Finding Fanny

Finding Fanny

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Homi Adajania
Produced by Dinesh Vijan
Written by Homi Adajania
Kersi Khambatta
Starring Arjun Kapoor Deepika Padukone

Naseeruddin Shah
Pankaj Kapur
Dimple Kapadia
Ranveer Singh
Narrated by Deepika Padukone
Music by Mathias Duplessy
Sachin-Jigar
Cinematography Anil Mehta
Edited by Sreekar Prasad (Indian- English and Hindi)
Nick Moore (International- English)
Production
company
Maddock Films
Distributed by Fox Star Studios
Release dates
  • 12 September 2014
Running time
 106 minutes
Country India
Language English/Hindi
Budget INR150 million (US$2.4 million)
Box office INR589 million (US$9.3 million)[1][2][2] (Worldwide Collection)

Finding Fanny is a 2014 Indian comedy film directed and written by Homi Adajania and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films and presented by Fox Star Studios.[3] Arjun Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia & Pankaj Kapur feature in prominent roles. The film is based on a road trip set in Goa and follows the journey of five dysfunctional friends who set out on a road trip in search of Fanny, the love-interest of Naseeruddin Shah.[4] The film had its premiere in India on 1 September 2014 and was released worldwide on 12 September 2014. It has also been selected to be screened at 19th Busan International Film Festival in October 2014.[5]

Plot

Finding Fanny revolves around five rather dysfunctional characters that live in the quaint sleepy village of Pocolim, nestled deep in the interior of Goa, India. Pocolim is a village where pointless conversations are a way of life. Nothing ever really happens here and the people of Pocolim, well, they just exist. One night, the old postman Ferdie (Naseeruddin Shah), receives a letter that is slipped under his door.

He realises that it is the letter he had written 46 years ago to the love of his life, Stefanie Fernandes (Anjali Patil), asking for her hand in marriage. To his utter shock, he discovers that it had never been delivered. All these years Ferdie has lived a life of melancholy and regret, believing that Stefanie had rejected him. He decides to find his beloved Fanny (as he fondly called her) and tell her the truth . Where would she be after 46 years? Dead? Happily married? Would she even remember him? Or is Stefanie Fernandes merely a figment of Ferdie's imagination?

Four colourful characters from the village join the trip under random pretexts, though in actuality everyone wants a distraction from their mundane lives. A young virgin widow (Deepika Padukone), a bitter mechanic (Arjun Kapoor), a belligerent artist (Pankaj Kapur) and an obnoxious self-appointed "Lady" of Pocolim (Dimple Kapadia) join Ferdie as they experience various hilarious and moving events that change their lives forever.

The film begins with Ferdie receiving a letter in the middle of the night and realises that his one true love Stefanie (Fanny) Fernandes never knew his true feelings for her. Angie, a young widow and dear friend to Ferdie decides to help him find Fanny with the help of her mother-in-law Rosaline, a good-for-nothing artist called Don Pedro and her childhood friend Savio (who has only recently returned from Mumbai after leaving when Angie got married to Gabo, his best friend instead of him). They set off in high hopes of finding Fanny.

On the journey, Ferdie throws Rosalinas cat out of the window by accident whilst sneezing as he is allergic so to keep her unawares, they pretend that the cat is sleeping. They visit Fanny's old house and find a deranged Russian who eventually tells them that Fanny sold him the house 20 years ago and moved to Tivoli. On the journey at a rail crossing, Ferdie tells Savio that Rosalina's husband isn't dead, and instead had run away to Madagascar with a girl; Rosalina had simply lied to the village for the sake of pride. As they approach Tivoli, Ferdie gives a speech and thanks everyone for joining him on his journey – unbeknownst to him, everybody has their own reasons for going on the journey except from Angie who just wants to help Ferdie. However, Savio realises that they have gone the wrong way and are now, in fact, in another state as Ferdie can't read a map. When they run out of petrol, Ferdie volunteers to go and get some in the morning so they spend the night in the field next to the road. Don Pedro tries his hand at seducing Rosalina into being a model for his painting whilst Savio and Angie go away from the others to talk. Savio tells Angie that he doesn't have a big business in Mumbai as presumed, he was a waiter for 5 years and is as poor as the rest of them. It is revealed that Angie only married Gabo because Savio never asked her, she was in fact, in love with Savio as he was with her. He kisses her and she slaps him. They eventually talk and after realising that they both still have feelings for each other, they make love.

