Review: FAN offers a double bonanza for Shah Rukh Khan fans

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If you are a die-hard fan of Shah Rukh Khan (SRK), you may not agree with certain portions of this review. But you are probably not. Because if you were, you wouldn’t be bothering to read somebody’s review on his film. You would research about SRK’s entire whereabouts, know all about the film much in advance and stall work for watching his film or for impersonating him! Since you are reading this review, you don’t qualify to be a fan like Gaurav (SRK) is in the movie FAN. And thank God for that!  

Fan, a film produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yashraj films and directed by Maneesh Sharma (of Band Baja Baraat fame) deals with an obsessive story of a young boy named Gaurav (SRK), who resembles film star Aryan Khanna (SRK). He is such a big fan of Aryan that he worships him and his life revolves around him. Gaurav’s life is about to change when he leaves for Mumbai from Delhi to meet Aryan on his birthday. When things don't go according to his plan, Gaurav is utterly disappointed. His love turns into revenge as he is determined to make Aryan come behind him. Will such a devout fan ever hurt his superstar? Will the superstar accede to his biggest fan’s request? This forms the rest of the movie.

This is not the first time SRK has a done a film based on himself. Remember Om shanti om, Billu Barber (both produced by his ownself)? He has also made documentaries based on his own life. So, playing himself on screen has been easy for SRK. We have also seen him doing obsessive roles in the past- Baazigar, Kabhi Haan Kabhie Naa, Yes Boss, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. Not to forget the most psychotic Darr. Donning the roles of himself and of a crazy fan in a single film is what makes this film unique. SRK performs the role of Gaurav so effortlessly and convincingly that you feel for Gaurav. You almost want to dance with him when he performs like Aryan on the stage to win some contest and want to cry with him when he is beaten up by cops.  For SRKs brilliant performance (s) in this film, I almost forgot the debacle his last film Dilwale was.

Coming to the technical front- Greg Cannom, who has developed the look of Gaurav using 3D scanning of SRK’s look has done a marvellous job at creating a lose look-alike of SRK. Andrea Guerra's background score and Manu Anand's cinematography are excellent. The visual effects and action scenes are great. The action scene where Aryan almost chases Gaurav reminded me of the chase scene between Sunny Deol and SRK in Darr. The supporting cast of Waluscha de Sousa (Aryan’s wife), Shriya Pilgaonkar (Neha, Gaurav’s love interest), Deepika Amin (Gaurav's mother), Yogendra Tiku (Gaurav's father) and Sayani Gupta (Aryan's PA) has done a good job.  However, the film is not without flaws. For one, there are no songs in this movie. Yes, you read that right- the famous song ‘JABRA FAN’ composed by Vishal Shekhar and sung in multiple languages is conspicuous by its absence. At almost two and a half hours, the pace of the film is slow, Further, there is no logic in some of the scenes like Gaurav reaching anywhere and everywhere.

The film does leave a message that stars are made by fans “main hu to tu hai” (You are because I am). It advises fans to have a life apart from being fans. Stars are ordinary human beings like their fans having work, family, friends etc. The best advice is that individuality is important and if you wish to follow the stars, follow their diligence and hard work in reaching where they are.  All this is said in the climax but the means used by the psychotic Gaurav throughout the film are completely averse. When Aryan tries to reason with him, he simply says- “Rehne de. Tu nahi samjhega.” One can only wish that unlike SRK’s Darr which saw a lot of rogue fans emulating him blindly, fans don’t do the same thing again.

The film is quite engaging and the thrill will keep you glued to the seat till the end. The impact of this thriller could be seen on all the melancholic faces leaving the theatre. Not a single happy face in a houseful theatre! Amidst this atmosphere, an interesting conversation transpired between a couple after the movie. The husband (an obvious fan of SRK) exclaimed that SRK’s performance deserves a National Award. To this, the wife quipped - “non-sense! Couldn’t he have just said sorry?” Giggles erupted from everyone who heard this (including me).

An analogy occurred to my mind on hearing this conversation. This film is actually a clash of two mighty egos-that of a superstar and of his super-fan. And we all thought the film is about the length to which a fan can go in the love of his star!

Overall, you have to absolutely watch this film if you are an SRK fan. If you aren’t, you may want to avoid the depressive ride. 

-Reviewed by Dolly Bolly