Team IBO Rating
User Rating
[Total: 2 Average: 4.5]
Synopsis: Mute Emotions, Loud Impact – An Unlabelled Love Story
Anurag Basu’s Barfi! is not just a romance drama—it’s a bittersweet terrain marked by silent smiles, stolen glances, and unspoken truths. The film centres on Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor), a young man with speech and hearing impairments who leads a mischievous and affectionate life amidst the verdant hills of Darjeeling and the wacky whimsy of 1970s Kolkata. When he falls in love with Shruti (Ileana D’Cruz), societal expectations get in the way. But fate isn’t quite done with him yet—meet Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra), an autistic woman whose love with Barfi is more than words. What ensues is a tale of unconventional love that is more real than most spoken romances.
Barfi! Movie Story- Wholesome, Witty, and Wonderfully Wordless
Barfi lives life his way, playing pranks on policemen, taking his bike through narrow alleys, and spreading smiles on faces wherever he goes. Shruti, who is drawn to a more “secure” world, has a brief but sweet first love affair with him. Years later, Barfi runs into his childhood friend Jhilmil, who has autism. A plot of kidnappings, heartbreaks, and heart-healing adventures unfolds as they flee the world’s judgments. Barfi’s life, told in flashbacks and Chaplin-like humor, gets you laughing from your heart and crying from your soul.
All About Barfi 2012
Ratings of Barfi! : | IMDb Rating: 8.1/10 |
Cast: | Ranbir Kapoor, Ileana D’Cruz, Priyanka Chopra, Saurabh Shukla, Sumona Chakravarti, Akash Khurana |
Songs: | Main Kya Karoon, Phir Le Aya Dil, Aashiyan (Solo), Saawali Si Raat, Ala Barfi, Kyon |
Movie Duration: | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Date on Screen (in Cinemas): | 14 September 2012 |
Barfi 2012 Release Year: | 2012 |
Streaming on OTT: | Amazon Prime, Netflix |
Trailers/Clips: | 2 July 2012 |
Director: | Anurag Basu |
Dialogues Writer: | Sanjeev Datta |
Screenplay: | Anurag Basu, Sanjeev Datta |
Music Director: | Pritam Chakraborty |
Genre: | Drama/Comedy/Mystery |
Visual/VFX Supervisor: | Nelson Dsouza |
Ranbir Kapoor’s Barfi Movie Review
Inside Box Office Rating: 4.0/5
Budget: 50 crore
Total Box Office: 175 crore
IBO Verdict: Super-Hit
Performances: Ranbir Kapoor performs a lifetime–playful, poignant, and precise in every frame. His expressive eyes and Chaplinesque physical comedy make Barfi endlessly endearing. Priyanka Chopra’s portrayal of Jhilmil is courageous and tender, never resorting to caricature. Ileana D’Cruz shines as Shruti, the woman caught between heart and mind, love and logic.
Music: The music director Pritam has done wonders with his music– all the songs are soul-soothing. Tracks like “Phir Le Aaya Dil”, “Aashiyan,” and “Main Kya Karoon” are deep and get etched in the hearts of the audience. The plot of the story is complemented by the beautiful tracks.
Writing and Dialogues: The writing is fresh, and viewers love the restraint in the movie. The brilliance of the story lies in the use of minimal dialogue, focusing on maximum visual storytelling. Anurag Basu’s screenplay lets the emotions speak, and the audience can well connect with the characters. The narration, laced with humor and heartache, cleverly moves between past and present, making the story linger long after it ends.
Cinematography: Barfi, with its magic, is a love letter to nostalgia. The beautiful scenario has been captured well by Ravi Varman. We are taken straight to the misty mornings in Darjeeling, golden hour glows in Kolkata, and witness the power of magical realism in the day-to-day moments.
What Makes the Storyline of Barfi Worth Watching?
Barfi! is that rare film that speaks directly to the heart. It celebrates differently-abled individuals without pity, love without labels, and life without limits. While some might find the pace leisurely or the non-linear timeline complex, it only adds to the film’s charm. The film is a cinematic gem due to its brave storytelling, outstanding performances, and endearing imagery.
Despite its charm, Barfi! has flaws. Its whimsical style occasionally overshadows the emotional depth, and the second half’s slow pacing can feel dragging. The portrayal of disabilities, though well-intentioned, feels overly romanticized and unrealistic. Some scenes come across as emotionally manipulative, and the film draws noticeable inspiration from international movies, raising questions about originality. Additionally, supporting characters like Shruti lack depth, resulting in uneven sections of the story.
Inside Box Office Rating: 4/5
