Aug 27, 2017 01:54 AM
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(Updated Aug 31, 2017 12:39 AM)
A book bought cheap after some haggling late at night at a railway book stall does an instant magic on a young woman(Bitti-Kriti)-of a one-horse town, Bareilly- who was going to play truant from home, the society frustrating her non-conformist ways. This strong-willed girl finds herself in the protagonist of the book. She determines to find the author and meet him. The author(Chirag Dubey-Ayushman), for certain philanthropic reasons, has forced a friend of his to lend his name and photo as that of the author of the book. With this girl coming into the picture, the real author, Chirag, wants to be sure about the girl. He presents himself as the via media to the author. The non-author author(Pritam Vidrohi-Rajkumar Rao), meanwhile, is absconding, tracing whom is no easy task. Chirag has fallen in love with Bitti but instead of complicating the situation by telling he's the author of the book, he decides to simplify things -which finally complicate, nevertheless-by bringing back the face on the back cover of the book, Pritam Vidrohi, and by getting him into the bad books of Bitti(= getting him rejected) so that with the rival dispatched, he can put forward his case with Bitti. Bitti likes him presently but as a friend only. But tracing Pritam is no mean task. And Pritam, at peace away from Chirag in his job of a saree salesman, draping and selling sarees, after being traced, is reluctant to do another chore for Chirag. Finally, Pritam is lifted and brought back, forced this time to forsake his real character of a submissive and docile gentleman and act like a loud, egoistic, two-penny ruffian so that Bitty rejects him. Appropriate training is given. In the meantime, the girl's parents, both unique in their ways, are rejoiced to find two suitable boys for their daughter, where there used to be none. But now the tension and conflict in the plot build up. What looked like a piece of cake becomes a hornet's nest. Things do not work as planned since the reluctant wearer of the author crown, Pritam, the non-author, is able to endear himself to Bitti, in spite of his efforts for the contrary. He, rather, is in love with the bridesmaid, a fire burning on both the sides. However, this fire of the subplot is extinguished and the one of the main plot flares uncontrollably as Pritam now shifts his attention to Bitti, Bitti already bowled over by him. Even Bitti's mother, usually critical of her choices is all for Pritam. Pritam is offered special'kadak' chai every time whereas Chirag has to settle for a weak'sherbat'. Chirag now holds a fire which nobody is interested in; he's burning in his own fire. Pritam has betrayed him, has turned real'vidrohi'. He has shed his character of docility and minces no words about his desire to marry Bitti. Chirag, the real writer of'Bareilly Ki Barfi', who was supposed to be the centre of attention, is sidelined and is back to the square one of rejection. But he's a large-hearted guy. He apologizes to Pritam for manipulating him into doing things and wishes him a happy married life with Bitti. But there is a twist. And finally, everyone is happy. Nobody has to turn Devdas in the movie.
What you will like immensely are:
Comedy of different kinds-situational, verbal, physical.Like in many comedies nowadays, humor is never too far even in sad scenes; it sometimes goes shoulder to shoulder with unhappiness.
You will enjoy the language used, not the high language but the real language as is spoken in Bareilley, the flavor of which everyone can savor.
Each scene is well crafted and edited so that the pace is fast. Humor and wit find space even in tight corners.
Acting-everyone is superb. Rajkumar Rao stands out with his versatile acting but then, everyone in this movie has done the task excellently. Even the minor characters stay in the memory. Ayushman has a certain charm and versatility that should take him places. Kriti Sanon is enticing as a bubbly, expressive girl. Pankaj Tripathi and Seema Bhargava are also great in very homely setting with little or no makeup. Moreover, there is excellent chemistry between all the actors. Nobody seems to be striving too hard to excel. Makes the movie likable as a teamwork and not just likable for a ton by Sachin or Kohli.
The script is nice, well-knit, edited well and never allowing the attention to waver.
The songs are okay. The setting of the whole movie is largely in places shown as that of a small town. No dream sequences of Switzerland, no fancy locales. In fact, they have made a good low-budget movie. Cinematography is good and so is the direction. Certainly, one must watch it, and in a cinema-hall, preferably.
