Film from India causes stir – ‘Finding Fanny’ (not that)

September 12 2014

Film made in English is raising eyebrows…

IT’S QUIRKY, looks funny, different and is in English.

Despite its slightly off-putting title, the Indian-made film, “Finding Fanny” is cutting quite a swathe across its homeland as it opens worldwide today.

Set in Goa, it’s about five less than conventional individuals, who are thrown together in a search for Stephanie Fernandes (the ‘Fanny’ of the title).

It’s been praised by several Bollywood figures – but has also run into difficulties with Indian censors about a certain line in the film and some conservative groups who fought to have the film banned because they claimed the title was sexually suggestive and ‘vulgar’ and would ‘pollute’ the minds of young people there.

The film has been endorsed by none other than the grand old man of Indian cinema – Amitabh Bachchan, better known as the Big B.

Invited to a screening by Deepika Padukone, a Bollywood star, who is one of the five leads in the film, Bachchan declared on twitter: “What a delightful slice of life, ‘Finding Fanny’… well done Homi, NaseerS, Dimple, PankajK, Deepika and Arjun. Congratulations!” , referring to the director and main cast.

On his blog, he also called it a “delightful film”.

It is directed by Homi Adajania, who made the Indian film “Cocktail” (2012) with Padukone in the lead role ,and “Being Cyrus” (2005) with Bollywood hunk Saif Ali Khan.

His latest film features Naseeruddin Shah, a well-known theatre and film presence, who has also starred in UK drama productions, Dimple Kapadia, a Bollywood siren of yesteryear, Pankaj Kapoor, Padukone, and another Bollywood name, Arjun Kapoor.

Bachchan isn’t the only Bollywood figure to have praised the film, blockbuster director Karan Johar issued his support after the premiere in Mumbai earlier this week.

Johar told the Times of India (ToI): “I absolutely loved it. It’s one of the finest written films I have seen in a very long time and it’s what you call an ensemble victory. Pankaj, Naseer, Dimple, Arjun and Deepika are all outstanding, but the biggest star of the film will remain Homi.”

He praised the writer-director Homi Adajania for his script and the direction of the actors, concluding that he “enjoyed it thoroughly”.

Bollywood megastar Hrithik Roshan also declared his support to ToI as well.

He said he was sold on the film just from the trailer and after seeing it, his hunches were completely fulfilled. “I loved it,” he concluded.

One of the songs and accompanying video, “Shake your Bootiya”, has already proved hugely popular. The actual sequence is not from the film itself, but appears in the closing credits and the phase itself has cult value in India right now.

The film’s line “I’m a virgin” uttered by Padukone’s character and the use of the word “fanny” in the title caused a stink.

A petition had been filed at the Delhi High Court on Tuesday seeking the ban of the film because, its opponents argued, the title of the film is ‘vulgar’.

However the court dismissed the petition, saying the film had already been approved by censors.

They had taken a disliking to the Padukone line and were threatening to give the film an adult rating and insinuated that removing the line would help it get across the line unscathed.

However, they relented and approved the film with a UA certificate for India. In the UK, the film is a 12A.

Adajania announced a sense of relief on Twitter and said it was a ‘step towards consistency and rationality from the censors’.

It opens in the UK today

Picture: Pankaj Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia, Homi Adajania and Arjun Kapoor

Cineworld listing: http://www.cineworld.co.uk/whatson/finding-fanny-hindi

Official trailer

Music video ‘Shake your Bootiya‘