Barfi! - A Classic Bengali Sweet(ness).

Love is blind they said. Love is deaf and dumb too, they never said. Thanks to Barfi for telling it silently yet loud.

A perfect blend of a classic love story with an experimental cinema, with a deep and strong story in the backdrop, that is understood even without the language.

CAST

Ranbir Kapoor in&as Murphy a.k.a Barfi

A deaf and dumb person, he lived as. A lot of hardwork is clearly seen. At the same time, the looks exactly portray a heartthrob from late 70's. You can never realize that he never spoke in the film. His presence was strong and appealing. His actions and facial reactions show his extrinsic growth and development in the genre of acting. Rockstar! Barfi! He is surely running on a different track from others. All the best Barfi bhaiyya. Ah! Ranbir.

Priyanka Chopra in &as Jhilmil Chatterjee

A strong appeal. Former Miss World, eminent Bollywood hottie, Bombay's dream-girl, etc. And breaking all that, she has proved to be a dedicated artist in the industry. That courage to take up such role, with poor and clumsy looks, really she is worth some appreciation. Though a bit of overacting at some parts, apparently lives as an Autistic patient. The innocence in both her face and body language, is quite applauding. Way to go Miss.

Ileana D'Cruz in&as Shruti Ghosh/Sengupta

Charming and Pulchritudinous girl of 1970's and homely yet sexy housewife of 1980's. A totally balanced performance. This characterization is the strongest in the film. She adds beauty to the film. Also did a subtle roleplay. A perfect import from the southern industry. Those trendy looks, can never be given by any of their bollywood queens. And her acting was way too matured. Kudos for such a portrayal of herself.

Other Cast

Rupa Ganguly in&as Mrs. Ghosh

A better mother. Fits in the role perfectly. A strong character but hidden at the backdrop.

Saurabh Shukla in&as Police Officer

Did well. An add on to both the story and and the cast team. His characterization is made very subtle and also very needed.

Ashish Vidyarthi in&as Mr. Chatterjee

Did his part well. Though not a big part of his, he has done well what he was asked for.

The Director - Anurag Basu

Such an eminent writer cum director. His Filmography says it all - Murder, Gangster, Life in a... Metro, Kites and now Barfi. A priceless gem added to his crown. The screenplay is put up in such a way that it is both technically strong and also conveys the story without any flaws. The characterization of each person is soft but fierce. Having two hot queens like Priyanka and Ilena in the team and still giving out a very decent film, takes a lot. An usual story, told in an unusual way. This man has given a new meaning to Love. Let this Cancer survivor live very long and give many more masterpieces.

TECHNICIANS

Cinematographer - Ravi Varman

Whattay Frame setting! A beautiful story showed in the best way, it could have been. Every scene in the film is perfectly framed and brings in all the elements needed for the feel. That 1970 look is perfectly given. Ileana must thank him for showing her in out-of-the-world looks in every frame. His presence is felt in almost every scene.

Editor - Akhiv Ali

The intercuts made, says his effort and potential. A narrative and complicated story. Swings from present to 70's and back to present. This goes on and on. But you never get lost in confusion. That, only a good editor is capable of achieving. He is a very strong support to the film and makes the audience sail on a slightly rugged sea-course but smoothly.

Music - Pritam Chakraborty

Having both the lead roles not speaking a word, only this man fills in the gap. He is always felt around somewhere in every scene. Makes it smooth, subtle and sweet. And the Sound Department artist Shajith Koyeri has really been a great support to the audio.

The Film

Gulab Jamun, Barfi and Rasagulla

Barfi! - A sweet, as it name suggests. It is a long narrative, narrated in am awesome way. The director had sculptured every character to it's best. Love is seen all over the film. Some may suggest that it is very slow. Yeah! It may be. But for such a script, that slowness is aptly needed. At the same time, it is not as boring. If someone needs a real good movie for a feel-good factor, this is one of the best choices.

One can see  the hollywood essence of a narrative story in this film. Every character narrates a part of the story and at last everything is interconnected and the best part is when every character was actually sitting in the same room discussing the story among themselves and it wasn't a narrative exactly. A bold attempt.

Shruti's character was the best of all. The characterization of a housewife coming out of the family ties just to live with someone whom she loves and who actually needs her presence very much at that moment is bold and acceptable. The portrayal of her inner feelings towards Barfi is shown by folding out Jhilmil in every picture they took together which make the audience go smile-wide for atleast a minute. Some with tears.

Though the film is original in its story narrative, it has the traces of various films and characterizations.

• Shruti's mother telling her own love story is exactly the same as that in 'The Notebook' - The famous love genre from hollywood.
• Ileana crossing-the-line of her marriage vows, by coming away from her husband just to live with Ranbir is almost the same as what Nargis Fakhri did in Rockstar.
• The mime abilities of Ranbir almost impersonate Charlie Chaplin in the style followed.
• The climax also goes in same line as that of The Notebook.

The 30 crore Indian rupees spent on it, has not gone in vain. Every 100 bucks spent on watching the movie in theatres, is the only tribute that can be given to such a masterpiece.

