Fanaa (2006 film)

Zooni Ali Beg is a blind Kashmiri woman who travels for the first time, to New Delhi, with her friends, Fatima "Fatty" Ali, Mehbooba "Bobo" Siddiqui, Rubina "Ruby" Ansari, and their dance teacher Helen to perform in a ceremony for Republic Day. There, she meets their tour guide, Rehan Qadri. Although her friends dislike his flirtatious personality, Zooni falls in love with him. Rehan and Zooni spend their last night in Delhi together. Rehan stops Zooni from leaving Delhi and her parents soon arrive in Delhi to make arrangements for their wedding. Zooni's eyesight is restored after a surgery, but when she awakes, she finds out Rehan was killed in a bombing in the city.

Malini Tyagi, an anti-terrorism agent, investigates the bombing and the IKF, the group responsible. It is revealed the IKF is fighting for an independent Kashmir and that Rehan is their leader, having faked his death so Zooni wouldn't come looking for him. He admits he loves Zooni, but concedes that she can never see him again. Seven years later, it is revealed the IKF have acquired a nuclear weapon after attacking an Indian Army station, but that the IKF still require a trigger. Susheel Rawat, Malini's teammate, orders for all nuclear triggers to be moved. Rehan, operating undercover within the Army, steals a trigger as it is being moved, but Malini figures out he is the IKF leader and sends forces to stop him. In the ensuing shootout, Rehan is badly injured.

He makes his way to a remote house for help, which turns out to be Zooni's. Zooni, now a mother to a son named after his father, and her father nurse Rehan to health, with Zooni's mother revealed to have died two years prior. Zooni and her father do not recognise Rehan. Though initially distant from them, Rehan develops an affection for his son and the family. Rehan eventually reveals his identity to them, but does not tell them about his terrorism. Initially hurt, Zooni refuses to let Rehan leave her again, and the two of them get married with Zooni's father presiding.

Malini publishes a public report about Rehan, revealing that he is a terrorist. Zooni's father sees this report and confronts Rehan on finding the trigger in his pocket. Rehan accidentally throws Zooni's father off a ledge, killing him. He radios the IKF from a nearby army officer's house, but kills the officer when he discovers Rehan. Zooni finds her father's body, and realizes Rehan lied about his death. Zooni later sees the report and finds the trigger and flees with her son to the officer's house, and radios for help. Malini responds, and tells her to stop Rehan.

The next day, Rehan returns and takes the trigger from Zooni, saying the IKF will kill her and their son if he doesn't. Rehan was about to give the trigger to the leader of the IKF, who is Rehan's maternal grandfather. Zooni shoots him in the leg, preventing this from happening. Rehan draws his gun on her, but can't bring himself to shoot. Zooni shoots him again, this time fatally. In the nick of time, Malini arrives and stops the IKF from killing Zooni. Rehan dies in Zooni's arms.

Zooni and her son then visit the graves of her father and Rehan, who are buried next to each other. When her son asks if his father was wrong, Zooni tells him that his father did what he thought was right.

Aamir Khan was the first choice for the role of Rehan, who readily agreed to do the film, thus marking his first collaboration with Yash Raj Films.

Initially, producer Aditya Chopra wanted to cast Aishwarya Rai as Zooni, but he and director Kunal Kohli approached Kajol on Khan's suggestion. Despite simultaneously being offered Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) with frequent collaborators and friends Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol chose to do Fanaa, thus marking the first film in which she was romantically paired opposite Aamir Khan, after having starred together in Ishq (1997).

Sushmita Sen was also considered for the extended cameo of Malini Tyagi, who was eventually essayed by Tabu.^[5]

Fanaa was originally planned to be shot in Kashmir before Kajol backed out due to the continuing insurgency in that region. The director choose to move the Kashmir segment to the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland, which also provides suitably snowy and mountainous terrain.^[6] It was filmed at historical locations in Delhi including the Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, Purana Qila, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Lodhi Gardens.^[7]

At Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 100% rating critical approval rating, based on 7 reviews.^[8]

The performances of the leads, Aamir Khan and Kajol, as well as their on–screen chemistry were praised.^[3][4] Taran Adarsh from Bollywood Hungama rated Fanaa 4 stars out of 5 stating the film was "a beautifully written, effectively acted and meticulously crafted effort that is likely to remind many viewers of a simple axiom: A movie doesn't have to be groundbreaking to be compelling." He, however, criticized its screenplay and pacing saying "The film tends to get very lengthy and also, the narrative tends to get very slow towards the second half."^[9] Subhash K. Jha, reviewing for The Times of India, was appreciative of Khan, writing that he "displays a normalcy that is chilling," and "scales the ladder some more and almost creates an actor's manual for impeccable acting," further concluding that Fanaa "showcases Aamir as never before."^[3]

Sukanya Verma of Rediff stated, "Considering it spans almost a decade and gets predictable with its melodramatic content that runs a lengthy 18 reels, Fanaa, despite its palpable flaws, is engaging and entertaining," and was positive of Khan and Kajol's chemistry, commenting that they "share a dynamic equation, which makes their inability to let go of each other, believable and heart-felt. Fanaa would be empty without Aamir and Kajol's joint passion."^[10] Raja Sen of the same website was less impressed, finding faults with the film's screenplay and length, and concluded that "a mere casting coup does not a good film make."^[11] A review from the Hindustan Times wrote that the movie "falters because of its storyline and script," though it was positive of the leads' performances, noting that Kajol "is as good as she ever was, maybe better because she emotes with more maturity and looks trimmer."^[12]

On June 11, 2006, Pravin Joshi self-immolated in protest against the release of the film.^[13]

The music of Fanaa composed by Jatin–Lalit with Salim–Sulaiman providing the background score. The lyrics were penned by Prasoon Joshi. 5 songs are featured in the movie while the soundtrack contains 7 songs. This was the last film for which Jatin–Lalit composed as a duo (they split afterwards).^[14][15]

According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, the album sold 17,00,000 units.^[16]

Salim–Sulaiman programmed for the first 5 songs and Dhrubajyoti Phukan programmed the song "Destroyed in Love".^[17]

Aamir Khan and Kajol recite lines of poetry in "Mere Haath Mein" and "Chanda Chamke".^[14]

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.^[27][28] 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."^[29] 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.^[30]

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.^[31] 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."^[32]

A single privately owned cinema in Jamnagar, Gujarat, screened the movie with police protection despite the threats.^[33] 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.^[34]

• List of highest–grossing Bollywood films

• Fanaa at IMDb
• Fanaa at Box Office Mojo