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.