Bottomline - Most of them in it don't speak at all. The Movie itself speaks for them all, loudly.

Mugamoodi - The next door Super-hero!

No fantasies. Just reality. But fantasies work better.

This is not any first-time super hero story in Tamil cinema. Naan Sigappu Manithan (Rajnikanth), Guru (Kamal Hassan) were the pioneers. This Mugamoodi has a Superhero-look-alike outfit with a vacuum mask in addition. That is all.

CAST

Jiiva ~ Anand a.k.a Bruce Lee

Has done a perfect role. What he has been given, he has produced it rightly, without any flaws. Jiiva is proving in his every next script that he has the potential to play in any genre of films. Truly, becoming a versatile actor. The risks he had taken and the hardwork he has given in for the role is speaking up in the film. Good job!

Pooja Hegde ~ Shakthi

Not a big role for a heroine. She was the Second Runner Up in Miss Universe India 2010 and Runner Up in Miss India South 2010.  She doesn't look that stunning in front of camera. She is just there to fill a virtual gap.

Narain ~ Anguchaamy a.k.a Dragon/Master

He looks threatening in the first half. Has worked hard equally upto Jiiva. He has the natural acting abilities in him. But in the second half, trying to imitate "The Joker" from Batman, he has given in a bit overacting. At a point, his dialog delivery doesn't look threatening at all. Overall, a high-voltage villain on a power-cut day.

Nasser ~ Assistant Commissioner Gaurav

Always a versatile artist. He fits in the role perfectly. Almost imitated Batman : Gotham City's Police Commissioner Jim Gordon's character. The only flaw is where even the Police Commissioner wears a Khaki uniform in all the scenes while this man alone always shows up in a mufti outfit in all his scenes.

Girish Karnad ~ Anand's grandfather - A robot-scientist

Batman's tech-assist Lucius Fox's imitation. He had already been spotted in Villain roles in Kadhalan and Ratchagan. But this time, he has done a very simple and understanding grandpa's role. Nice work.

Selvaah ~ Sifu Chandru

Jiiva's Kung Fu master. A very good characterization. He has played it very well. Looks apt for a respected master.

Others : Anand's other grand father, father, especially his friends had all done a very good part.

The Director - Mysskin

More than others, his essence in the film is tasted or smelt in every single scene. He has scripted the story in the right path. No over-takings has been allowed anywhere. The story moves as it was planned. Mysskin every time proves his existence as a different thinker. His portrayal of the characters, (though had been an inspiration from the hollywood's Batman) has come out very well. The characterization for each element in the script is truly showcasing the 'creativity-in-reality' thinking of Mysskin, himself. That usual 'Adults Only' content which is invariable for each of his films, finds no spot in this one.

Mysskin and his films always have a thing in common. Both wear "Sunglasses". Yeah! That Night scenes and low lighting, is the signature of Mysskin.

TECHICIANS

Cinematography ~ Sathya

Awesome work! Totally a genius. The frames that were set, are a class above. He did not miss even a small element in the frame. Added such a beauty to the scenes. Working at a night-light atmosphere is not easy for a cinematographer. But this man has done a wonderful job and added even more elegance to the scenes. Those Top-angle views and Streetlight angles, which are the signatures of a typical Mysskin film, never failed to acclaim their spot in this flick too. The director and cinematographer's chemistry was sexy (Though the hero and the heroine had nothing of that sort).

He has shouted loud with his camera that 'Nights are always Sexy'. Kudos.

Editing ~ Gaugin

The cuts are really sharp. Not even a single blunt cut anywhere. Some scenes seem a bit lengthy due to absence of any cuts or jumps amidst. But that was purely to not spoil the essence of the film. He has played a perfect editor for this kind of film. Had the screenplay been better, his potential would have reflected even sharper.

Music ~ Krishnakumar a.k.a. K

Background scores fit in right. Few scenes could have had a faster BG so that their length wouldn't have been noticed. Two songs in the main film. 'Vaayamoodi' has got the appreciation. Others are also good. The only thing is that he got confused in between a Super-hero film and a normal script oriented Mysskin film. The Music volume is in the middle of both the above.

The Film

A Sumaar-hero story. Yeah! The director did not want to mess up with the fantasy stuff. He wanted his hero to be a very normal man without super powers but using his own abilities around his circle to curb the evil or crime or whatever. But that doesn't mean you should not add spice to the stunts. The showcase of building-jumping, wall-crawling were all fine and appreciable. But where are the over-hyped Kung-fu fights? Kung Fu is just this? No. The stunts and the Kung-Fu styles surely can have been better. At some parts, it looked like "Kick Ass" - The superhero spoof English movie.

The Love factor is an unwanted fill-in-the-gap factor added to the movie. It was immature and did not have any impact over the audience. Thank God! There was no love song played.

The director surely was confused between whether to show it highly technical and not to. Because, every thing has its own incompleteness. Let it be the tech knowledge of Girish Karnad or the designing abilities of the other grand father of the hero.