In the morning, Ferdie goes to find petrol and comes back to Rosalina posing in the field for Don Pedro and Angie and Savio talking. Don Pedro has dropped his prettiness of suave sophistication and is mistreating Rosalina. When she sees the painting, she is devastated as she thought it was for church when it is in fact a nude unflattering portrait of her. Don Pedro walks off with the painting and finds the jerry can that Ferdie has left along with a letter explaining that he is going on alone and thanking them for coming this far with him. The rest of them start to leave but Rosalina refuses to go, saying that they can't leave Ferdie. She gets extremely upset and begins yelling at Savio, telling him that he should have died, not Gabo and that Gabo only married Angie because Savio was in love with her. Savio angrily tells her off for being selfish herself and tells her that her cat is dead and she hadn't even noticed, leaving everyone else to look after it. They bury the cat and set off home. On the way, Rosalina accidentally opens the glove compartment in the car and finds Savio's fathers revolver and puts it to her head, intending to shoot herself. When no one notices, she coughs and Savio sees his dads revolver which is an antique and worth a lot of money and begins wrestling with Rosalina for the gun, whilst driving. When they are fighting for the gun, its goes off and Don Pedro gets shot in the head without anyone noticing. They turn the car around and go to look for Ferdie; they find him by the road side waiting for the bus but can't pick him up as the car brakes fail. The back door of the car opens and when the car veers close to the cliff edge, Don Pedro's body falls out. The car eventually comes to a stop and Angie notices that Don Pedro has gone. Rosalina says that he jumped out of the car to save himself, then Ferdie sees someone who he thinks is Don Pedro on a passing bus, while in fact, his body is on the bottom of the ocean floor.

The rest of them carry on to Tivoli to find Fanny. They get to the village to see a funeral procession go past; Ferdie sees a woman that he thinks is his beloved Fanny. He runs up to her only to discover that it is Fanny's daughter and the funeral procession is for Fanny. Ferdie is told that Fanny was married four times and never even mentioned his name to her daughter, implying that he wasn't important to her. They go to the funeral and Angie muses that you can't wait for love, you must go out and find it. There is a flash forward to six months later to a wedding, initially presumed to be between Savio and Angie but is in fact between Ferdie and Rosalina.The happy couple drives away into the sunset, leaving behind Angie and Savio kissing at the church as they leave.

Cast

Production

Development

Homi Adajania wrote the first draft of the screenplay during his month-long stay at village Salvador do Mundo. During this period he also studied local Goan Catholics, and added some dysfunctional characters into what he called, "hybrid Marquezian Indian village", which became the fictional village of Pocolim. To get local nuances and cultural research right, he took the help of Goan writer, Cecil Pinto. Adajania didn't intend to write the film as a road film, instead he placed it in the genre of As Good as It Gets. This was his second collaboration with Kersi Khambatta, who also wrote the dialogues for his debut film, Being Cyrus. Khambatta wrote the scenes, chapter by chapter, like a novel, which aided in the development of the script.[9] The screenplay of Finding Fanny was adapted from a novel by Kersi Khambatta. The 200-page novel is expected to hit shelves later in 2015.[10]

He had finished writing the script of Finding Fanny by 2009, 4 years after his first directorial venture Being Cyrus released. However, casting for the film became an issue as it was an offbeat film—Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor were initially offered roles in the films, though they turned their respective parts down.[11] Dinesh Vijan had suggested against making the film, advising Adajania that "you are going to make a Hinglish film which only 10 people will see."[12] Hence, Adajania postponed the film and went on to direct Cocktail instead. During the shooting of Cocktail, his narration of the story to lead actress Deepika Padukone had impressed her, and she expressed her desire to be a part of the film.[13]

