Fanaa
File:Fanaa03-v.jpg
Directed by	Kunal Kohli
Produced by	Aditya Chopra Yash Chopra
Screenplay by	Shibani Bathija
Story by	Shibani Bathija
Starring	Aamir Khan Kajol Rishi Kapoor Kiron Kher Sharat Saxena Tabu
Music by	Jatin-Lalit
Cinematography	Ravi K. Chandran
Editing by	Ritesh Soni
Distributed by	Yash Raj Films
Release date(s)	26 May 2006
Running time	169 mins
Country	India
Language	Hindi Urdu
Budget	30 crore (US$5.99 million) [1]
Box office	104.14 crore (US$20.78 million)[2]

Fanaa (Hindi: फ़ना, Urdu: فناء, English: Destroyed in love) is a 2006 Hindi romance film, starring Aamir Khan and Kajol in pivotal roles. It is directed by Kunal Kohli who previously directed Hum Tum, and is produced under Yash Raj Films. The film also stars Rishi Kapoor, Tabu and Sharat Saxena.

Fanaa was released on 26 May 2006, in India. It was banned in the state of Gujarat due to protests against the lead actor Aamir Khan. Aamir Khan plays the role of a tourist guide in Delhi while Kajol plays a Kashmiri blind girl. The movie was the first to showcase Aamir Khan and Kajol's romantic pairing, even though they had acted together in Ishq in 1997. Many critics opined that the movie works largely due to the chemistry of the leads. Film's title is derived from Sufi term, "Fanaa" (Arabic: annihilation).

Rishi Kapoor and Kiron Kher play the role of Kajol's parents. The film marked the comeback of Kajol, who was last seen in Karan Johar's film, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). This film also marks the first time Aamir Khan has worked under the Yash Raj production banner.

Plot[link]

Zooni Ali Beg (Kajol) is a blind Kashmiri girl who travels without her parents for the first time with a dance troupe to Delhi to perform in a ceremony for Independence Day. On her journey, she meets Rehan Khan (Aamir Khan), a Casanova tour guide who flirts with her. Although her friends warn Zooni about him, she cannot resist falling in love with him and he takes her on a private tour of New Delhi. They share what both seem to consider their first and only night together before she has to leave. However, on the day of her departure, Rehan slips into the train and, with the blessing of her friends, carries Zooni away, seemingly signifying the beginning of their life together. With Rehan's encouragement, Zooni undergoes surgery to reverse her blindness. Rehan leaves to pick up Zooni's parents from the train station, promising to be there when she opens her eyes.

When Zooni does come out of surgery, her parents are there, but Rehan is missing. A terrible accident has occurred, seemingly orchestrated by a terrorist group fighting for a separate Kashmiri state. The police bring her a scrap of cloth, which she recognizes as a sweater she'd made for Rehan, discovered amongst the debris. Rehan is presumed dead, and the mourning, guilt-ridden Zooni returns to Kashmir. It is revealed that Rehan is actually an agent working for the terrorist group and is to begin a new mission, vowing never to see Zooni again because their relationship can bring her nothing but heartbreak.

Seven years later, the terrorists are about to pull off a huge strike as a part of their plan. With parts stolen from India, Pakistan and Russia, they hope to build a nuclear explosive device. This device is capable of destroying a whole city and they plan to use it pressure India and Pakistan into leaving Kashmir. A critical part is missing though: the detonator or electronic trigger device. A still-living Rehan, who had faked his death to cover up his tracks after the accident (which he had caused) is to bring in this trigger.

Rehan, has infiltrated the Indian army unit that is taking the trigger back to Delhi to safeguard it from theft by the insurgents. During a helicopter transport in a remote area, he drugs his colleagues, steals the trigger, destroys the helicopter with a hand grenade and escapes by parachute. A key intelligence operative named Malini Tyagi (Tabu) realizes who he is, and deploys forces to stop Rehan. He is nearly killed by the troops, but escapes. Tyagi orders a communications blackout in the area so that he will not be able to contact the IKF.

Exhausted, wounded, and incommunicado with a storm building, Rehan seeks shelter in a remote house. He is shocked to find that the house belongs to Zooni, her father, and Zooni's young son, whom she has named Rehan after his supposedly deceased father. Zooni had never seen Rehan, as she was blind when they met, and her father had never met him, having not come to Delhi until the day of Rehan's supposed death, so neither of them recognizes him. The child Rehan is very taken with the man, whom he calls "the dead man" (and later, to Zooni's distress, asks if he can call him "Papa"), and the adult Rehan likewise develops an affection for the little boy. Later, Rehan admits to his identity, though he cannot explain what he has done for the seven years since they parted, or why he played dead. Nevertheless, he still loves Zooni and she eventually realizes that she too loves him, and they marry in a simple ceremony performed by her father.

Soon afterward, through a TV broadcast, Zooni and her father separately discover that Rehan is the terrorist for whom a manhunt is in progress. Zooni's father drives Rehan to an Army friend's house. supposedly so Rehan can contact the army, but when they arrive he tries to arrest Rehan. They struggle and Zooni's father falls off a cliff to his death. Rehan uses the radio to contact the IKF who tell him they will send a pick-up helicopter the next morning. When the army officer discovers Rehan in his home, Rehan kills him too.

Zooni finds her father dead, floating by under the ice in the river near which Zooni and her son are playing. When Rehan returns home, and tells her that her father is at the army officer's house drinking rum, she suspects that Rehan killed him. She takes the trigger and young Rehan to the army friend's house, and upon finding the army officer dead, radios the army. Tyagi apprises her of the seriousness of the danger, and the risk to millions of lives should the IKF get the device. She tells Zooni she will send an army helicopter to pick her up in the morning.

