Thursday, October 11, 2012

Barfi supersedes Rasgolla, Gulab-Jamun, Sandesh, Chum-Chum

Incase you are a collegiate; you must have heard Barfi in conversations (more in recent times). “Chalo Barfi, aaj mess mein khaana acha nahi bana”, etc. So when you hear movies in talks with such day to day attachments, you know how popular it is. Barfi stands out as an entertainer and deserves a rating of 4/5. Barfi is unique – it plays with sounds more than words; it is therefore apt to write about silence more than the story. Here it goes -

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)

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