Released in September 2012, Anurag Basu’s Barfi is spreading its sweetness both nationally and internationally. Ranbir Kapoor (Barfi aka Murphy), Priyanka Chopra (Jhilmil Chatterjee) and Ileana D’cruz (Shruti) starrer Barfi, has been a huge success at the box-office. Not over with their celebrations at the box-office yet, the team already has one more reason to celebrate. The Film Federation of India (FFI) has selected Barfi! as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards in best foreign language film category.
Barfi is a romantic comedy set up in Darjeeling & Kolkata. It is a cute soul-stirring love story of Murphy aka Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor) a deaf & dumb boy. The first scene of the movie starts in present day Darjeeling, and takes the audience back into time. It is a tale of love lost & found, betrayal, poverty, crime and finally the death of the protagonist (Barfi) and his wife Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra). Ileana D’Cruz (Shruti) brings about that dash of freshness and despite being new, has done full justice to her role. There is no doubt that “Barfi” is a beautiful and clean movie, and has been selected over 19 other movies for the Oscars.
However, earlier this year saw 2 other major hits “Paan Singh Tomar” and “Kahaani”. Though, these movies did not have a star appeal or big names associated with it, these movies did quite well. Its surprising, that these movies have been mentioned nowhere. While everyone is basking in the success of Barfi, there has been no mention of the 19 other movies over which FFI have selected Barfi. So it is still a question, if FFI has considered the other 2 movies in the first place.
India & Oscar’s Connect
The Academy Awards were presented for the first time in the year 1929. India’s Association with the Academy Awards began in the year 1957. The first ever Indian movie to be nominated at the Oscar’s was “Mother India”. However, the Oscars was taken away by “Nights of Cabiria” in the same year. Excluding Barfi, India has since 1957 sent a total of 44 movies at the Oscars. However, out of these 44 movies, only 3 were nominated at the Oscars, Mother India, Salaam Bombay & Lagaan.
Till date, India is waiting for its first Oscar. Hope, Barfi spreads its magic and sweetness at the Oscars, and brings home its first Oscar. Not to mention though, individuals like Satyajit Ray, Bhanu Athaiya, A R Rahman, Gulzar and Resul Pookkutty have got the prestigious award in their individual capacity.
