Faster Fene

Being a proud fan of the exploits of Faster Fene (FaFe), I was a bit worried when I heard that the film was in production. The series spans across 20 books and features novels as well as short stories about Banesh aka Faster Fene, a street-smart school kid with great deductive powers and a persistent sense of adventure. A stalwart of Marathi children's literature, B R Bhagwat, created the character roughly half a century ago, and the upcoming film adaptation raised all sorts of questions in my mind. Who is the ideal audience for the film? The kids who idolized the character a generation ago or the present teenagers? Would the stories sound dated after all this time? Would the film follow the original time line or re imagine the character in the present? As it turns out, director Aditya Sarpotdar, and his screenwriter Kshitij Patwardhan have chosen the approach well. They are aware that nostalgia may be interesting for an audience of a certain age, but if the character has to survive and pave the way for possible sequels, it has to appeal to today's youth. This would only be possible if the character is entirely re imagined as a contemporary hero. So in a reboot of sorts, Fene arrives with an entirely new story set in the present time, with some details changed, but the spirit of the character intact. Banesh is a bit older now, appearing for a medical entrance exam.

Although the film makes a passing reference to FaFe's adventure in Pratapgad, narrated in one of the books, the film is an original story for all practical purposes. It introduces the character in great detail, shows off his abilities and vigor, introduces several other characters, forming a backdrop and setting stage for newer adventures. The city of Pune and B R Bhagwat appearing as one of the central figures complete the set-up.

After a catchy prologue that serves as a mini adventure in itself, FaFe (Wagh) appears for the entrance exam and is shocked to hear about a suicide of a fellow student soon after. He suspects foul play and decides to get to the bottom of things. Confronted with a massive scam with the diabolical villain Appa Andhare (Kulkarni) at its center, FaFe struggles to find a firm footing. He gets help from his childhood friend and young journo Aaboli (Pethe), a reformed young thief, Bhu- Bhu, (More) and Bhagwat (Prabhavalkar), a prolific writer suffering from a mental block.

Faster Fene plays out like a straight thriller, without any romantic interludes, family drama and other unnecessary filler material. The film is entirely without songs, and things move at a fast pace, ratcheting up the tension as the plot thickens. The update is complete with the use of contemporary technology from cellphones to Facebook live and new meanings to popular abbreviations. The film stretches one twist too many in the second half and just before the climax, launches into a long, unnecessary explanation, but these are relatively minor flaws.

The film features an excellent cast in roles large and small, but three characters are standouts: Amey Wagh who embodies FaFe so well that he is likely to please the young and old alike, Dilip Prabhavalkar in a smaller, but significant role of Bhagwat and Girish Kulkarni as Appa, the mastermind. Appa outshines FaFe in many sequences, the entrapment in the bus for example, and I won't be surprised if you subconsciously root for him to win, a victory of sorts for the celebrated actor.

My advice for the fans of the original books is to give the film a chance , without expecting it to be just like what you imagined. Let this be an auspicious new beginning for Faster Fene, the boy who has changed so much, while essentially managing to remain the same.

Majja aali raav.... Acting direction screenplay is on point... Not even a single dull moment in the movie... Dilip sir, Amey wagh and Kulkarni sir are fab.. Special mention to Kulkarni sir for their awesome performance

Based on the characters from a Marathi book series, this looked like another younger and comical version of Indian Sherlock Holmes. Although the film never knew if it wanted to be more comical or more serious; keeping it in between it feels like a silly film taken itself too seriously. There was so much possibility that has been wasted here, still, it's enjoyable at parts.

Short Summary:

Faster Fene is the tale of a tech savvy and adventurous teenager named Banesh Fene who has keen interest in forensic Science as well as Law. He is also passionate about solving mysteries and crimes that he comes across. While appearing for a medical entrance exam he is witness to something that shakes him from within and thus begins the thrilling and nail-biting journey to bring down the evils that plague one of most the important pillars of a society.

Info:

It is based on the characters from Faster Fene series of Marathi books(similar to Famous Five) by renowned writer Late. B.R. Bhagwat.

Extended Review:

Nowadays there's a trend of "No logic/time pass/love story" movies in India. Mediocrity is the name of the game. Movies have become a tool of money multiplication rather than provide qualitative entertainment.

In such times, when I heard that my beloved childhood character Faster Fene from the Marathi storybooks of the same name was being adopted into a movie, I felt a sudden bit of anger and despair. I said to my self.. "Here we go...Now they'll ruin yet another classic to milk the nostalgia monies..."

But then I saw the teaser on YouTube & immediately felt a sense of hope! It didn't seem like a quick money grab movie; but something thoughtful and made with respect to the original material.

Still the thought, that they might add other stuff just to widen the mass market appeal (dance numbers and love stories) did make me wary.

THEN..

The day came. Movie released...Here I was at the theaters. Waiting eagerly.

And then it started. And BOY! IT DIDN'T Disappoint!

All my worries and doubts were quelled just by the first few minutes of the movie! I knew..from that moment on, this was going to be something special!

From the opening shot to the climax, Faster Fene and his gang have you on spell!

The movie is cast to perfection. Be it the "Bhu Bhu" of Master Shubham, Or Parna Pethe's Aboli or Siddharth Jadhav's Ambadas, and so on; Each and every person has a unique personality. All the actors have done such a splendid and effortless job that it feels like the actors on the screen are real people in a real world rather than characters in a movie. With respect to that, there are some show stealers. The ease with which Girish Kulkarni has played the sarcastic sly villain 'Appa' is highly commendable and is clearly the best performance in the film. Ameya Wagh has done faithful justice to the Role of a modern world's Faster Fene. From the phonetics to the mannerisms and then to the searching eyes. It's all exactly the way I've experienced from reading the books in my childhood! Sir Dilip Prabhavlkar's loyal portrayal of Late. B.R.Bhagwat is a great homage from one legendary writer to another. They are all well written and very well acted memorable characters.

The direction and cinematography is Top notch. The camera angles and close ups of face and eyes add that extra emotion to a scene.

The locations in the movie are also well- chosen and have been filmed with artistic flair.

The music and background score are also very well done. The Super heroesque tune is nothing short of classic, and gives you goosebumps in those big moments! The background music has been used masterfully and only as per the need of the scene adding to actions on the screen rather than blaring over it.

The story is innovative and the screen play is very exciting; add to that, powerful and very well written and delivered dialogues which take the movie to the next level.

Technical side is usually where many Indian films fall short. But Faster Fene is a strong exception to that. With the polished and flawless execution, the film sets very high standards for a regional film.

It is very rare for a film to be really fun and still be sensible and provide food for thought. But believe me, Faster Fene does just that!

Hats off to the team of Faster Fene!

Do watch it even if don't understand Marathi. Many theaters are running it with English Subtitles.

Tokk!!