Review of Barfi! (2012) by Faiz D — 17 Sep 2012

Okay so when I went to watch Barfi, I admit I was apprehensive I'd be subject to another of Bollywood's soulless, forced comedy pictures. But I was pleasantly surprised when Barfi exceeded my expectations, by a long margin.

It is an unusual movie, with a dash of surrealism here, a pinch of jibe-at-bourgeois-society there. One thing the movie does really well is being hilariously carefree. The gorgeous backdrop of Darjeeling and Ooty perfectly compliments Barfi's carelessness. The cinematography is brilliant. Barfi is a beautiful movie, you'll believe me when you see it.

The acting is top notch, especially Ileana and Ranbeer steal the show. However Priyanka's overcooked performance is a blemish. Real sad that Anurag Basu couldn't find a better actress to portray such an integral role. All the other actors never look out-of-place. The hapless sub-inspector's performance deserves mention.

There are a few flaws however. The movie should have ended when Barfi dies. That should have been THE END, why the director chose to drag on the movie needlessly is beyond me, although it might be because he wanted the audience to go home feeling happy(which however makes no sense to me). The reason behind Jhilmil's kidnapping could have been explained better. But these minor issues apart, Barfi is a fantastic movie. Go watch it if you haven't already!