Maneesh Sharma’s ‘Fan’ has something novel about it. The movie that may not get its share of credit now (thanks to the era of entertaining films) but will surely go on to become another memorable SRK-flick where his gamble paid off. And if it does get its credit now, then this movie would be a game-changer of sorts for Hindi Cinema! What’s so special about the film? Read on to find out…
Star Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Sayani Gupta, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Waluscha De Sousa, Yogendra Tiku and Deepika Amin
Director: Maneesh Sharma
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Claps For: Shah Rukh Khan, Direction, Cinematography, VFX, Background Score and Shriya Pilgaonkar
Slaps For: Climax
What’s New: Unconventional flick that also breaks a few Bollywood clichés!
Popcorn Refill: Strictly Interval
Plot: 25-year old Delhi boy Gaurav Chandna is known as his colony’s very own Aryan Khanna. And why not? After all, he is the movie star’s biggest fan who not only looks like Aryan but can also act and speak like him. His plans to go to Mumbai and personally meet his favorite actor on his birthday go haywire when he just ends up being like any other ‘Fan’ in the crowd. In his bid to get special attention from the star, he ends up hurting Aryan’s colleague and gets jailed- only to realize it was Aryan who informed the police and put him behind the bars. What follows next is how this turns Gaurav into Aryan’s enemy and the mischief he does to take revenge from Khanna in order to get a ‘Sorry’.
Performances: Remember that feeling your mother cooked you your favorite meal after eating hostel food for 4 months? Well, something similar happens when you meet Shah Rukh Khan in this movie (though the duration is not 4 months but 5 years in this case).
He will surprise you as the adorable, energetic and unforgiving ‘Fan’ Gaurav Chandna whose world revolves around his ‘God’ Aryan Khanna. The first half of ‘Fan’ will let you would feel his craze, his heartbreak, and his anger. SRK’s walk, his attitude, his body language will make you question “Is he really 50?” He proves why he still is the King of Bollywood!
And then comes Shah Rukh Khan as Aryan Khanna. If the first half was all about Gaurav, second half is all about Aryan, his ego, his growing insecurities due to situations created by Gaurav and his chase to get hold of his ‘Fan’ and put an end to all his mischiefs. And thankfully we do not see the superstar flare up his nostrils and give a smirk or two in the typical Shah Rukh Khan style- how we have seen him act over the years. He is different, intense and a tad bit arrogant as the self-righteous Aryan Khanna!
Shah Rukh Khan- the actor is back, and this one is yet another mesmerizing performance by him after ‘My Name Is Khan’.
Shriya Pilgaonkar looks gorgeous and is magical every time she appears on-screen. How I wish she had a bigger role. Same goes for Sayani Gupta, who was wonderful in ‘Margarita With A Straw’, but doesn’t have much to do as Aryan’s manager.
Waluscha De Sousa doesn’t have much to do either. Yogendra Tiku and Deepika Amin are good as Gaurav’s parents.
Direction: Now coming to the most debatable aspect of the film- Direction by Maneesh Sharma.
The first-half of ‘Fan’ takes its own time to develop and has its share of entertainment and jokes before the movie takes a serious turn and become all serious and intense throughout the second half. For the entertainment junkies, second half might appear as a boring and messed up one, especially after all the fun they got in first half. But for those who knew what this movie was supposed to offer, second half is pure gold!
In fact, I started enjoying the movie even more after it took the serious turn in the first half (Gaurav’s heartbreak).
Maneesh Sharma’s direction is such that it will constantly make you wonder-“whom should I root for? Gaurav or Aryan?” He makes sure that there is equal focus on both the characters and their emotions.
Had he focused more on Gaurav’s character in the second half, it would have then come across as an obsessive or psycho character, which Gaurav is not. He lets Gaurav stay as the angry young boy who doesn’t know where to draw a line.
Thankfully, Maneesh Sharma manages to break one or two clichés too. For example, in Hindi films, every time a character turns evil, they show him change his expressions along with a dramatic tune playing in the background. Well, this is different. Gaurav’s transformation looks real and hard-hitting. There are a few jokes on superstars and their attitude too!
The cinematography is excellent, background music is amazing and VFX is jaw-dropping! Chase sequences have been crisply edited and do not look stretched.
Having said that, the climax is the only part of the movie which disappoints. It could have been a bit more impactful. However, what comes after the climax will melt your heart and make you shed tears.
Overall, ‘Fan’ will make you believe that Hindi cinema still has much more to offer than money-spinning entertainers (especially when they star superstars in lead); and will teach you the lesson that sirf Fan mat bano, zindagi mein aur bhi kuch bano!
Combo-On-Offer: Drama + Thriller
Verdict: ‘Fan’ deserves JABRA CLAPS for being a unconventional, engaging and intense film by Maneesh Sharma and for a terrific and heart-winning performance by Shah Rukh Khan!
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