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Barfi! backdrop

Barfi!

14 September 2012Hindi2h 31m
ComedyRomance
out of 10
Recommendedmost critics liked it
Monk Score · 15 critic reviews

Ranbir Kapoor shines in a warm, visually charming film that outstays its welcome.

Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Ranbir Kapoor's central performance
  • Criticised: Overlong, slow second half

Audience

User score 7.4 out of 10 from 33 ratings, Recommended
Read 6 audience reviews ↓

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Top cast

Full cast & crew

Critic consensus

What 15 critics are saying

Critical reception for Barfi! is largely positive, with most reviewers praising Ranbir Kapoor's performance and Anurag Basu's direction for handling disability with sensitivity and warmth. Pritam's music and the film's visual appeal also drew frequent commendation. The most consistent criticism across reviewers of varying scores is the film's excessive runtime and a sagging, meandering second half that tests patience. A smaller number of critics felt the narrative's non-linear structure and a misplaced suspense subplot prevented the film from fully realizing its considerable potential.

How the 15 scores spread

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 15 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (15)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Rediff

    Film review ·

    A well-crafted script with an intriguing back-and-forth narrative -- set in the present day, 1978 and 1972 -- Barfi! intrigues, right to the point somewhere down the middle, when it becomes more than apparent exactly what the film's story is, after which all goes south. And yet so impressive and earnest are most parts of Barfi! that one is inclined even to forgive its flawed centre; we want badly to overlook the film's peach-seed heart, and concentrate on the rest of its juicy joys. And these it provides in abundance.

  2. Top critic

    Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    This is a film made with love, bolstered by wonderfully etched vignettes, Ranbir Kapoor's stupendous performance and a gorgeous soundtrack by Pritam. And yet, for me, Barfi was a singularly frustrating experience there was so much to like, but the film never became more than the sum of its parts. As long as Basu stays with the love track, the film moves, but then we are sidetracked by suspense, which isn't all that suspenseful because you can predict exactly who did what. The film insists too hard that we find the magical in the mundane. I wish Barfi! the film was as magical as Barfi the character. See it for him.

  3. Top critic

    IBNLive

    Film review ·

    Sadly, Basu's film goes on too long and drags its feet in the end. Barfi had the potential to be great cinema, but as it stands it's a respectable film that's still better than a lot else you're likely to see. I'm going with three out of five for director Anurag Basu's Barfi. It's a treat like the mithai it takes its name from. Go on, indulge your sweet tooth.

  4. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Barfi'! does take several brave strides. It's good in many ways; what stops it from being a great film is a degree of fuzziness, and an insistence on prettiness.Still, I'd weigh in on the film's side. It is so hard to find a Hindi film which does disability with any seriousness, and with sensitivity. 'Barfi' has its heart in the right place, and doesn't waver from its intentions

  5. Zee News

    Film review ·

    Anurag Basu's 'Barfi!' is a perfect sweet treat for his audience. Like it has been discussed, those film makers who have been portraying the handicapped as dull and boring in their films must take a lesson from 'Barfi!'. Go and savour it!

  6. DNA India

    Film review ·

    From start to finish, director Anurag Basu never gives up on Barfi's quirkiness. The storytelling leaves you positive, rekindling a lost belief in old-style, unconditional loving. For someone who cries easily at the movies, Barfi! is a thorough tearjerker. Dissecting a film that left you speechless is difficult. Just let go, indulge in the magic of Barfi!

  7. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    Everything that has to go wrong will go wrong, but not if you brave it with a broad smiley. So 'mute' the high decibel chaos and deafening melodrama around and tune into Barfi ki duniya; which is simple, sweet and SILENT! Yet, extreme emotions of love, joy and pain resound - at different 'frequencies'.For a story riddled with disabilities, Barfi is more than ably handled by Anurag Basu. He remarkably immerses you in his world of sounds and verbose silences, recreating Chaplin's antics, stripping two superstars down to basics and sensitively spinning a magical world of unconditional love. The narrative is too non-linear at times, and the pace slows in the second half. That apart, it's truly path-breaking for Bollywood.

  8. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    The late Rajesh Khanna put it across marvelously in the memorable ANAND, 'Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi.' Notwithstanding the roadblocks in our lives, one should celebrate life every single moment, every single day. That, in a nutshell, is the essence f Anurag Basu's BARFI!. When we meet/see differently-abled people or special people, we may have a notion that they live a gloomy, grief-stricken life. BARFI! shatters the myth.

  9. Filmfare

    Film review ·

    Barfi! is that rare film that can make you smile and make you cry in the same scene. Its technical brilliance is only outdone by its emotional complexity and depth. Pritam's music adds a nice silent-era charm to this already fantastic story, making it an occasion when words simply aren't enough.

  10. NDTV

    Film review ·

    Barfi! celebrates life without dismissing the dark passages and roadblocks that we often encounter as we travel through that craggy road to death.To be able to celebrate life so warmly and sensitively the filmmaker has to know death closely. Basu, a concer survivor, has been there.Barfi! comes as close to being a modern masterpiece as cinematically possible. To miss it would be a crime. To embrace it is to serenade the sublime.

