Fanaa (2006 film)
2006 Indian film directed by Kunal Kohli From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fanaa (transl. Annihilation) is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language romantic-thriller film directed by Kunal Kohli and produced by Aditya Chopra and Yash Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films. It stars Aamir Khan and Kajol in lead roles, with Rishi Kapoor, Kirron Kher, Tabu, and Sharat Saxena appearing in supporting roles. The film follows Zooni (Kajol), a blind Kashmiri dancer who falls in love with Rehan (Khan), a Delhi tour guide harboring a dark secret.
| Fanaa | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kunal Kohli |
| Screenplay by | Shibani Bathija |
| Dialogues by | Kunal Kohli |
| Story by | Shibhani Bathija |
| Produced by | Yash Chopra Aditya Chopra |
| Starring | Aamir Khan Kajol |
| Cinematography | Ravi K. Chandran |
| Edited by | Ritesh Soni |
| Music by | Songs: Jatin–Lalit Score: Salim–Sulaiman |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 169 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹30 crore[1] |
| Box office | ₹105.48 crore[1] |
At the time of its release, Fanaa was one of the most expensive Bollywood films ever made. Its title is derived from the Sufi term "fanaa," meaning "annihilation" or "destroyed." The film marked the first romantic pairing of Khan and Kajol, although they had previously appeared together in Ishq (1997). It also marked Kajol’s return to cinema after a five-year hiatus following Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001).
Fanaa was released on 26 May 2006. It grossed over ₹1.05 billion worldwide against a production and marketing budget of ₹300 million, becoming the sixth highest grossing Hindi film of the year. Despite a ban in the Indian state of Gujarat due to protests against comments made by Khan regarding the Narmada Dam project, the film emerged as a major commercial success.[2][3][4] At the 52nd Filmfare Awards, Fanaa received three awards, including Best Actress for Kajol.
Plot
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Zooni Ali Beg, a blind Kashmiri woman, travels to New Delhi with her friends Fatima "Fatty" Ali, Mehbooba "Bobo" Siddiqui, Rubina "Ruby" Ansari, and their dance teacher, Helen, to perform at a Republic Day celebration. In Delhi, she meets Rehan Qadri, their tour guide. Despite her friends' concerns about Rehan’s flirtatious behavior, Zooni falls in love with him. They spend time together before Zooni's scheduled return to Kashmir. Rehan convinces Zooni to stay longer, and her parents arrive to arrange their marriage. Zooni undergoes surgery to restore her eyesight. After the procedure, she is informed that Rehan has died in a terrorist bombing.
Malini Tyagi, an anti-terrorism agent, investigates the bombing and identifies the Independent Kashmir Front (IKF) as responsible. Rehan is revealed to be alive and a leader of the IKF, having faked his death to protect Zooni. The IKF acquires a nuclear weapon but requires a trigger to activate it. Rehan, posing as an Indian Army officer, steals a trigger during its transfer. Malini identifies him during the operation, leading to a firefight in which Rehan is injured.
Rehan escapes to a remote house, which belongs to Zooni and her family. Zooni, living with her father Zulfikar and her son Rehan Jr., tends to him without recognizing him. Rehan bonds with Zooni and his son. He later reveals his identity but conceals his terrorist activities. Zooni forgives him, and they marry with Zulfikar presiding.
Malini issues a public report exposing Rehan as a terrorist. Zulfikar confronts him after discovering the nuclear trigger. In the confrontation, Rehan kills Zulfikar. He radios the IKF from a nearby army officer’s house and kills the officer to maintain secrecy. Zooni discovers her father's body, finds the trigger, and escapes with her son. She contacts Malini for assistance.
Rehan returns to retrieve the trigger. Zooni shoots him in the leg when he tries to take it. Rehan draws his weapon but cannot shoot her. Zooni shoots him fatally. Malini and her forces arrive and neutralize the IKF operatives.
Zooni and her son visit the graves of Zulfikar and Rehan. When her son asks if his father was wrong, Zooni replies that Rehan did what he believed was right.
