Barfi, in spite of its unique lead roles, is a usual love
story set in the backdrop of Darjeeling of 1970s. The movie clearly is not
about disabilities.
Most of the stories in the Indian as well as the world
Cinema revolve around a Super hero. Not just the movies but any story for that
matter is spun around a bold guy and a beautiful girl. May be because that’s what is more attractive.
A few years back I read a story where the heroine, who is not attractive
challenges the hero, a writer to write a story about an unattractive bad
heroine. That story made me realize how much importance beauty or heroism holds
in our stories. Even if its not stated explicitly it is deemed that the
hero/heroine has certain pre-defined characteristics.
But Anurag Basu has an altogether different story to tell. The
hero is neither a rich man nor a strong one; he is just a good hearted and
cheerful young person who happens to be deaf and dumb. Even one of the female
lead is an autism-affected girl. But, the story doesn’t dwell on that subject. This
is what makes the movie unique and lovable.
