Fanaa

This is the story of a blind girl (Kajol) who visits Delhi and falls in love with a tour guide (Aamir Khan). She is pure-hearted and can love him deeply. He has never loved and regards women as 'countries to pass through, rest while and move on'. He also has a dark side she doesn't know of. However he falls for her and decides to change his life and marry her. As they await her parents for the wedding, she undergoes an operation to restore her sight then there is a bomb blast and it looks like he is killed. To say more would be to ruin the movie.I hesitated long before buying this. The reviews rated it highly but talked of 'shocking' bits - and I don't like graphic or very violent movies. If you have been in the same dilemma - there wasn't anything graphic and any shock may have been in the characters dilemmas. There is shooting (mostly off camera) but really there is very little screen time that is violent in any way -and that is more symbolic and brief.Overall it is a movie that has beautifully depicted romance between the leads and beautiful cinematography. The first half is mostly romance and the second half changes pace and builds in tension and dilemmas (but still has a lot of touching scenes and beauty as well).Both Aamir and Kajol are first rate - as is Rishi Kapoor as the girls father.This is one that both connects and tears at the heart strings. While there is sort song there isn't the big dance numbers and the music is generally haunting.A fine production and a keeper. Elsewhere on the Net it tends to get above average. I was wavering between 4 and 5 as it is probably a 4 1/2. Recommended after all (despite pre-movie hesitancy!)

Production quality of Fanaa is very high, with crystal clear cinematography and great sound on home theater. Songs are very good with Des Rangila standing out in this film and from many other films as well. Des Rangila is a dance somewhat similar to Aaja Nachle but less energetic and more gracefull with more expressive and symbolic hand and arm movements. This colorful dance is a magnificent piece of work. All of the music and drum work is very good.Having read other reviews that talked about a surprise in the middle of the film I tried hard to see it coming. I did not. My mind was on a totally different track that might have been okay too. However, the final outcome was not just predictable, it was inevitable.Negative reviewers have a point about the second half of Fanaa. However, there are many sweet moments worth watching in the second half. Also, there is an almost must see tongue twister song in the second half that is super cute.One could buy this movie for the music and dancing alone and be satisfied, especially at the price on Amazon.

I first saw this film several years ago in the company of American teenagers who spoke only English. The version we had, unlike the version I am reviewing, had no subtitles. Nonetheless, we were all transfixed. It had something for everyone, and everyone was stunned by the climax.This version contains two discs: the movie and special features (quite interesting, especially seeing Aamir and Kajol doing a read-through). The music is gorgeous, haunting. The images: indelible. The subtitles are sometimes ridiculous and clumsy, but Kajol, Aamir, and Tabu are so totally captivating that one still becomes immersed in the story. It's a movie to watch again and again.

Zooni (Kajol) travels for the first time to New Delhi with friends to perform in a ceremony for Republic Day. While there, she meets and falls in reciprocated love with a tour guide, Rehan (Aamir Khan). Her friends are over-protective of Zooni, as she is blind, but eventually help the two spend time together. It seems that Zooni's romance will have a happy ending, but tragedy happens.Seven years later, Susheel Rawat (Sharat Saxena) of the Anti Terrorist Special Force and special agent Malini Tyagi (Tabu) are trying to track down the leader of a Kashmiri terrorist organization before he can get possession of the final piece needed to make a nuclear weapon. Zooni becomes unwittingly involved when a wounded stranger appears on her doorstep.The first half of this romantic thriller was good, but not great -- it played out like a mostly typical Bollywood romance. The second half, however, kept me riveted. The suspense and uncertainty were both written and portrayed well. Khan and Kajol were average in the romantic beginning, but were excelled during the thriller portion. Zooni's parents were played by veteran actors Rishi Kapoor and Kirron Kher, who were excellent. Child actor Ali Haji gave a convincing performance as well. The songs were a mixed bag, some just okay but some memorable; the incidental music, however, was quite effective. Overall, Fanaa delivers near perfect entertainment.

Khan delivers once again! Super well done. Over-the-top melodramatics, yes, some weird, unnatural responses from supporting actors and goofy choreography - but this is the Bollywood genre. The child actor is remarkably talented. A completely enjoyable film with a couple of artfully placed plot twists.The extra disc with a special added feature of an interview between the two stars was a giant, sloppy deal-breaker. Kajol behaves with arrogance, contempt and a boorish air that renders a beautiful and sensitive actress on screen to the sadly common condition of an ill-tempered brat. Her bad behavior is suffered graciously by Khan, who is if not good-natured under attack, obviously capable of behaving like a true gentleman.

Subhan Allah! I love this movie for so many reasons. The number 1 is the amazing soundtrack and poetry. I love Kashmir. I love Aamir Khan. He plays a charming Kashmiri tour guide to perfection! The scene at Qutb Minar for the song Chand Sifarish is a taste of the magic that makes Aamir Khan so unbelievably attractive. He could destroy me with the ecstasy of his love (A rough translation for the sufi concept “Fanna.”) any day.