When the director is willing to copy or get inspired from a Hollywood flick like Batman and when he uses almost every element of that, he could have used them fully. No second thoughts at all. But, when half-import  is done, it looks bad on the screen. Its not about any logic factor. Its all about the expectation you create on the audience and that very-little-you-satisfy thing.

Overall, the film is surely an enjoyable one. Flaws occur everywhere. But at the end, creativity and hardwork wins. Yes! It has paid off very well. This will be surely a bold move. Super-hero stories, with perfect logic and structure are more to come in the Kollywood screens. This is just a rough opening to that.

A Superhero is the one who saves you from dangers. A Superhero movie is one which at times saves you from the slow and subtle reality cinema. This is one such. Well, half such.

Bottom Line : Mugamoodi is a Mugam-moodi (A Face-palm)

Mayakkam Enna - A Selva's Sedative !

A Cock-Tail that makes You Mesmerized !

A Good Wife is always the best company. A Good Film is only next to her. This is one such Good film portraying one of the Best Wives !

CAST

Madhesh Krishnaswamy ~ Ravi Prasad

Though the main character in the film, doesn't have any special role. Still, he does what he was asked for correctly. Nothing more nothing less.

Padmini ~ Pooja Balu
Vindhya ~ Shilpi Kiran
Ramya ~ Shilpi Kiran
Shankar ~ Mathivanan Rajendran
Sunder ~ Sunder Ramu

They all had very less to do and Sunder was actually doing good in few scenes.

Yamini ~ Richa Gangopadhyay

Find of the year. She doesn't look that good in many parts. But her acting makes us bow. Especially the scene in which she returns from hospital and cleans the blood stain on the floor. She has given Life to the character "Yamini". Also, her eyes are too expressive that they even express what is need to be delivered in dialogue. She will be honored for such a performance in recent future, hopefully.

Karthik Swaminathan ~ Dhanush

He is the man. In the first 20 minutes, he just lives a Life on a typical Indian Boy who has real passion. In the scenes where he doubts Richa to have a crush on him, he has given too much perfection and humor. In the scenes that portray him as a mentally depressed/affected, he has just lived the role. He did justice to the National Award that he already own.


The Director ~ Selvaraghavan

The Creator. He is a trendsetter right from the beginning. He started off such a bold venture, Thulluvadho Ilamai and continued with his "Negative Screenplay" genre till his last underdog venture Aayirathil Oruvan. Everyone expected this movie also to be of a similar tragic climax or otherwise the prevailing trend, Anti-Climax. Even the first part of the second half of the film too makes you feel that way. But the ending was quite a different one and he did not wanted it to be a drama. He gave what is real and what is exactly happening all around.

He used Individual Emotions as Trump Cards. Unlike his previous ventures, he had shown positive values of Womanhood. The dialogues are not down to earth or blood-boiling phrases or idioms. They are those words used by a youth these days in day-to-day life. The placement of songs was perfect. There was no mishap found in the arrangement of stuffs in the screenplay. Although the second half was a little dragging, it was actually needed for such a script.

This is not Dhanush's film or Richa's film. It's totally a Director's venture. Selva stands all alone in every frame of the film. Especially the acting that Richa shows, is purely something extracted from her by Selva. The emotions of a Man, who has been betrayed and the emotions of his Wife can never have a better shape than this. Selva - A Salute.

TECHNICIANS

Cameraman ~ Ramji


It's a photography based film. Obviously, the moving picture must have some special frames. It actually has extraordinary frames. Every frame speaks for it's own. No wonder that this man is directly here after finishing such a beautifully shown venture, Aayirathil Oruvan. Night Effects looked better than what's real. Even empty walls looked like mounted paintings. Thanks to the Cameraman.

Editor ~ Kola Bhaskar

Everything was fine and in shape except for a few scenes in the early portions of the second half. But again, that slowness was needed to fix the audience in the mood of the film. It did. Few sewuences had jumps. But they were managed effectively to some extent.

Music ~ G V Prakash Kumar

BGM was too good. Album is already a hit. This boy grows better every day and every film.


The Film

Another milestone in Tamil Cinema. Especially for people who complain that scripts are being repeated in the industry. This film reminds you of a Hollywood style. The story was strong in it's base and face value. The script was perfectly shaped up. The screenplay has been worked out after a long struggle. The film showed the efforts of every person acted and also every assistant director, assistant cameraman, assistant editor and even lightmen worked in the venture. It really makes you feel that Tamil Cinema is surely growing and moving a step ahead with such good directors.

Yes. The film is a bit slow in few portions. That can have been improvised. Songs were good and the making was great. The director made sure that the audience shouldn't have mood swings and gave a 2 hours and 25 minutes full of same rhythm in mood. At times, you even find yourself carried away into the life of Yamini and Karthik.

Overall, you feel contented to have not wasted your hard earned cash  and also will feel full to have watched a great film that exhibits unspoken emotions subtly and gently.

You'd like the film if you really like and respect good cinema and if you know to differentiate between Conceptual Cinema and Masala Make-up.

Bottom Line : At the end of the film, every man wishes to have a wife like Yamini while every woman wishes to take care of her husband like Yamini did.