Fitoor (2016)

If they had managed to make the second half as good as the first, Fitoor would probably have ended up being one of the more interesting movies to have come out in recent times. It's still interesting though- Tabu is the star of the show (obviously) and gives a performance that gets under your skin; Katrina is fabulous as Firdaus, if a little lacking in the emotional scenes; and the way the director transports Dickens' classic (and my favourite of his work from what I have read till now) Great Expectations in contemporary India is quite good. However, the loose ends are many and the film just doesn't hold up the way you'd like it too.

My first problem is the lead pair. There was absolutely no chemistry between them, which is the first thing you need in a romantic drama. So many weak plots have been saved by an absolutely insane chemistry between the leads. But here, things fizzle out so quickly you start wishing Noor (Aditya Roy Kapoor) starts pining for Begum Hazrat Jahan (Queen T) instead because he honestly has more chemistry with her than with Firdaus. Just because two people have been decided as good-looking by the general population does not mean that they will make an equally hot pairing on screen, please note.

Second problem is with... Kashmir. Just, why? For the snow aesthetics? I'm pretty sure that's what it is because I really can think of no other reason. Not that it's a problematic portrayal or anything (at least to my untrained, non-Kashmiri eye) but it doesn't really add anything to the overall story except the aesthetics. Pack it up, Haider lite!!

Third problem is the combination of Ajay Devgan and Aditi Rao Hydari. I actually dozed off in the later Ajay Devgan bits, and as for ARH, my life was going so well before I saw/heard her speak in Tabu's voice. PLEASE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR THAT ATROCITY. In general also, seeing her trying to take up from where Tabu left... nah, fam. It is just not going to work out, I fear. 

However, I did enjoy the film in a way. It was technically flawless, and more than that, Tabu owned slayed and basically did it all. As a simp/historian, I have no choice but to appreciate and also lowkey wish that Noor and her had a thing instead. (I say lowkey when I have mentioned the same thing twice in the "review"). The music is also pretty damn good, with "Yeh Fitoor Mera" being one of my favourite Arijit tracks of all time. And of course, the aesthetics and the fashion were a treat to look at. 

In conclusion, maybe they should have cast Vicky and Kat together. Just saying. 


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