Cast
- Aamir Khan as Rehan Qadri
- Kajol as Zooni Ali Beg, Zulfikar's & Nafiza's daughter
- Rishi Kapoor as Zulfikar Ali Beg, Zooni's father
- Kirron Kher as Nafisa Ali Beg, Zooni's mother
- Ali Haji as Rehan Qadri Jr., Rehan & Zooni's son
- Tabu as Malini Tyagi (Anti Terrorist Special Force)
- Sharat Saxena as Susheel Rawat (Anti Terrorist Special Force)
- Lillete Dubey as Helen
- Shruti Seth as Fatima "Fatty" Ali
- Sanaya Irani as Mehbooba "Bobo" Siddiqui
- Gautami Kapoor as Rubina "Ruby" Ansari
- Ahmed Khan as Nana Jaan, Rehan's grandfather
- Satish Shah as Colonel Maan Singh
- Jaspal Bhatti as Inspector Jolly Good Singh
- Vrajesh Hirjee as Balwant, Rehan's assistant
- Suresh Menon as Venkateshwar Atti Cooper Rao
- Shishir Sharma as Indian Defence Minister
- Salim Shah as Defence Secretary
- Deepak Saraf as Chief Minister
- Puneet Vasishth as Captain Ijaz Khan
- Shiney Ahuja as Major Suraj Ahuja (special appearance)
- Lara Dutta as Zeenat (special appearance)
Production
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Development
Fanaa was conceptualized as a romantic thriller combining an emotional love story with political undertones. It was produced by Yash Raj Films, with Kunal Kohli directing after the success of his previous collaboration with the studio, Hum Tum (2004).
Casting
Aamir Khan was the first choice for the role of Rehan and readily agreed, marking his first collaboration with Yash Raj Films.[5]
Initially, producer Aditya Chopra and director Kunal Kohli considered Aishwarya Rai for the role of Zooni. However, on Khan’s suggestion, Kajol was approached and eventually cast. Despite being simultaneously offered Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) by Karan Johar, Kajol chose Fanaa, leading to her first romantic pairing with Khan after Ishq (1997).[6]
Sushmita Sen was considered for the role of Malini Tyagi, but the role ultimately went to Tabu.[6]
Filming
The Kashmir portions of the story were initially intended to be shot in the Kashmir Valley. However, due to security concerns stemming from ongoing insurgency, the production team decided to shift these sequences to the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland, which offered comparable snowy and mountainous terrain.[7][8]
Other parts of the film were shot extensively across historic sites in Delhi, including the Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Qutb Minar, Purana Qila, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and Lodi Gardens.[9][10]
Reception
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Critical reception
Fanaa received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise directed towards the performances of Aamir Khan and Kajol and their on-screen chemistry. At Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on seven reviews.[11]
Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama awarded the film 4 out of 5 stars, describing Fanaa as "a beautifully written, effectively acted, and meticulously crafted effort" that demonstrates "a movie doesn't have to be groundbreaking to be compelling." However, he criticized the screenplay and pacing, noting that the film "tends to get very lengthy" and slows down significantly in the second half.[12]
Subhash K. Jha, writing for The Times of India, praised Khan’s performance, stating that he "scales the ladder some more and almost creates an actor's manual for impeccable acting," while finding the film "an emotional experience that showcases Aamir as never before."[3]
Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com appreciated the chemistry between Khan and Kajol, writing that they "share a dynamic equation, which makes their inability to let go of each other believable and heartfelt." She acknowledged flaws in the film's predictability and length but concluded that Fanaa was "engaging and entertaining" despite spanning "almost a decade" of narrative.[13]
In contrast, Raja Sen, also of Rediff.com, was more critical, pointing out faults in the screenplay and narrative execution, remarking that "a mere casting coup does not a good film make."[14] The Hindustan Times echoed concerns about the storyline and pacing, stating that the film "falters because of its storyline and script," although it praised Kajol for delivering a mature and refined performance, noting she "emotes with more maturity and looks trimmer."[15]
International reviews were similarly mixed. Anupama Chopra, reviewing for The New York Times, noted that the film was "a polished, visually stunning production" but observed that the second half’s shift toward political thriller conventions diluted the emotional impact established in the first half.[16] Jaspreet Pandohar of the BBC called the film "an epic romance with thrilling undertones," highlighting Khan’s transformation from a charming tour guide to a conflicted antihero as "compelling," but she felt the tonal shift midway weakened the overall coherence of the film.[17]
Soundtrack
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| Fanaa | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 12 April 2006 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Label | YRF Music |
| Producer | Jatin–Lalit |
The soundtrack of Fanaa was composed by Jatin–Lalit, with the background score provided by Salim–Sulaiman. Lyrics were written by Prasoon Joshi. The film features five songs, while the soundtrack album contains seven tracks. Fanaa marked the final collaboration of Jatin–Lalit as a duo before their separation.[18][19]
According to Box Office India, the album sold approximately 1.7 million units.[20] Salim–Sulaiman programmed the first five songs, while Dhrubajyoti Phukan programmed "Destroyed in Love."[21] Aamir Khan and Kajol recited lines of poetry in the songs "Mere Haath Mein" and "Chanda Chamke."[18]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Chand Sifarish" | Shaan, Kailash Kher | 04:37 |
| 2. | "Mere Haath Mein" (poetry by Aamir Khan and Kajol) | Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, William Rousseau, Sulaiman Merchant | 04:48 |
| 3. | "Des Rangila" | Mahalakshmi Iyer, Amanat Ali | 05:18 |
| 4. | "Dekho Na" | Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan | 05:24 |
| 5. | "Chanda Chamke" (poetry by Aamir Khan and Kajol) | Mahalakshmi Iyer, Master Akshay Bhagwat, Babul Supriyo | 03:50 |
| 6. | "Destroyed in Love" | Strings | 04:52 |
| 7. | "Fanaa For You" (sampling Chand Sifarish) | Shaan, Kailash Kher (remixed by DJ Aqeel) | 04:26 |
All tracks are written by Prasoon Joshi.