In May 2013,Deepika Padukone and Arjun Kapoor were signed on for leading roles, the latter being assigned the part of "a mechanic, who's in denial about being a loser."[14][15] Reportedly, Padukone has reduced her usual fee for the film and has also signed a profit-sharing deal with the producers.[16] By August 2013, Naseeruddin Shah and Dimple Kapadia, who earlier featured in Being Cyrus, were signed on for the film; Pankaj Kapur joined the cast the following month.[17][18] Whilst the film was earlier reported to be a short film, Padukone confirmed in an interview that this was untrue.[19] The film will be showcased in English and Hindi versions to cater for the audience in India and abroad.[20]

Before the filming could commence, sessions and workshops were organised with the actors. A month prior shooting, Adajania and Naseeruddin Shah figured out where to place the latter's character emotionally and his body language, through story arc from vulnerable, even "borderline idiotic" to coming into his strength later in the film. Shah decided to use a mid-range voice, instead of his natural baritone. Arjun Kapoor was convinced to use a restraint acting style, compared to his usual dramatic style, and appear in the "effortlessness of just being".[9]

Filming

Shooting of the film began in October 2013.[17] The film was shot on various villages across Goa, including Saligao, Parra, Assagao, Aldona, Socorro, and Cortalim,[9] and was completed in 36 days.[21] Dimple Kapadia worked a prostheic posterior for the film, as she did in Rudaali (1992).[22] The film was shot in English, the Hindi version was subsequently, dubbed in by the actors.[9] On 4 July 2014, the cast shot for a promotional music video for the song "Shake Your Bootiya". The freewheeling dance number was choreographed by Shiamak Davar, giving the actor quirky moves, keeping with the tone of the film.[23]

Music

Finding Fanny
Soundtrack album by Mathias Duplessy, Sachin-Jigar and Sachin Gupta
Released 19 August 2014
Genre Feature film soundtrack
Length 12:46
Label Sony Music India
Mathias Duplessy chronology

Delhi in a Day
(2011)		 Finding Fanny
(2014)
Sachin-Jigar chronology
Bey Yaar
(2014)		 Finding Fanny
(2014)		 Happy Ending
(2014)

The music of Finding Fanny was composed by Mathias Duplessy, duo Sachin-Jigar and. The lyrics were penned by a range of artists including, Mukhtiyar Ali, Alan Mercer, Jigar Saraiya and the film's producer, Dinesh Vijan. The first song "Fanny Re" released on 11 August 2014 in an event in Mumbai where the second song, "Shake Your Bootiya" written by Dinesh Vijan, Mayur Puri and Sachin-Jigar was also announced.[24] The film's soundtrack officially released on 19 August 2014.

Finding Fanny Soundtrack
No. TitleLyricsSinger(s) Length
1. "Fanny Re"  Mir Mukhtiyar AliMir Mukhtiyar Ali 3:07
2. "Mahi Ve"  Mir Mukhtiyar AliMir Mukhtiyar Ali 3:04
3. "Ding Dong"  Alan MercerMathias Duplessy 3:23
4. "Shake Your Bootiya"  Dinoo, Mayur PuriDivya Kumar 3:12
Total length:
 12:46

Release

The International English version has been edited by Nick Moore.[20] The director, Homi Adajania expressed interest in premiering the film at the Toronto International Film Festival.[25] However, it was decided the film will premiere in India 11 days prior to the film's worldwide release, on 1 September 2014 and therefore the makers decided against the decision.[26][27] The film has also screened at Busan International Film Festival in October 2014.[28]

