"If the moon was to recommend me.."

Watched the hindi movie Fanaa a couple of days ago. Haven't seen a bollywood movie for...oh, quite sometime. Mostly because I don't have the stamina anymore to sit down for 3 hours to watch something, and also I feel that the hindi movies nowadays are the kind you can't watch while you're baby-sitting your niece (yeah...I've taken the roles of the censorship board where my niece is concerned..that's why all she watches is Playhouse Disney and the news and Discovery channel..hehe)

Went off on a tangent quite a bit there. Anyway, back to the topic. The word 'fanaa' means 'destruction' in Hindi, or 'annihilation' in Arabic, according to Wikipedia. The word carried many meanings in the movie, and was mentioned several times in the dialogue as well as the songs. The storyline of Fanaa was very much like Dil Se, but with the male and females roles reversed. While with Dil Se I didn't feel like watching it after the first 10 minutes (sorry, SRK!!), I was enthralled by Fanaa from the start to the end, ESPECIALLY the first half of the movie. Quite a lot of poetry said by the main characters (some of my friends found them to be cheesy, but I felt they were quite charming).

The chemistry between Aamir Khan and Kajol was so believable, I couldn't help but wish they'd worked together in more movies (Fanaa was the first movie they starred opposite each other, quite sometime ago they acted together in the movie Ishq, although paired with different people). Aamir Khan carried his role so well that I'm convinced that Shah Rukh Khan couldn't have done it with the same calibre (ack, sorry again, SRK! I love you as an actor very much, but it's true). After a 4-year hiatus from acting Kajol returned to the silver screen with this movie, reminding us why we thought of her as one of the best actresses of her generation. She was simply mesmerising and in her element for this movie. There is no one like her. So it was only natural that she won Best Actress at the Filmfare awards. And I've just got to mention the boy who played their son, he was so adorable! Managed to make me sigh wistfully a few times...

Well, anyway, moving on..

The songs were beautiful, one of the best collaboration by the Jatin-Lalit pair, with Prasoon Joshi as the lyricist. My favourite is 'Chand Sifarish', sung by Rehan (Aamir Khan) to the blind Zooni (Kajol) in the movie. I loved the intro music in particular, reminded me a little bit of A.R. Rahman's song in the movie Swades (which was also awesome, by the way).

While watching the movie my focus was mainly on the love story, not so much on the ter*rorism bit, although it was a bit unsettling the fact that they showed KLIA as a place of transit for Aamir Khan en route to Bangkok for one of his 'missions', showing the MAS crew at the check-in counter a Malaysian passport, no less! Just an issue I have with regards to the movie. Anyway, moving on again..

The ending of the movie wasn't the typical ending of Bollywood movies. With a movie title meaning 'destruction', what would you expect? Still, it was one of the few movies that moved me, can't remember how long it's been since it last happened. Definitely worth a watch for anyone who has an afternoon to spare.

So, you might wonder, what's with the title of this entry? It's the first line to the song 'Chand Sifarish'. The video is posted below. Enjoy!

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Addendum : The subtitles for the songs in the video sounded somewhat suggestive, I'm sure the real meaning was lost in translation. I found a better one (which I prefer)

Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah
Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah
Lord be praised!

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Humaari Deta Woh Tumko Bataa
The moon, while giving us its blessings tells you that

Sharmo Haya Ke Parde Giraake Karni Hai Humko Khata
We have to drop the veil of modesty and transgress

Zid Hai Ab To Khudh Ko Mitaana Hona Hai Tujh Mein Fanaa
Now I'm determined to obliterate myself and get destroyed (in your love)

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Humaari Deta Woh Tumko Bataa
The moon, while giving us its blessings tells you that

Sharmo Haya Ke Parde Giraake Karni Hai Humko Khata
We have to drop the veil of modesty and transgress

Teri Ada Bhi Hai Jhonke Wali Chu Ke Guzar Jaane De
Your charm is like a breeze which touches me and passes

Teri Lachak Hai Ke Jaise Daali Dil Mein Uthar Jaane De
You're as supple as a young branch, which moves me no end

Aaja Baahon Mein Kar Ke Bahaana Hona Hai Tujh Mein Fanaa
Find some reason to come into my arms, let me get destroyed (in your love)

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Humaari Deta Woh Tumko Bataa
The moon, while giving us its blessings tells you that

Sharmo Haya Ke Parde Giraake Karni Hai Humko Khata
We have to drop the veil of modesty and transgress

Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah
Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah Subahnallah
Lord be praised!

Hai Jo Iraade Bataa Doon Tumko Sharma Hi Jaaogi Tum
If I tell you my intentions it'll make you bashful

Dhadkanein Jo Suna Doon Tumko Gabrah Hi Jaaogi Tum
if I let you hear my hearbeats it'll scare you (with it's intensity)

Humko Aata Nahin Hai Chupaana Hona Hai Tujh Mein Fanaa
I can't hide my feelings, let me get destroyed (in your love)

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Humaari Deta Woh Tumko Bataa
The moon, while giving us its blessings tells you that

Sharmo Haya Ke Parde Giraake Karni Hai Humko Khata
We have to drop the veil of modesty and transgress

Zid Hai Ab To Khudh Ko Mitaana Hona Hai Tujh Mein Fanaa
Now I'm determined to obliterate myself and get destroyed (in your love)