"Barfi!" is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Anurag Basu and produced by UTV Motion Pictures. The film features Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D'Cruz in the lead roles, with Saurabh Shukla, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Roopa Ganguly in supporting roles.
The film tells the story of a deaf and mute man named Murphy "Barfi" Johnson (Ranbir Kapoor) and his relationships with two women: Shruti (Ileana D'Cruz), a woman he falls in love with, and Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra), an autistic woman he befriends. Set in the 1970s and 2010s in the city of Kolkata, the film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and relationships.
"Barfi!" was praised for its performances, direction, screenplay, music and cinematography. It received several awards and nominations, including thirteen nominations at the 58th Filmfare Awards, where it won seven awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor for Kapoor, and Best Actress for Chopra.
The film was also selected as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film nomination for the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.
"Barfi!" was also screened at several international film festivals, including the Busan International Film Festival, the Marrakech International Film Festival, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim.
The film's music, composed by Pritam, was also a major success, with songs such as "Ala Barfi!", "Main Kya Karoon", and "Phir Le Aaya Dil" becoming chartbusters. The film's background score, composed by Sanjoy Chowdhury, was also widely appreciated.
The film's depiction of disability, particularly in the characters of Barfi and Jhilmil, was praised for its sensitivity and realism. The film also highlights the beauty of Kolkata and its culture, with many of its iconic locations serving as backdrops for the film.
"Barfi!" is considered to be one of the best films of the 2010s and is widely regarded as a modern classic of Indian cinema.
The film's success not only gave a boost to the careers of the lead actors, but also established director Anurag Basu as a master storyteller. The film's unconventional narrative style, which uses minimal dialogue and relies on visuals and music to convey emotions, is now considered to be a hallmark of Basu's filmmaking.
In addition to its critical and commercial success, "Barfi!" also had a social impact. The film's portrayal of disabled characters helped to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities and their families, and sparked conversations about the need for greater inclusion and empathy in society.
"Barfi!" is a film that continues to be celebrated and loved by audiences worldwide. It is a testament to the power of cinema to entertain, inspire, and bring people together, and its legacy will continue to live on for generations to come.
The film also left a lasting impact on the careers of its lead actors. Ranbir Kapoor's performance as Barfi is widely regarded as one of the best of his career, and helped to establish him as one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation. Priyanka Chopra, who played Jhilmil, won widespread praise for her portrayal of a character with autism, and the film helped to establish her as a serious actress who was capable of taking on challenging roles.
"Barfi!" also marked the debut of Ileana D'Cruz in Bollywood, and she was widely praised for her performance as Shruti. The film helped to launch her career in the Hindi film industry, and she went on to star in several successful films in the years that followed.
"Barfi!" is a film that continues to be celebrated and loved by audiences worldwide. It is a testament to the power of cinema to entertain, inspire, and bring people together, and its legacy will continue to live on for generations to come.
Apart from its impact on the careers of its lead actors, "Barfi!" also had a significant impact on the Hindi film industry as a whole. The film helped to usher in a new era of storytelling, with filmmakers increasingly experimenting with non-linear narratives and unconventional characters. It also marked a departure from the formulaic Bollywood films that were prevalent at the time, and inspired a new wave of filmmakers to push the boundaries of what was possible in Indian cinema.
In recognition of its impact on Indian cinema, "Barfi!" was included in the list of 100 Greatest Indian Films of All Time, compiled by the British Film Institute in 2018. The film continues to be screened at film festivals and retrospectives around the world, and is widely regarded as a classic of Indian cinema.
In conclusion, "Barfi!" is a film that has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. Its memorable characters, unconventional storytelling, and beautiful music continue to inspire and entertain audiences, and its legacy will continue to live on for many years to come.