Ahead of its release, the film got into a tangle with the Censor Board of India. Late August, the Board asked the director to delete a supposedly a 'vulgar' line from the film wherein, Deepika Padukone says, "I'm a virgin" to get a UA certificate. The board also demanded a scene wherein Dimple Kapadia's skirt gets torn be "toned down".[29][30] As of 1 September 2014, the film was still waiting for approval from the Censor Board. The process was slowed down due to arrest of Central Board CEO, on bribery charges. The film was also rejected permission twice by the Animal Welfare Board of India, due to a scene involving a hen.[31] On 5 September, Adajania confirmed that the CBFC has finally approved the Deepika Padukone dialogue, which was previously removed. This came after, he pointed out to the CBFC chairperson that it had already approved the same in film's trailer.[32]

Marketing

On 2 July 2014, the first promotional pictures were released of Arjun Kapoor as Savio D'Gama and Deepika Padukone as Angie. In the picture, Arjun Kapoor dons a pair of shades and a vest, while Deepika Padukone, who plays a Goan girl, is seen wearing an apron and holding a blood stricken butcher's knife.[33][34] On 8 July 2014, the official posters for the film were released and on 10 July 2014, the official trailer was released.[35] As a first, the makers decided to premiere the film on 1 September 2014 to gauge the response of the film before it releases worldwide.[36]

Critical reception

Finding Fanny has received critical acclaim.[37]

Raja Sen of Rediff.com gave the film four stars and said the film gives "much to smile pleasantly at [and] to guffaw at."[38] A reviewer from Bollywood Hungama said, "Writer-director Homi Adajania has dared to break all conventional rules and manages to serve an absorbing and entertaining story that keeps you interested [...] It will surely appeal to the target group of a discerning audience that values sensible entertainment."[39] Sweta Kaushal of Hindustan Times commented that "all the actors have done a brilliant job, fitting perfectly in their characters" and described the picture as a "not-to-be-missed take on life and love".[40] In a four star review, Mumbai Mirror‍ '​s Rahul Desai regarded the film as a breakthrough film involving commercial actors, saying "This film is exactly the kind of brave clutter-breaking effort that most critics wish for while lamenting the rigidness of mainstream stars."[41] Sarita Tanwar of Daily News and Analysis praised the film for being "real, funny and thoughtful".[42]

