WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Hero worship. When admiration for another individual stirs and grows, cultivating a mania, a preoccupation, a craze, an addiction which cannot be changed or dissuaded, that is when esteem turns into frenzied fandom whose outlets only invite compulsion to take over, leading to inevitable, unstable fixation. For Delhi resident Gaurav Chandna (Shah Rukh Khan), his entire reason for being lies with his famous film star icon, Aryan Khanna (Shah Rukh Khan). Following Aryan’s career since he was a young boy, Gaurav has only increased his obsession as an adult, literally fighting those who would poke fun at his “god”. Having won a local contest as “Junior Aryan” multiple times, he makes a decision to pursue meeting his idol in person.
Following exact modes of travel and destinations along the way, Gaurav arrives in Mumbai on Aryan’s birthday, joining thousands of others waiting to catch a glimpse of the star outside his home. Upon seeing Aryan, but thwarted from actually having any direct contact with the legend, Gaurav’s intentions turn suddenly dark and daring, as his need to meet the star explodes into a uncontrolled and dangerous game of cat and mouse with Aryan that threatens to destroy both of their lives. Thinking that everything he is doing is illustrating the depth of his commitment as a fan, people including rival actor Sid Kapoor (Taher Shabbir), Aryan’s wife (Waluscha De Sousa), Gaurav’s friend Neha (Shriya Pilgaonkar), and even his parents are caught up in Gaurav’s rage-filled endgame.
Next, my Mind:
Delivered with absolute, raw, intense, driven calculation, director Maneesh Sharma executes a stunning and sobering narrative on the world of fans, their sometimes deliberate desperation to make a connection with celebrity, and how it can all go terribly wrong when expectation is too high and unrealistic. Accurately playing on the general culture of how actors are sought out by their adorers in real life, the tale moves along with a beginning soaked in innocence and humor, then an ending that will leave you breathless, while engaging the viewer fully with events that occur in between. The film’s pulsing soundtrack adds to this combined air of both all-consuming joy and fist-clenching tension, while the cinematography sweeps us away to the story’s multiple locales.
The film was this reviewer’s very first exposure to the Bollywood acting phenom known most commonly by just his initials, SRK, and let me say folks, this guy more than deserves the accolades and then some. Taking on an incredible dual role as both Gaurav and Aryan, the transformational aspects SRK presents to distinguish the two characters throughout the film is nothing short of amazing. Adopting two totally different personalities for each man, complete with mannerisms, physical characteristics, and other behavioral attributes, SRK is a complete wonder to view. Most notably, despite actions taken by both characters, SRK also manages to infuse each with a likability that is undeniable. Plus, SRK’s passion and heart for his craft is simply evident in itself. Period.
With a solid supporting cast including Shabbir, De Sousa, and Pilgaonkar among so many others, the dramatic thriller “Fan” continues a remarkable 2016 for Bollywood and further solidifies the genre that truly is coming into a new age of upward mobility, quality, emotionally-charged entertainment, and commitment to excellence on all fronts.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
