"Barfi" is one more experimental film directed by Anurag Basu which is in a different format than what we have seen in films like "Life in Metro" or "Gangster". Ranbir Kapoor once again proves that he is ready to take on any role in his march to superstardom - he plays the role of a dumb do-gooder in Darjeeling who splits his affections between an autist girl Priyanka Chopra and a conventionally good-looking, Bengali girl (Ileana D'Cruz). Movie's finest performances are by Ranbir, Ileana (she can act, finally!) and Priyanka. Some of the most exciting camera work on Indian Celluloid comes alive in this musical extravaganza with period-film touch. The touch extends to a differently sounding BGM and music by Pritham. What lets the movie down is entertainment, entertainment and entertainment as Silk would say.
The narrative is confusing - and the director is unable to strike a balance between what he wants to convey and what will appeal cinematically. Flashbacks, which are the last refuge of the skilful director, are used liberally without a method or purpose. After about 150 minutes and several times in the movie, you realise Anurag Basu wont let you go without showing the creative stuff - intermixing art film scenes, Chaplinesque comedy, extravagant landscape shots of Greens in Bengal and a touch of Hollywood musicals. All the efforts dont add up to a convincing film, it looks indulgent and irritatingly artful, sometimes. Ranbir Kapoor has done more experimentation than any Kapoor or Khan in their entire career - "Saawariya", "Rocket Singh",, "RockStar", etc. In his own career interest, he should now act in a script that enhances mass appeal than thinning his luck at the boxx office. Honestly, despite the artful touch, gaps in story-telling make "barfi" over-indulgent. For the effort, I would give it 2.5 out of 5 or else, the movie sucks but for the Emerging Star.
The narrative is confusing - and the director is unable to strike a balance between what he wants to convey and what will appeal cinematically. Flashbacks, which are the last refuge of the skilful director, are used liberally without a method or purpose. After about 150 minutes and several times in the movie, you realise Anurag Basu wont let you go without showing the creative stuff - intermixing art film scenes, Chaplinesque comedy, extravagant landscape shots of Greens in Bengal and a touch of Hollywood musicals. All the efforts dont add up to a convincing film, it looks indulgent and irritatingly artful, sometimes. Ranbir Kapoor has done more experimentation than any Kapoor or Khan in their entire career - "Saawariya", "Rocket Singh",, "RockStar", etc. In his own career interest, he should now act in a script that enhances mass appeal than thinning his luck at the boxx office. Honestly, despite the artful touch, gaps in story-telling make "barfi" over-indulgent. For the effort, I would give it 2.5 out of 5 or else, the movie sucks but for the Emerging Star.