Accolades
| Award | Date of the ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Indian Film Awards | 7–9 December 2006 | Best Director | Kunal Kohli | Nominated | [22] |
| Best Actress | Kajol | Nominated | |||
| Best Music Director | Jatin–Lalit | Nominated | |||
| Best Lyricist | Prasoon Joshi for "Chand Sifarish" | Nominated | |||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Shaan & Kailash Kher for "Chand Sifarish" | Nominated | |||
| Best Choreography | Saroj Khan for "Desh Rangila" | Nominated | |||
| Pogo Amazing Kids Awards | 10 December 2006 | Most Amazing Actress | Kajol | Nominated | [23] |
| Annual Central European Bollywood Awards | 2007 | Best Director | Kunal Kohli | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Kajol | Nominated | |||
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2007 | Best Actress | Nominated | [24] | |
| Best Villain | Aamir Khan | Nominated | |||
| Best Music Director | Jatin–Lalit | Nominated | |||
| Best Lyricist | Prasoon Joshi for "Chand Sifarish" | Nominated | |||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Shaan & Kailash Kher for "Chand Sifarish" | Won | |||
| Best Background Music | Salim–Sulaiman | Nominated | |||
| Best Dialogue | Kunal Kohli | Nominated | |||
| Filmfare Awards | 17 February 2007 | Best Actress | Kajol | Won | [25] |
| Best Music Director | Jatin–Lalit | Nominated | |||
| Best Lyricist | Prasoon Joshi for "Chand Sifarish" | Won | |||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Shaan & Kailash Kher for "Chand Sifarish" | Won | |||
| Stardust Awards | 18 February 2007 | Star of the Year – Female | Kajol | Nominated | [26] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 1 April 2007 | Best Actress | Won | [27][28] | |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Shaan & Kailash Kher for "Chand Sifarish" | Won | |||
| Bollywood Movie Awards | 26 May 2007 | Best Actress | Kajol | Nominated | [29] |
| Best Actor/Actress in a Negative Role | Aamir Khan | Nominated | |||
| Best Playback Singer – Male | Shaan & Kailash Kher for "Chand Sifarish" | Won | |||
| IIFA Awards | 7–9 June 2007 | Best Actress | Kajol | Nominated | [30][31] |
| Best Lyricist | Prasoon Joshi for "Chand Sifarish" | Won | |||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Shaan & Kailash Kher for "Chand Sifarish" | Won |
Controversy
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While promoting the film in Gujarat, Aamir Khan made some comments regarding the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's handling of the Narmada Dam and the necessity to rehabilitate the displaced villagers.[32][33] These comments were met with outrage from the Bharatiya Janata Party. The government of Gujarat demanded an apology from Khan. Khan refused to apologise, 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."[34] An unofficial ban of Fanaa was put in place for the entire state of Gujarat. Protests occurred against the film and 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, all theatre owners in Gujarat refused to screen the movie.[35]
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 was rejected.[36] Their response was that if a cinema was concerned for their protection they could call on the police. Aditya's father Yash Chopra in the meantime also sought protection from then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi as well as open discussions to release the film in Gujarat without any disruption. Khan also received support from a number of Bollywood stars including Anil Kapoor, Govind Nihalani, Ashutosh Gowariker and Subhash Ghai as well as Anupam Kher and Hrithik Roshan all of whom reiterated that Khan had done no wrong in expressing his views.
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 470 million (both domestic and overseas) in the first week and have lost approximately 6 to 70 million 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."[37]
A single privately owned cinema in Jamnagar, Gujarat, screened the movie with police protection despite the threats.[38] It ran for over a week before being withdrawn again following a self–immolation bid by a man protesting against the screening. The man, Pravin, entered the bathroom of the theatre during intermission of one of the screenings and set himself on fire. He suffered 85% burns and succumbed to his wounds nine days later.[39]
See also
References
External links
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