slow, delving into the lives of our main characters. Things start moving fast once the kidnapping takes place. There are many plot holes in the script and ‘Baby Singh’ seems to get too comfortable too quickly. It’s a bit jarring. The climax of the film isn’t up to the mark and gets melodramatic. From a technical standpoint, this film gets the job done. The director has managed to keep a nice feel intact. From the cinematography, to the editing, to the sound design, the film succeeds. It’s a superior product from that standpoint. The other strength of the film is the casting. Every actor fits perfectly into the skin of the character. Anil Kapoor is fantastic as usual and Aishwarya Rai is perfect for the roll that she is playing. Pihu Sand is a revelation! She has done a magnificent job and bring a genuine quality to the film. You can feel her pain. Rajkumar Rao finds his comic self in this film, and shows another side of his acting talent. Divya Dutta is a natural!

Overall, “Fanney Khan” is a film that one should watch with the entire family. It’s a feel good film, that may not get it completely right, but it raises many questions about dreams and ambitions. It delves into both our inner and outer conflict. There is much to be appreciated with “Fanney Khan”

3 out of 5 stars!