I had given up writing reviews, as I was under the impression that nobody reads them, but having been told otherwise during an encouraging pep talk from some dear friends, I am going to resume my ritual of reviewing books and films on Kamal’s Korner…and what better than to start with than the… oh, so delightful…BARFI!

A charming film from start to finish, both Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra have given award-winning performances! They have shown their mettle before in Rockstar and Fashion but in BARFI they have taken their acting abilities to a whole new dimension. The writers stretched out the story a little too much, but the humor is so delightful that you willingly indulge them. The cinematography, from the serenity of the hills in Darjeeling to the bright lights of Calcutta, is simply enchanting… but what really holds this film together is Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of a deaf and mute young man with spunk, charm and a terrific sense of humor. RK has done his family name proud…this young artist is indeed the grandson of Raj Kapoor! He has his grandfather’s skill for Chaplin meets Mr Bean type comedy, but within seconds, he can move you to tears.

Equally endearing is Priyanka Chopra. She has shed her glamorous Miss World image so completely to enact this innocent, autistic girl with everything from the vacant eyes to the twitching fingers. Move over Rainman and let PC show you how it’s done!

The supporting actors are also good. South Indian actress Illeana D’Cruz has a lovely, chiseled face and sweet, likeable demeanor. Where in the south do they hide all these stunning, beautiful women? Then there is the other end of the spectrum, in the form of the policeman with his inevitable comb-over who dreams of retirement but has this thorn in his side in the form of Barfi…LOL!

I loved this movie and highly recommend that you go see it on the big screen.