Box office

The film collected INR51 million (US$810,000) on its opening day on a total of 900 screens which previewed both English and Hindi versions.[1][43] On its second day the film's business increased by 40% as it minted INR70.5 million (US$1.1 million).[44] The film did average business in its first weekend as it collected INR199 million (US$3.2 million) crore in India and $1.6 million from the overseas market.[45][46] The English version of the movie earned $535,000 and $193,000, over its first weekend, in the US and the UK, respectively.[47] The Hindi version minted $415,000 in the Middle East over the first weekend.[47] In its first weekend, the movie has collected $450,000 from countries such as Pakistan, West Indies, Netherlands, East west Africa, South Africa, Maldives, Norway, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal.[47] The film grossed £101,000 from UK and $515,000 from the US during its opening weekend.[48] In its first week, Finding Fanny collected a total of INR281 million (US$4.5 million) crore.[45][49] In its second weekend, Finding Fanny collected a total of INR30.5 million (US$480,000), minting collected INR7 million (US$110,000) on Friday, INR10.5 million (US$170,000) on Saturday and INR13.0 million (US$210,000) on Sunday.[46]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Box office: 'Finding Fanny' overtakes 'Creature' on day one". Koimoi. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office/special-features/id/385
  3. ↑ "Goa in fashion: Ranveer, Deepika reveal their looks in Finding Fanny". Hindustan Times. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Arjun Kapoor, Deepika Padukone Team Up for English Film". International Business Times. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Finding Fanny to premiere in Korea". The Times of India. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Anjali on a roll". The Hindu. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Rodrigues, Clara (15 October 2013). "Konkani film to tackle ill effects of MMS". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "After Ramleela, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone to share screen space in Finding Fanny Fernandes". Daily News and Analysis. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Nandini Ramnath (30 August 2014). "Homi Adajania: Love and longing in Goa". Mint. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  10. ↑ http://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/coming-soon-a-finding-fanny-novel-171015.html
  11. ↑ "Deepika replaces Sonam". Filmfare. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  12. ↑ Dedhia, Sonil (10 July 2012). "'I was bullied into making Cocktail'". Rediff.com. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  13. ↑ Singh, Prashant (21 May 2013). "Deepika Padukone features in Finding Fanny". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  14. ↑ Gupta, Priya (10 May 2013). "Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh team up for an English film". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Pitale, Sonali J. (10 March 2014). "It's an emotional experience to act in front of dad: Arjun Kapoor". Mid Day. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  16. ↑ http://www.boxofficecapsule.com/news/Deepika-Padukone-In-Profit-Sharing-Deal-4584
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Dimple Kapadia signs Homi Adajania's next". Bollywood Hungama. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Pankaj Kapur joins cast of Finding Fanny". The Indian Express. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  19. ↑ "Box Office Queen". Box Office India. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "A different version of Finding Fanny for foreigners". India Today. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Deepika Padukone wraps up 'Finding Fanny Fernandes'". Mid-Day. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  22. ↑ "Censors Wanted to See me in Bikini, but Since I had a Skirt on, They Cut the Scene: Dimple". NDTV. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  23. ↑ Garima Sharma (11 August 2014). "Finding Fanny cast shoots quirky video for first song". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor's Quirky Love in Fanny Re". NDTV Movies. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  25. ↑ "Finding Fanny Fernandes May Go For TIFF: Homi Adajania". OneIndia Entertainment. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  26. ↑ "Finding Fanny will not premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival anymore". DNA. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  27. ↑ "'Finding Fanny' premiere gets postponed". DNA. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  28. ↑ "'Finding Fanny' selected for Busan International Film Festival". Deccan Chronicle. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  29. ↑ "Finding Fanny's virgin dialogue not okay with Censor Board?". India Today. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  30. ↑ "'Virgin' dialogue deleted from Arjun, Deepika's 'Finding Fanny'". The Indian Express. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  31. ↑ "Waiting for Censor Nod". The Indian Express. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  32. ↑ Roshmila Bhattacharya (6 September 2014). "Finding Fanny: CBFC approves Deepika Padukone's 'virgin' line". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  33. ↑ "First Look: Arjun Kapoor-Deepika Padukone get playful about their upcoming Finding Fanny Fernandes". India TV. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  34. ↑ "First Look: Exclusive: Deepika Padukone’s first look from Finding Fanny". The Times of India. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  35. ↑ "Arjun Kapoor Sports Bohemian Look in Finding Fanny Fernandes". NDTV Movies. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  36. ↑ "'Finding Fanny' premiere to be held 17 days before its release". Deccan Chronicle. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  37. ↑ Mehta, Ankita (10 September 2014). "'Finding Fanny' Movie Review: Must Watch Film with Brilliant Performances". International Business Times. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  38. ↑ Sen, Raja (10 September 2014). "Review: Finding Fanny is wickedly fantastic". Rediff.com. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  39. ↑ "Finding Fanny (2014) Review". Bollywood Hungama. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  40. ↑ Kaushal, Sweta (8 September 2014). "Movie review: Finding Fanny is a not-to-be-missed take on life and love". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  41. ↑ Desai, Rahul (2 September 2014). "Film review: Finding Fanny". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  42. ↑ Tanwar, Sarita (12 September 2014). "Film Review: It is real, funny and thoughtful; that is the charm of 'Finding Fanny'". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  43. ↑ "Finding Fanny a Success, Makes Rs 5.1 Crore on Opening Day". NDTV Movies. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  44. ↑ "Box Office Collection: 'Finding Fanny' Excellent Opening Weekend; 'Creature 3D' Scares Audience Away from Theaters". International Business Times. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Finding Fanny collects Rs 28.09 cr in first week". Jagran Post. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "'Finding Fanny' holds on in second week". Indiaglitz. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 "Finding Fanny–a success in the overseas markets too!". BollySpice. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  48. ↑ "Bollywood Box-Office Report of the Week". Glamsham.com. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  49. ↑ "Box Office: Finding Fanny Week 1 Box Office Collections". Bollywood IGN. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.

External links