Thursday, September 13, 2012

Barfi - review

Merci Beaucoup Anurag Basu, for not giving in to the temptation, of indulging in histrionics, melodrama & exaggerated cinema, like over the top “Black” (yeah, yeah, I know a lot of you thought it was poetry on celluloid, so sorry!) & “My name is Khan” - the memory of SRK’s disgraceful interpretation of a person with aspergers syndrome, still makes me cringe! Post ‘Barfi, we forgive Mr. Basu, for the oh-so-silly, ‘Kites’!
Not too sure how to slot this movie – sure, it is a sublime love triangle; there are some laughs (when Barfi is chased unsuccessfully by the plump police Inspector, played delightfully by Saurabh Shukla); certainly there is an element of mystery, which is not too difficult to predict & some cool adventures, through picturesque locales; but what comes across loud & clear is, that despite the hero being a deaf-mute person & the leading lady having autism, this is no tear jerker; there is no attempt at earning the audience sympathy or reach-for-your-handkerchief moments!
Ranbir Kapoor shines as the mischievous, fun loving, flirtatious Barfi, who happens to be deaf and mute. His cocky romance, with the rich and charming Shruti, a competent & gorgeous Ileana D’Cruz, makes you smile; his attempts at turning to crime to pay for his father’s surgery, tugs at your heart strings; but the core strength of the movie, is the development of his relationship with the autistic Jhilmil - thrown together by the oddest of circumstances, the relationship spans reluctant babysitting (how incredibly tasteful these two are in the scene, where Jhilmil needs to do ‘susu’, instructs a horrified Barfi to open her underpants & refuses to close the bathroom door!) friendship, loyalty, dependence & love!
If I haven’t gushed about Priyanka Chopra, it is because, she is so immersed in the character of the autistic Jhilmil, you forget about the actress - I am sure experts will be better equipped to comment, as to how authentic her performance is, as a person with autism, but for me, it was a class act, where it so difficult to remember, that behind the buck teeth, innocent eyes & jerky movements, is an articulate Miss World! Respect, Pigs Chopra – you did good!

I must be getting soft, because I have to confess that I found a certain kind of serenity & simple dignity, in this love story, especially in the portions where Barfi and Jhilmil live together in Calcutta, looking like a couple of kids playing house!

Thoda confusion, when the movie resorts to a lot of flash backs, going back & forth, between the past & the present, but it all comes together in the end. Fans of the mother of all romantic films, “The Notebook”, will notice that the director has been inspired to lift certain scenes. Preetam’s music has that old world, lilting charm to it.

Go past the flaws, which are plenty; shut your ears to the music of the accordion - since 'Metro', Basu loves the touch of live musicians on screen; turn a blind eye to the fact that things may not pan out so ideally in asli zindagi;but who cares, when you have to deal with the lump in your throat, at the trusting way in which, Jhilmil links her small finger with Barfi & sleeps peacefully!

Ranbir, start picking up those Armani suits; Priyanka, dazzle us with your designer gowns; we’ll be seeing you at all the award functions for 2012!!!

1 Comments:

At September 14, 2012 at 7:51 AM , Anonymous Raj Jhajharia said...

I too agree with your review of this movie. It looked like a poetry in motion. It felt like a tender flower in full bloom. Got nostalgic with shots of Howrah Bridge and tram rides in Kolkata. Sure, both Ranbir and Priyanka are going to sweep most awards this year.

 

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