  11. Bollyspice

    Film review ·

    All praises aside Barfi isn't short of its minuses. There are moments when the film gets droopy, with two of the primary three characters not having any dialogues; the silence gets unnerving that you fight the urge to not get distracted. However thankfully Ranbir flawless act saves the day.With heaps of charm and poignancy, Barfi traces human spirit, relationships, thru chaplinesque comedy in some parts and smiles through tears in many others. You get as involved in Barfi's journey as all his fellow co-stars and you're taken on this breezy ride with the right amounts of effervescence, leaving you with warmth in your heart.

  12. KoiMoi

    Film review ·

    What's Good: The spell-binding direction; the wonderful performances; the cinematography and the music.What's Bad: The movie stretches a bit; the plot gets convoluted in between.Loo Break: None.Watch or Not?: Barfi! is a movie that will tickle you and bring tears to your eyes with equal ease. Don't miss this sweet story.Barfi! leaves you with that warm, cuddly, magical feeling with a few tears to match. It's really worth a watch.

  13. Glamsham

    Film review ·

    BARFI! is a one-man show - Ranbir Kapoor.Barfi and Jhilmil together is just not logic. It is tragic. Take away the character of Jhilmil and Basu would have been on a roll.There are a few poignant moments in the film and this is thanks to the three 'bechara characters' who tug at your heart. Visually, the film is appealing. It has a different treatment and a hatke cinematic appeal. The three star rating is not for the brilliance of the film; it's for the genius of Ranbir Kapoor. A performance worth a watch!

  14. The Navhind Times

    Film review ·

    The film has a heart and characters are eminently likable, but on the flip side, here we go - it is too self indulgent for its own good and clocks over two and a half hours. Towards the end you look at your watch more than once.

  15. Komal Nahta's Blog

    Film review ·

    Had the drama been more compact and linear, the film would've been far more universal in its appeal. The post-interval portion, especially, is long-winding and, therefore, boring. .On the whole, Barfi! is a heart-warming love story which is different. It will be loved by the class audience and the city-based public, especially by those who frequent multiplexes. As for the masses of the single-screen cinemas and the audience in 'B' and 'C' class centres, they would not find the film as satisfying.

From our readers

Audience reviews (6)

33 ratings · user score 7.4

  1. PammiMay 2013
    6/10

    Burfi is a good movie of recent times. A real good entertainer which gives smile as well as tears on the audience. A don't miss movie.

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  2. Sandeep GuptaMay 2013
    8/10

    There are movies that entertain and then there are movies that entertain and stay with you forever. Barfi is just the second type. Barfi puts on a big smile on your face with an imaginative song put on before the movie starts itself and there onwards there is no looking back. Set in beautiful hill station Dargeeling, the story revolves around the world of deaf-mute, happy go lucky boy-man Murphy (called as Barfi) effortlessly played by Ranbir Kapoor who makes you dumbstruck in every frame he is in. Barfi falls for soon to be married Shruti played by southern superstar Ileana D Cruz. Ileana looks pretty throughout and impresses you especially in her Bengali avatar. The first half is all about Barfi while second half belongs to autistic Jhilmil played by Priyanka Chopra. Priyanka Chopra makes her character unbelievably believable and in fact she almost steals the limelight from Ranbir Kapoor when the movie is over. Her performance will be remembered as we remember Rani Mukerjee for Black. But actually, behind all these stellar performances lies the sheer brilliance and imagination of writer-director Anurag Basu who keeps the movie evenly paced and mixes the funny and emotional moments with ease. Although Anurag Basu let the movie go a bit lengthy by introducing an unnecessary suspense sub-plot but fortunately it's over before it spoils your fun. This is a movie which asks you to watch it again and again so that you can live those countless beautiful moments. You will find yourself running out of adjectives when appreciating the performances delivered.

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  3. NeonikaMay 2013
    6/10

    While this film did not blow me away as I hoped it would, it had its tender moments and the impressive style akin to French cinema. The performances are believable (I particularly liked Ileana D'cruz) and the film makes a distinct statement that mainstream Hindi cinema is finally coming of age. Some of the unrequired frills that I found distracting included the serenading group of three strange men (which i felt was borrowed from the animated film 'Rango' where a group of owls do the exact same thing). Overall, the film does not quiet achieve the sensitivities of a timeless classic like 'Sadma', but it still tugs at the heart and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling.

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  4. FindingSenseJun 2013
    8/10

    Barfi may not showcase an original story but does have a powerful impact of its' own. It unfolds a story which may not be very easy to relate to our daily lives but the emotions that come out in every part of the movie is very thought - provoking. The story actually uncovers the gradual change that each character undergoes in the movie. Ranbir's acting is effortless and brilliant. His acting proves that emotions don't have a language. Even a deaf and dumb individual can express himself equally well as a normal human. Ileana looks very pretty and acts well too. On the other hand, Priyanka shows lot of hard work towards building her character well. Overall, the movie is going to make you cry and successfully makes you live in the moment...it somewhere proves that it is not always necessary to find happiness through materialistic pleasures. There is lot more to life (than money and wealth)which are much more precious for our happiness.

