His parents named him Murphy, but everyone calls him Barfi! Always ready with a prank up his sleeve, he's quite the charmer, especially with the ladies! In Darjeeling, Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor) is the talk of the town. Even though he can neither speak nor listen!

His bitter-sweet relationship with two beautiful young ladies, Shruti (Ileana D'cruz) and Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra) sets in motion a chain of events that will turn his life upside down! A heart-warming tale of selfless love and about finding happiness in the smallest things in life; that tells you no matter how tough your life may be, 'Don't Worry. Be Barfi!'

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Romance is never easy. Neither is bringing it to the big screen, though Anurag Basu -- a filmmaker inherently gifted when it comes to visual imagery and metaphor -- is a fine man for the job.

He can roll up his sleeves and whip out one peachy moment after another, keeping things wonderfully endearing while poking the audience ever so forcefully in the gut with a monkey-wrench.

He is then to be commended for his latest, Barfi!, a film that admirably refuses to yank the sympathy cord. Instead, it creates genuine characters and a truly charming relationship before, alas, one of his lead characters chooses not to follow the director's example and instead mistakes sympathy for love, making for a lesser film than it deserved to be.

Plot

There has to be something really special about a movie with two of the lead characters disabled in some way and the third always missing something in her life, and yet it never bogs down the movie or the story. Barfi! is lovely in a touching way that is difficult to define.

Narrated by different people in Murphy a.k.a Barfi’s (Ranbir Kapoor) life, the movie starts with Shruti (Ileana DCruz) and Barfi’s romance. Engaged to be married to her college sweetheart, Shruti moves to Darjeeling with her parents. But here she falls for the charms of the mischievous and loveable Barfi. Barfi may be deaf-and-dumb, but he’s quite a handful for his father and the local policeman (Saurabh Shukla).

There’s also the sort-of-romance between Barfi and Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra). After being hidden away from society by her parents in a special home because of her autism, Jhilmil is brought back when her parents want a share of the grandfather’s heritage. While dealing with Jhilmil proves increasingly difficult for her parents, Barfi knows to handle her well and genuinely cares for her.

Their paths intertwine in somewhat complicated ways with a journey to Calcutta, a bank robbery and a more-sweet-than-bitter love triangle.

Performances

Ranbir here has no dialogue, yet says so much with the serene smile, overt gestures and sign language, reminiscent of the tramp-like aura of Raj Kapoor. Priyanka Chopra's Jhilmil is an autistic 'reject', having no dialogue again, yet moving one to tears every time she runs behind old and worn out friend Barfi. Ileana D'Cruz is a find. Being the only central character to have dialogue (very minimal again), her eyes convey much more than the spoken word. Saurabh Shukla, Ashish Vidyatharti, Akash Khurana are all effective in their roles. Rupa Ganguly's character comes across as unintentionally funny, but it's too insignificant to dwell upon.

Overall

Barfi! is a thorough tearjerker. Dissecting a film that left you speechless is difficult. Just let go, indulge in the magic of Barfi!

Pritam has been hit with several allegations of plagiarism in recent times. With Barfi!, the music director hits back at critics with a vengeance through the soundtrack that has eight numbers. It's vintage Pritam at his best.

The album kicks off with the title track Barfi! with the sound of whistles greeting the listener. The song has a very English charm and has Mohit Chauhan behind the mike. He provides a light and soulful start to the number, bringing a smile on. Its peppy yet simple beats are a total delight, while the lyrics bring out the naughtiness of Ranbir's character in the movie.

There is another version of the song Ala Barfi!. Crooned by Swanand Kirkire, this is a bit different from the original and has more focus on the vocals. It is reminiscent of Kishore Kumar's quirky melodies of yesteryears.

Next up is Main kya karoon, a romantic track penned by Ashish Pandit and crooned by the melodious Nikhil Paul George. The song recalls the fervour of young romance and the tune is very new age with a very soft feel. However, it is the singer who steals the show here and makes you fall in love with the song.

Assam's poster boy in Bollywood, Papon, takes you back in time with the old school Kyon, penned by Neelesh Mishra. The sound again is very mellow. It is unusual in its feel and is Papon's show all the way. His raw voice is impeccable, but he also gets good support from Sunidhi Chauhan in the vocals, making the track a fine composition.

It is followed by Aashiyan, which has a very Spanish feel to it with very good use of flute and other instruments. It's a very sweet song with a mesmerising composition by Pritam. The voices of Shreya Ghoshal and Nikhil Paul George blend oh-so-well to create the perfect mood.

Next on the playlist is Sawaali Raat. It has a whispery tone and is something you surely haven't heard in a really long time. With its romantic undertones, the song is unique and it's hard to say whether it's a lullaby or something else. Arijit Singh of Raabta fame simply bowls you over with his harmonious voice making you put this track on loop.

Rounding up the album is Phir le aya dil. Singer Rekha Bhardwaj lends her distinct voice to the number, which makes its way to your heart. The composition is good with the interplay of piano and guitar, laced with Indian sounds. Pritam deserves all the kudos for composing such a wonderful song.

It also has a reprise version by Arijit Singh. It is as pleasant as the original but has a more ghazal feel to it. There are different moods here - at times an Indian feel with the tabla and in some intervals, a jazz feel with the piano. However, it is the singer who sets the mood right by creating a captivating experience for the listener with his profound voice.

Overall, the soundtrack is a joyride sans flaws. Pritam has given many hits, but like his tunes in Life... in a Metro, this one will be remembered for breaking the monotony in his sound. There are no foot-tapping numbers or remixes here, but the simplicity that makes this album a winner.