Barfi! - Why I like it so much?

Barfi! (2012)

Movie and it's philosophy

There are 2 ways of looking at a movie like Burfi.

1. This whole thing is nuts, "Aisa kabhi hota hai kya? You need so much more to make a good living"

2. Try to see the world thru  the eyes of Burfi and Jhilmil - and believe in "small is beautiful".

If you strongly believe in  thought 1- the characters and the movie are not for you. You might feel the movie is a fairytale. A misfit in today's world.

But you're not wrong, It indeed is, in a different way.

However if you are of thought 2 or willing to believe in Burfi- you might resonate with the immense happiness that is Barfi!

In his interview here, Director Anurag Basu explains the core of Barfi at 5.50.

I couldn't put in better words myself- That is the whole reason why I loved Burfi so much and I could related to it completely.

He says,

"We, as a generation are much further from the concept of pure love. To survive in our times, We need much more than love and happiness. At least that's what we believe.

But the idea of Burfi is to show that pure love and happiness can be obtained via simple things in life- small moments and simple pleasures!"

It is our tragedy that this simplistic thought is looked upon as a fairytale in our complex world. We - the normal people are incapable of appreciating this thought.

May be that's why the story needs to be told thru a deaf and dumb Burfi who finds his happiness with Autistic Jhilmil. Because their inability to analyze this consumerist and complex world actually gives them a superpower - The ability to realize "small is beautiful".

That’s why the movie is a misfit in today's world. We've moved so much away from the basics that anything so simple and yet beautiful - is looked upon as impossible.

Characters

Some of the most beautiful (not good looking) characters I've seen. Though Anurag Basu is not A1 director, he's tried his best.

Burfi-

This guy is our hero. He sings, dances, steals nonetheless has a heart of gold.

Look for a bit more- His is a tragic life. He doesn't have anything great to look for, but the guy is one hell of an optimist.

All the slapstick comedy and running around , mischiefs in the towns - that is his way of coping up with big bad world.

You can see his charming blah blah blah side during the ephemeral romance with Shruti, But that is but one side of Burfi.

The real Burfi comes alive when he's with Jhilmil.  His initial frustration and agitation slowly giving way to a mature  & caring husband.

This puzzles me - What makes him change from a boy to man? The innocent and vulnerable nature of Jhilmil? The trust she shows when she passes the Light-pole Test?

The smile she throws when Burfi greets her everytime?

Jhilmil

Jhilmil enters in the story almost past the halfway mark. She's there in the beginning alright, but she's not into the story till Burfi Spots her.

Jhilmil's world is simple- Muskan & her house. Only loving people being Daju and Maalti mausi. Everything turns upside down after the kidnapping.

Now understand this - A change this big might be shattering for us, but it doesn't shock Jhilmil beyond the initial shock.

We never really know what she thinks and what makes her happy with Burfi. I wish we could see more of Jhilmil's point of view.

The only time  we get to know Jhilmil is during the Durga pooja scene  when we see what she's thinking.

2 standout Jhilmil moments for me are - When she tries draping a saree to imitate Shruti  and when she covers Burfi from the "preying" eyes of Shruti.

Shruti

Disclaimer- I hate her. More than Jhilmil hates her. Because as she says at one point - "whenever I entered Burfi's life, I brought nothing but misery and troubles".

Indeed she does. Why the hell she disturbs the poetic nature of Burfi & Jhilmil's existence?

Barring my personal idiosyncrasies, This is a brilliantly written character. (not so brilliantly directed).

Shruti is normal human. She thinks about the society, her future and her own self. She has taken calculated decision in every step of her life.

Shruti can't just marry Burfi- because she thinks of future, financial security and such norms of society.

Shruti cannot perceive the purity or naiveté of Burfi's philosophy during their brief romance. She cannot grasp the purity or simplicity of Jhilmil and Barfi's relation later.

She represents us- normal people who live within their limitations.

That's why she's a powerful narrator - we can relate to her more than we can possibly relate to either of Burfi or Jhilmil.

And that's why I hate to see her in every frame- she reminds me of my sorry little materialistic existence.

Bitch.

Direction & story/screenplay

 Controversies galore!

Story - nicely written. We can debate about the screenplay and some of the scenes later but there's no denial that the story is good.

Screenplay - Hmm! As per Mr. Basu he chose the non linear narrative to add more meat. I agree- a Linear narrative might have been predictable and boring.

No disrespect, but It would have been difficult for Mr. Basu to entertain us with a linear narrative- we need a director of higher caliber for that stuff.

So well done Anurag Basu!

Direction - "Why Anurag Why?"

Why copy random scenes from well known movies (notebook/ singing in the Rain/ Kikujiro/ a Swedish Ad!) frame to frame, and then put them in the movie?

Moreover, none if these scenes is critical to movie as such - they're just there because Director liked them so much! Absolutely unnecessary.

Copying Chaplin- Fine. You can get away with That. But not this.

I respect you less for all this "heavy lifting".

Treatment - Multiple Wins here. Subtlety which is not a virtue of Bollywood, is being explored almost to the perfection. The light hearted treatment of Barfi's life and various sad moments in later half.
Songs used almost perfectly to carry the story forward.

I could Add lyrics and Music, but that would be too much.

Hence stopping here.