Finding Fanny, a movie directed by Homi Adajania

Everyone is talking about Fanny, come now, not that Fanny, although as we know everyone is interested in that Fanny, but I mean the Fanny in ‘Finding Fanny’. Reviews, counter reviews, are Goans being portrayed in the right spirit, are we being shown as losers, drunkards, loose women, I am filled with trepidation. Aw, come on now, let me see the movie and decide.

I am cynical, I look at the pectoral cross that Angie is wearing almost as large as the Pope’s, and look at that, Savio actually has a cross tattooed down the nape of his neck. And then in a flash, I am reminded of a young girl who has an entire rosary tattooed down her forearm, to my question ‘what if you do not like it, the tattoo, in the years to come’ she replied rather angrily, ‘it is the Rosary’ and here I had been thinking Anjelina Jolie. Which self respecting Catholic does not sport a rosary brought from Vailankanni around their necks. I sit back and enjoy the movie.

 Goans are portrayed just as they are, kind, funny, sad, quirky and most importantly full of joy, just another bunch of people.

Ferdie, the village postman opens his door to find his own letter posted to Stefanie Fernandes some thirty six years ago, lying on his mat undelivered. He lets out a shriek, his beloved Fanny, never got his letter, she never knew of his love for her. This opens a pool of emotions for Ferdie, what should he do? Should he do anything at all, should he just keep mum like he has done all these years? Lingering deep inside Ferdie, is a teensy bit of hope. What if?

As his despondency increases Angie comes to visit him, she has been a constant visitor these many years, in fact since the day her husband, Gabo, choked on the plastic figurine atop their wedding cake and died. Everyone thought it had been a heart attack, but no, the guy was so drunk when he shoved a generous chunk of wedding cake in his mouth, never realising that a plastic figurine was deeply embedded inside the cake. For a widow, a young widow, who never even had a wedding night; Angie always has a smile plastered onto her no expression wooden face. Angie, young and pretty just goes on through life, with that smile, no desire to move on.

She lives with her formidable mother-in-law, Rosie Eucaristica. Now Rosie Eucaristica is a widow too, her husband died at sea, or has he? She is the undisputed First Lady of the village, a buxom beauty, so full of curves and oh so full of charm, she too never re-married, although plenty of suitors came knocking on her door with bouquets of roses, one of them the renowned artist Dom Pedro Cleto Colaço. If there is one thing that Dom Pedro Cleto Colaço wants, is to capture Rosie Eucaristica on his canvas and maybe seduce her but his efforts so far, have been foiled by the village wimp of a priest, Father Francis.

After much deliberation and a couple of sleepless nights, Angie decides that Ferdie should go on a Finding-Fanny journey. That’s easy, where do they get a driver? And a car?

On one of her many, aimless walks around the village, Angie sees Savio, stretched under a decrepit pile of rust, a much faded sky blue car. Voilà, answer to all those myriad problems occupying her mind, here is another of her ex- suitors, Savio, who is rumoured to have a state-of-the-art  garage business in Mumbai. Why not make a pass at him; after all she has to know what really happens on a wedding night. As a successful garage owner he could put that pile of rust in working condition as well as be the driver when they are on their ‘Finding Fanny’ quest. Sadly for Angie, Savio is not very keen on this trip, in fact he is surly, bad tempered, much cajoling, after all who can resist a fresh, young face for long? Savio agrees to be the driver for the trip.

But the car belongs to the artist, Dom Pedro Cleto Colaço, once Dom Pedro Cleto Colaço realises that there is a possibility of having Rosie Eucaristica as his travelling companion he jumps at the idea of being a part of the trip to find Fanny. He is sure that he will be able to seduce her and paint her; you see he too has an agenda.

As expected the journey is long, so many experiences, such a lot of soul searching, forgiveness, fun and laughter and as the narrator says at the end, what was important was the Journey, you make the best of what comes your way, you realise that in the act of pining for something you miss  so much in life. Essentially, 'Finding Fanny' is about new beginnings, finding the best in everything as you make your way through life.   

And oh yes, ‘Finding Fanny’ has hardly anything to do with Goa and Goans, it could be set anywhere in the World. Goa just happens to have beautiful scenery and most importantly beautiful people.

However I do have a grouse, why did the Director, Homi Adajania, have to treat the cat so very badly, it really was not funny.

Directed by	Homi Adajania
Written by	Homi Adajania Kersi Khambatta
Starring	Naseeruddin Shah Arjun Kapoor Deepika Padukone Pankaj Kapur Dimple Kapadia
Narrated by	Deepika Padukone
Music by	Mathias Duplessy Sachin-Jigar
Cinematography	Anil Mehta