Silence –
The
movie started in a ‘past before-past recall’ inspired fashion with narratives
from many characters. Barfi, the protagonist is a deaf dumb guy who lives in
Darjeeling. He falls in love with a rich guy’s daughter – Shruti. (goonge-raja ko rani se pyaar). But then, villains bhi to hain. They have an
autistic daughter, Jhilmil, who falls in love with Barfi. The rich girl goes
for a richer option and Jhilmil finds an apt match in Barfi. Sab settled. But
hey, what if I tell you Jhilmil is kidnapped and Darjeeling’s police are mad
about catching Barfi and the thrills just goes on. You have to watch from here.
It’s
class. It plays less with words but more with emotions. The pace fluctuates. At
one point, I thought, it will be a thriller (a really cult one But…). Sadly the
ending was just too fast. It had the potential to become a cult thriller. And for
that it would have to shed some of its silence and emotions, still iLike Barfi.
First half is simple & sweet, second half is shorter and you are given an
impression – it summed up too soon (as if there was a time limit given to the
director).
Star cast –
Ranbir
Kapoor- this movie brings him in the comfortable zone of stars. He has delivered
a hit with yet other unconventional role. Awesome man, awesome.
Priyanka
Chopra (Jhilmil)– if one person was inspired from SRK’s ‘my naam is khan’, she
was Priyanka. And she is better than Khan (as expected)
Illeana
Dcruz (Shruti) – acting is satisfactory. Looks spectacular in some scenes, reasonable
is some. In the series to rate fresh bollywood faces, she lies in - Diana Penty > Yammy Gautam > Illeana
Dcruz > NehaSharma
Sangeet -
The
music is scintillating. Background score is full of piano and violins. It puts
you in the comfortable zone, which is devoid of tension. Songs are apt and
works tremendously well in tandem with screenplay. Post the watching
experience, you will love the songs even more.
Pritam
kaise karte ho bhai?
Barfi
is a movie which distinguishes itself from other ones, which attract sympathies
due to involvement of handicap characters. The comic timing of the dumb-deaf
character seems genuine and impresses you. Here you don’t feel sorry for them,
you enjoy them.
What works: the acoustic
sounds, acting, Darjeeling, Barfi and his sweetness
What not: the confusion
of making a thriller or a romantic, work of MakeUp artist (really bad)
SPEAKing
PICTures’s verdict:
Not many movies speak so much silence. Barfi calms you. It’s poetic. It gives
you a soothing feeling. You feel litee after watching movie (litee means tension
free). Go for it, even if you are a Diabetic – Must watch.
Will it win
Oscar?
NO
(Anurag Basu’s logic of inspiration does not work for me). Similar comparisons
were drawn with Taare Zameen Par and Children of Heaven. The latter did not
even qualified for the finals, even though it is easily one of the most emotive
movies of recent times. And atleast one needs to pay homage for the inspiration
taken. Sad that was not done. Enough said - Barfi is still must watch.
ps:
some appreciation for a song from Barfi (Phir Le Aya Dil-Reprise version) -
"dil jo keh raha hai sunte hi jao
abhi to raat
baaki hai
dil se apne
aakhoin ko jagao
wo jo ruki si
chaah baaki hai"
(dedicated
to this night)
Hoping,
more movies come out with names of sweets, Gulab-Jamun, Rosgulla :) (cheers)
