Movie Review: Barfi!

 What better way to end my birthday than with a sweet dish, Barfii.  Anurag Basu dons the directors hat once again after the forgettable ‘Kites’ and weaves together an enchanting fairy tale mesmerizing you for over 2.5 hours. The best part about Barfii is that it comes as a surprise, films like it are not made too often and when they are, they are always promoted in a way that makes them an “award-contender” from the start, and that’s where Barfii hits you.

Set in the 1970’s in Darjeeling, Barfii is the story of a hearing and speech impaired boy who touches the lives of some people around him and redefines, what it means to live and more importantly, love. Barfii (Ranbir Kapoor) is the son of a chauffeur who works for Mr. Chatterjee, father of Jhilmil(Priyanka Chopra), an autistic girl who has been brought to Darjeeling on request of her grandfather who is very sick. He falls in love with Shruti(Illeana) at first sight, and tries his best too woo the girl of his dreams, inviting her to his world of innocence, freedom and mischievousness. But its not to be, as Shruti gives in to the pressure of family and norms of the society and goes on to become Mrs. Sengupta and moves to Calcutta(Kolkata). A twist of fate brings together Jhilmil and the heartbroken Barfii, and what follows is a touching tale of two challenged people, embracing the belief that true love can be found in the most unlikeliest of places.

Ranbir Kapoor swept the best actor awards last year for Rockstar, Barfii puts him in the same league again. One can feel the pain and frustration that he brings to the screen when he is heartbroken, cursing himself for being so poor, hating himself for his shabby clothes, his old bicycle, and emoting everything without any sound. On occasions he is the Charlie Chaplin of Bollywood, amusing you with his antics, and later, becoming this loving, caring and responsible friend, he evokes deep sympathy. His scenes with Jhilmil are the highlight of the movie, reminding you of the Kamal Hassan-Sridevi chemistry in Sadma, a movie which fetched Sridevi, a national award. This brings me to Priyanka Chopra, I honestly don’t remember the last movie of hers that I loved, but in Barfii, she’s born again as an actress! As an autistic girl, the innocence that she brings to the movie is endearing. The particular scene where she is hit by a tram in Kolkata, because Barfii is not paying attention to her, will leave you bruised! Illeana as Shruti is perhaps the only character that you will be able to totally relate to, because ofcouse she is the only one behaving as society expects you to. Standing on the platform with a ticket in her hands, or standing in the rain, eyes filled with tears as Barfii realises his true place in her life, it’s beautiful to realise how she emotes with just her eyes. Even in her debut movie, aside such powerful performances, she is not over shadowed. Even side actors, Saurabh Shukla as the Police Officer who has spent his entire life chasing Barfii does an exceptional job.

   Over 2.5 hours long, the movie might seem a bit lengthy but you will enjoy the ride nonetheless. There aren’t too many songs but after leaving the theatres you won’t stop humming Main kya karoon, and the riveting Phir le aya. Ravi Varman deserves a special mention as the cinematographer of the movie, never before has a hill station, the fog, even the rains in Kolkata, been filmed so beautifully. The different perspectives as seen from the eyes of the protagonists, the worlds they live in, especially the ones focussing Jhilmil will inspire you. The music is different, you will smile as the opening credits roll, and that will continue till the very end. The only glitch came in the form of the non linear narrative, it kind of becomes too much as the movie scrambles back the peices to make a complete whole, but that too works to some extent, especially the end.

After Wasseypur, Barfii too raises the bar for Hindi Cinema, bringing the diversity that cinema so needs right now. I would like to call it, as a movie defined by moments, rather than the story and it will be the moments that will touch you. Barfii's test of friendship, Jhilmil's jealousy when she meets Shruti and Shruti's fear at the very end when she hears Jhilmil's voice, these are some very basic emotions, but the way they unfold before you, will make you admire how different the movie is, but so real. When you go to the theaters  please don’t go expecting anything, just pop it in, wait as all the sweetness crumbles and melts in your mouth, and I assure that as you leave the theatres, it will leave you with a very soothing aftertaste.

Rating: 8.5/10