Barfii - review

Physically challenged centric themes are sure shot winners at Box Office. 50% of the job is already done when you got people rushing for their tissues, be it a cute scene or senti. Rest is settled, if you dont screw it up with your screenplay. Barfii does the balancing act pretty well.

Given ample scope to make it a cryathon, with possibility of  tear jerker-scene-a-minute, the director has ensured that the melodrama is never overboard. In fact, he has made a clever use of the lead pair's disability. There is hardly any dialog in the movie, with the only few being spoken by the side characters and the narrator. But those sections involving Ranbir-Priyanka and Ranbir-Ileana are etched out so well that, it settles light on the eyes and never wears you down. The scenes that otherwise could've tested the histrionic abilities of the actors, have been picturised in a Chaplinsque way, leading to funny and clumsy situations, giving a humorous touch to otherwise grim sequences. There is also a mini murder mystery thrown in, with no doubt on who the villain would be, which more than aiding, slows down and lengthens the movie.

The opening scenes reminds of "Notebook". Ranbir-Priyanka love story, reminds of "Moondraam pirai" and is similar to "Meendum oru Kaathal kathai" in some aspects. Ileana is the narrator and personally i feel, one of the best movie characters ever created in recent times. Her personality is a mixture of confused and clear, selfish and selfless, happy and sad at the same time. She is shown in an old lady get up that cuts back to middle aged woman and further in flashback as a teenager. And she looks cute in every single get up :) She must've been the cutest looking oldie on screen ever. She looks really pretty and petite and with the movie set majorly in the 70's backdrop, looks a perfect fit. I love her cute smile in the scene where she playfully rejects Ranbir's romantic proposal. That brings us to Ranbir Kapoor. Oh Man. What can i say about this guy. Right from his first movie "Sawariya" which was a major disaster, this guy has grown leaps and bounds. Guess finally the real gene of Raj Kapoor comes alive. In this movie, he once again proves why he is one of the most reliable artistes. Infact, that he would be awesome, was some what given from the movie trailer itself. His goofy antics, his imitation of charlie chaplin, the way in which he smokes beedi, the pain on his face when he learns his love letter is mistaken for charity and is given money by Ileana's dad, the sadness when he learns of Priyanka's disappearance, the frenzy with which he searches for her and finally, the scene where priyanka shouts for him from the window, him being deaf just drags himself only to see Ilena standing. That scene where she just conveys that Priyanka is calling out for him just with a slight nod, his tear filled response and the way he combs his hair before running back, AWESOME. Priyanka Chopra, must've been the most under rated and hated leading lady of Bollywood i guess, for all wrong reasons. When the entire world was going ga-ga over the ten different get ups of Kamal in Dasavatharam, she silently did 13 different get ups in her damp squib movie "What's your Rashee" with bare minimal fuss and very less make up too. Be it Kaminey or Saath khoon Maaf or Fashion or Don 2, she pulls it off with elan. And man, she looks gorgeous. Dostana wouldn't have been half as watchable if not for her :)) In this movie, her character suffers from autism. With so much scope to perform, it could've easily bombed. Kudos to her, she does a credible job. Her voice usually the sore point, adds to defining the character in this movie. Be it the Eskimo like nose rub, holding fingers while sleeping or imitating Ranbir she is droolingly cute. The climax scene where, seeing Ilena again, she tries to cover Ranbir, trying to prevent him from leaving her, is sheer class.

The movie boasts of some really good sound tracks and the background score really takes you to the black and white era. Majority of the movie is donned with sounds of accordion or piano accompanying the scenes. They add to the mysticism of the bygone era. Just like Madurai for kollywood, guess its the time for Kolkatta to rule Bollywood. Most of the major hits this year have a Bengal based setup. Darjeeling, any day is beautiful. Throw in the romantic decade of the previous millennium, along with a credible camera work, it looks pristine. The steam billowing from the train is an awesome sight to behold. Some of the scenes are sheer poetry in motion. No wonder cinema is hailed more as a visual medium than aural. With zero or very little dialog, its the cameraman who holds the movie together with breathtaking visuals.

Gils verdict: Watching the movie was like enjoying a poem. Except that this one comes with added advantage of visuals too. Go for it.