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  5. Midhun Ben Thomas (Dilseben)Sept 2016
    8/10

    Bollywood has seen the emergence of a new crop of actors in the last few years especially with the Khans & Kumars well into their mid 40s though there is no doubting the star power that these individuals still hold. However, among the younger lot; if there is one guy who has really caught the eye, then it has to be Ranbir Kapoor, the talented scion of the Kapoor khandaan. After having swept the awards last year for "Rockstar", he is back with his latest venture "Barfi", directed by Anurag Basu. The promos promises to be better than "Rockstar", but will it actually be??? Shot in the picturesque Darjeeling & Kolkata, the film is spread across three time lines which runs parallel to each other starting from the 1970s to the present day. Barfi (Ranbir) is a deaf & dumb lad who had lost his mother at birth. Though he was actually christened Murphy, owing to his parents likening for the Murphy radio ads, his vocal inability made it sound like Barfi & that name invariably stuck on him. He was a prankster who believed in living life to the fullest & lighting up a smile on everyone. His charm worked on everyone including Shruti (Ileana), but the reality of life made her listen to her brain rather than her heart. It invariably broke his heart & subsequently brought into his life his childhood friend, Jhilmil (Priyanka), an autistic gal & daughter of a wealthy family. Both of them found each other's presence assuring and indispensable. But what is life without twists & turns. After the forgettable "Kites", Anurag Basu is back with a gem of a movie which is both touching & delightful while not being sympathetic or preachy towards the indispositions of the protagonists. Actually the moment the credits starts rolling, you cant help having a smile as it's quite unique from what we usually hear which I am however not going to mention here. After having watched numerous sick slap stick comedies, it was a welcome relief watching some clean humorous moments which has been inspired from Charlie Chaplin & Mr.Bean. In addition, there are some truly heart wrenching moments be it Barfi expressing his anguish on being rejected or frantically searching for Jhilmil in the Special care home. If at all I could point a flaw which is miniscule then it has to be shifting of time periods towards the latter half of the film which could get a tad confusing. Essaying a character solely on the basis of body language & expressions requires a fair degree of brilliance which Ranbir invariably does. He was just fantastic to say the least as he evokes laughs & despair with equal finesse and ease. In short, he will be sweeping all the awards as it's much better than even "Rockstar". Ileana has done herself a huge favour by debuting in a film which offered her a meaty role into which she digs gleefully. Not only is she beautiful but she has packed it with a sincere and touching performance with her expressive eyes. Priyanka's caliber as an actress is well known be it "Fashion" or "7 Khoon Maaf" & here also she has come up with a delectable performance making sure that it doesnt become a caricature or overtly sympathy seeking. The rest of the cast also deserves a pat on the back be it Saurabh Shukla, Rupa Ganguly etc. It would be unfair to wrap up this review without acknowledging the superlative performance of the crew starting with Ravi Varma's visuals which was an absolute delight moping up the beauty of Darjeeling & the hustle bustle of Kolkata in ample measure.Similarly, Pritam's music & background score was in sync with the mood of the film and makes up for the silence of Ranbir.This film will be making a clean sweep of many of the awards next year & will be the one to look out for. Verdict: The film is unlikely to have a wow factor on its opening day as it has very limited release in single screens.However, the Multiplexes will make the cash counters ringing especially with positive word of mouth. As one would expect, it will be big in the metros but not so in the smaller centres which usually decides whether the film reaches the 100 cr. mark. Anywaz my advice to you guys are to watch it for sure, coz it's just fantastic. So please dont miss it!!! Rating: 4.25/5 Regards...Ben

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  6. Shashwat SisodiaNov 2019
    7/10

    I admit that I really submit all my ways if a Hindi film gives me emotional, manipulative trappings. Anurag Basu tends to do just that in his sweet, absorbing 'Barfi!', which stars Ranbir Kapoor in what can be called one of his most original performances, outweighing Ileana's sincere act or the charming innocence of Priyanka Chopra. As a lead, he carries sweetness and is very absorbing. The film, as well, is amazingly entertaining. The writing is less in the script and more to the story. There are contrivances though, like the dragged running time and no seamlessness in the present-day sequences. But all this aside, 'Barfi!' is seldom unenjoyable and always worth having. It's sweet tooth is milky but strong. The film's beauty shall arrest you equally. Watch it, because it is the sweetest Hindi film you will seen this year. It is not a full-blown original, but one that's got all the heart in the right place. And, it is equally a magnificent film that carries solidity in its love story. As 'Murfi' transitions from childishness to maturity and repeat, you go on with him, loving his journey. That too, makes the film worth repeat viewing.

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