When morning comes, before the army or the terrorists arrive, Rehan appears, having walked all night from Zooni's house. He tries to convince Zooni to give him the trigger, saying that the terrorists will torture and kill young Rehan if they don't get it. Finally he takes the trigger, promising her that no one will actually set off the bomb ("It's just a threat") and that this is the only way they can have a happy future together. Grieved, but determined to stop him, Zooni runs out of the house after him and shoots him, crying "I love you, Rehan". Rehan's grandfather, witnessing the event from a helicopter, trains his gun on Zooni, but Tyagi arrives in time in another helicopter and shoots the terrorist leader and the helicopter down. Rehan dies in Zooni's arms as Tyagi lands.

The final scene shows Zooni and little Rehan laying flowers on the graves of Rehan (Sr.) and Mr. Ali Beg. Rehan asks if his father was a bad man, and Zooni tells him that he was doing what he felt was right. Rehan kisses his father's grave and tells him that he loves him. Zooni tells her son, "It is easy to choose between right and wrong. But to choose the greater of two goods or the lesser of two evils... those are the choices of our life." thus recalling a line quoted by her father near the beginning of the film.

Cast[link]

• Aamir Khan as Rehan Qadri
• Kajol as Zooni Ali Beg
• Rishi Kapoor as Zulfikar Ali Beg
• Kiron Kher as Nafisa Ali Beg
• Master Ali Haji as Rehan Jr (Zooni & Rehan's son)
• Tabu as Malini Tyagi (Anti Terrorist Special Force)
• Sharat Saxena as Susheel Rawat (Anti Terrorist Special Force)
• Ahmad Khan as Naana Jaan (Rehan's Grandfather)
• Satish Shah as Colonel Maan Singh
• Shiney Ahuja as Major Suraj Ahuja (Special Appearance)
• Shruti Seth as Fatimah 'Fatty'
• Gautami Kapoor as Rubina 'Ruby'
• Sanaya Irani as Mehbooba 'Bobo'
• Jaspal Bhatti as Jolly Singh
• Lilette Dubey as Helen
• Vrajesh Hirjee as Balwaan (Tourist guide)
• Suresh Menon as Venkateshwar Atti Cooper Rao
• Shishir Sharma as Defence Minister
• Salim Shah as Defence Secretary
• Deepak Saraf as Chief Minister
• Lara Dutta as Zeenat (Special Appearance)
• Puneet Vashist as Captain Ijaz Khan

Reception[link]

Critical reception[link]

The direction of the movie received mixed but mostly positive reviews from critics. The critics however generally agreed on the performances of the main actors, Aamir Khan and Kajol, as well as their chemistry.^[3][4][5] and was well received by international critics like Nathan Lee and John Anderson.^[6]

Box office[link]

Upon release the film had a bumper opening at the box office and grossed 52 crores nett in India.^[7] and an additional $6 millions in the overseas markets.^[8] At the end of theatrical run, the film grossed 104.14 crore (US$20.78 million) worldwide ^[9] and was declared a Superhit by Box office India.^[7]

Filming locations[link]

The film was originally planned to be shot in Kashmir before the lead actress backed out due to the continuing insurgency in that region. The director chose to move the Kashmir segment to the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland, which also provides suitably snowy and mountainous terrain. It was filmed at certain historical locations in Delhi including the Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, Purana Qila, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Lodhi Gardens.^[10]

Controversy[link]

Aamir Khan while promoting his film in Gujarat made some comments regarding the Gujarat chief minister's handling of the Narmada Dam and the necessity to rehabilitate the displaced villagers.^[11][12] These comments were met with outrage from political parties such as BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the Indian National Congress.The government of Gujarat demanded an apology from Aamir Khan. Aamir Khan refused to apologize, 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."^[13] An unofficial ban of Fanaa was put in place for the entire state of Gujarat. Protests also occurred against the film and Aamir 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, most theater owners in Gujarat refused to screen the movie.^[14]

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 it was rejected.^[15] Their response was that if a cinema was concerned for their protection they could call on the police.

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 47 Crores (both domestic and overseas) in the first week and have lost approximately 6 to 7 crores 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."^[16]

A single privately owned cinema in Jamnagar, Gujarat, screened the movie with police protection despite the threats.^[17] 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 Joshi, 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 9 days later.^[18]

Music[link]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Planet Bollywood	[19]

The music of Fanaa was composed by Jatin-Lalit with lyrics penned by Prasoon Joshi. Five songs are featured in the movie while the soundtrack contains seven songs. This was the last movie for which Jatin-Lalit composed as a duo (they split afterwards).^[20]

Gaurav Sathe of Planet Bollywood gave 8 stars stating, "Jatin-Lalit’s last offering doesn’t give us a Dilwale Dulania Le Jayenge or a K3G, but it is still a notch higher than some of the run-off-the-mill music we’ve been hearing as of late."^[19]

The following are the details about every song of Fanaa:

• Aamir Khan and Kajol recite lines of poetry in "Chanda Chamke" and "Mere Haath Mein".^[20]

Awards[link]

Filmfare Awards[link]

• Filmfare Best Actress Award - Kajol
• Best Male Playback - Shaan - Chand Sifarish
• Best Lyricist - Prasoon Joshi

Zee Cine Awards[link]

• Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female - Kajol
• Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male - Shaan - Chand Sifarish

IIFA Awards[link]

• Best Lyricist -Prasoon Joshi
• Best Male Playback- Shaan

Star Screen Awards[link]

• Best Male Playback - Shaan

See also[link]

Bollywood portal

• List of highest-grossing Bollywood films

References[link]

External links[link]

• Fanaa at the Internet Movie Database
• Fanaa at Box Office Mojo

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