He couldn't become Mohammad Rafi, but harbours a dream of his daughter becoming Lata Mangeshkar. Prashant Sharma (Anil Kapoor) popularly known as Fanney Khan among his gulley friends, works hard to make ends meet, idolises Shammi Kapoor and lives only for his dream of superstardom. Now in her teens, Lata not only sings well but also dances like a dream despite her plus size that regularly makes her an object of body shaming on stage. Anil Kapoor hits all the right notes as a beleaguered father, who is often reprimanded by his own child for being so unflinchingly dedicated in his mission to see her succeed.
This even as his wife Kavita (Divya Dutta) continues to be his empathetic voice of reason. As a debutante, Pihu Sand captures the vulnerability of her character, but one never understands her constant grouse against her father. As the hotshot singer Baby Singh, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looks befittingly gorgeous, but her storyline is etched without much effort or logic. The talented Rajkummar Rao as Prashant's trusted friend Adhir, shows his usual flair within a limited scope. While Rajkummar's chemistry with Aishwarya seems forced, his comic timing comes to the rescue. Film's narrative goes slightly out of tune in second half. For example, there is no real backstory for Baby Singh and the only person in her life is a creepy manager, who wants her to stage a wardrobe malfunction for a reality show. While the second half is long and laborious, earnest performances keep the boat afloat. For a musical, Fanney Khan's soundtrack doesn't live up fully except the Achche Din song which is pleasant and the finale song that exudes energy.
Overall, 'Fanney Khan' is a star studded musical that starts on a high note and has its moments of glory. It shows how parents live their dreams through children. However, the showstopper is clearly Anil Kapoor with a knockout performance that makes 'Fanney Khan' worth a watch.
Review of Fanney Khan