Comments

Asha said…
wow... u already sawed.aaaa.... naanga hopefully this weekend either this or life is beautiful.. edhavadu onnu parkkanum
gils said…
Life is beautiful is also nice..suthama telgu teriathu..stl saw it without subtitles :) happy days part 2..and antha heroine who comes as murai ponnu is super cute..semma familiar face aana enga paathennu thaan therila
Asha said…
adhu anjala zaveri ullam kollai poguday la nadichalay...

gils said…
Nope..this ones name is paddu..she is this cute new heroine
Asha said…
oh andha dhanush padathoda heroine tapsee's sister i think she is shagun pannu.
gils said…
oh yeah..shagun..but tapsee had a sister in that aadukalam movie?? whatever..she looks yum in this movie..semma homely
gils said…
elo..barfii post life is beautifula maaridthu :D
RS said…
A Pretty girl wanted:
Name: Gils @ Gilsananda
Age: Big enough to drool over Ileana/Priyanka Chopra/Shruti Hassan
Living in: chocolate tree house, Dreamland.
Job Profile: Watching all seasons of all serials (Recent additions include a N.U.M.B.E.R. of English ones), all newly released movies- yucky to yummy.
Long time achievement: Being the 'person' of party wherever he goes- interesting 'piece' for people of all ages-from 1yr olds to grandmas
Terror: Wife of friends (for all the hell he breaks loose in their house)
Long time grouse: Hair cut!!
Biggest achievement: Still continuing with JOKK (for about 2yrs), and leaving his readers speculating about the next part.
Desirable features (for the bride):
Name: Priya
Desired Abilities: To listen (not just hear) to all his mokkais, to watch non-tear-jerking serials, to watch all movies (marana mokkais to awesome ones), bear with all his "'mudi-vettinaen-aana vettala', "I-don't-know-the difference-between-milaha-podi-and-paruppu-podi'" confusions, his airport tragedies, and still refer to him as 'Kanna, chellam etc', mentioning, 'thurumba yelachitiyey da' when there is only 0.00001g of wt loss :P
Immediate, pretty girls/ parents of pretty girls are encouraged to apply!

PS: Gils, varathuku oru serial review, daily oru movie review-a?? Irukattum vechikrom!
Vincy said…
Hey Gils, first things first. Thanks for the Barfii review. Makes me want to watch the movie.

I have a couple of other things to say..
1.Loved the profile created by RS.
2.I tried ignoring the question "who is priya" even when i saw the reference in Ramesh's comment last time. Cant hold on anymore. please tell me who priya is.
3.My son who came in when i was reading RS's comment feels your profile is funny. and also thinks I am a bit mannerless to ask you who priya is.
4. Happy Ganesh Chathurthi :-) :-)
Vincy said…
Hey Gils, first things first. Thanks for the Barfii review. Makes me want to watch the movie.

I have a couple of other things to say..
1.Loved the profile created by RS.
2.I tried ignoring the question "who is priya" even when i saw the reference in Ramesh's comment last time. Cant hold on anymore. please tell me who priya is.
3.My son who came in when i was reading RS's comment feels your profile is funny. and also thinks I am a bit mannerless to ask you who priya is.
4. Happy Ganesh Chathurthi :-) :-)
Aarti said…
Am going today evning.. poyittu vandu solrein eppadi irundudunnu...

RS- kalakiteenga saar!! :D
Ramesh said…
@RS - Super brilliant. Your comment beats Gilsu's post any day. Bravo. Romba beshaaa ezhuthittel. Neenga kalakkarel :):) To further understand the pun you have to read the commnents on Asha's latest post !!

@Gilsu- Barfiiiii nnu oru moviea ? Vera perey kadiakkaliya

//the scenes that otherwise could've tested the histrionic abilities of the actors, have been picturised in a Chaplinsque way, leading to funny and clumsy situations, giving a humorous touch to otherwise grim sequences//

Wow. Ippadiyum kuda ezhuthuvingala ??
gils said…
@athivasi:

sirici sirichi vairu valikuthu :D:D:D awesome awesome comment :D:D:D chaancela

@vj:

hahahaa..priya oru fictional character for/from my stories...athuku thaan ivlo buildup kudukaraanga :)
gils said…
@vj:

:D unga paiyana meet pananum....would be fun to know his version of ur rules and reg :D:D:D

@rt:

nsaaaiiii :D

@thala:

the reason for the name burfii is another cute one..athu neenga padam paatha thaan theriyum :D
gils said…
@thala :D
ROTFL :D enga..ithenna aniyaayaamaa iruku...neengalaam solalam naan solakudatha :D:D:D
Asha said…
@RS- Beautiful comment. idha oru 200 copies poster adichi oor poora ottidalama.


@Gils--- ponnu gummu, yummu aprum....

adhu tapsee oda nija sis filmla illa.
Rameshkku murphy en per vandudu sollidalaman parthen vendama ok ok ?
gils said…
oohhhh...neja sister....actualla she looks the topsis...tapsee not so :D:D
gils said…
heyyy...now i remember why she looks familiar..that shagun looks lot like one sun music compere vidya/divya..nt sure...but later she moved to kalaingar tv to compere..ditto looking
gils said…
btw..RT...RS SAR illa..SAR ee :D:D
Avada Kedavra said…
Yet to watch the movie. But the trailer and songs made me feel this movie story was kind of lifted from Sadma (Kamal Hassan and Sridevi). Did you feel that way when you saw the movie?
gils said…
absolutely...many scenes esp. the montage ones resemble it

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