Shah Rukh Khan off late has been criticized for not taking chances and playing it safe with massy entertainers like Chennai Express, Happy New Year and Dilwale. Many have complained that they’d love to see SRK do stuff on the lines of Chak De India, Swades etc. Fan might not be in the same league but it surely shows that SRK has tried to work really hard and bring something new to the table. And in doing so, he entertains, thrills and how! Despite some shortcomings, Fan is a treat!
The story of the movie: Gaurav (Shah Rukh Khan) is a 24-year-old from Delhi. He not only resembles actor Aryan Khanna (Shah Rukh Khan) but also is a die-hard fan of the superstar like no other. He realizes it’s high time that he should meet Aryan and goes to Mumbai. Gaurav goes to insane lengths to catch Aryan’s attention. Aryan however is not impressed and reprimands him. A shaken Gaurav decides to avenge, leading to madness and a tough battle between the ‘fan’ and the star like never before!
Fan doesn’t really grip viewers at first. The initial portions are strictly okay and it’s only when Gaurav decides to go to Mumbai that things get better. The manner in which he manages to get Aryan’s attention is quite smart. But at the same time, it’s too convenient. The film at this juncture makes it clear that it’ll take lots of cinematic liberties but it’ll also entertain. Hence, one doesn’t really mind as the narrative is quite engaging and even thrilling. The second half begins on an exciting note. The unpredictable factor works big time here. If the London episode is fun, the Dubrovnik sequence is just out of this world! The fun continues in the pre-climax and climax too. But in the last 30 minutes, the film does falter at places. The climax is justified but could have been better shown. Also, the cinematic liberty bit really bothers viewers a bit after a point because it becomes too much.
Fan rests on Shah Rukh Khan without a shred of doubt. The energy that he brings to both the characters is just unbelievable! As Gaurav, he rocks the show – the way he manages to make him seem innocent, adorable but also villainous. This is no easy balance but SRK pulls it off so well. Even As Aryan, he is quite brilliant and makes a tremendous impact. It must have been so difficult for the superstar to play both these intense characters one after another, especially when shooting the action and chase sequences. Viewers might not like Fan but they’ll see SRK in a new light and surely respect his hard work and capability!
Shriya Pilgaonkar (Neha) makes a confident debut. Waluscha De Sousa (Bela) is fine but has limited screen time. Sayani Gupta (Sunaina) also has a supporting role but manages to make a mark. Deepika Amin and Yogendra Tiku are very good as Gaurav’s parents. Taher Mithaiwala (Sid Kapoor) gives a good performance. Farah Hussain (girl at the Bhutani wedding) manages to stand out. Others are fine.
Fan has no songs at all. Jabra Fan as expected is missing from the film. Andrea Guerra’s background score is not too loud and yet enhances impact. Manu Anand’s cinematography is top class. The aerial shots of London and Dubrovnik are stunningly shot. Oh Sea Young’s action is top class. In fact, Fan is one of the best action films to have come out of Bollywood. The chase sequences are sure to blow your mind! Namrata Rao’s editing is fine but could have been better. Habib Faisal and Sharat Katariya’s dialogues are simple and sharp. Habib Faisal’s screenplay ensures that the film turns out to be a gripping narrative but sadly it has a few rough edges. Maneesh Sharma’s direction doesn’t really make an impact initially but soon enough, it gets on track and engages viewers beautifully. But again, the cinematic liberties become too in-your-face after a point and something should have been done in this regard. Even the climax fight becomes too long after a point. Nevertheless, he deserves kudos for this novel concept, trying to do something and of course getting SRK to come up with a performance that will be remembered for years!
<I am not listing the best scenes as I don’t want to give out any spoilers>
On the whole, Fan, despite the flaws and cinematic liberties, makes for a great watch. The unpredictability, the novel concept, the mind-blowing action and chase sequences and above all, Shah Rukh Khan delivering a fantastic performance ensure that you get your money’s worth! SRK especially rocks in both the roles and it is great to see the superstar coming out of his comfort zone and genuinely trying to do something different. And hence, needless to say, this is a film that the Jabra fans of SRK are going to love!
My rating - **** out of 5!
