Why Barfi! and not ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ for the Oscars?
Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in Barfi! Movie Stills
“Barfi” was announced as India’s Official Entry to the Oscars recently, and that sparked of a heated debate. In every sense of the word, “Barfi” is indeed a beautiful film. It could make one choke up and still ensures that the smile just wouldn’t swipe off your face. “Barfi” was enjoyable, pleasurable and pristine – all at the same time. The film is having a fine rate of repeat audience and has been raking up huge moolah at the box-office.
But was it a good choice to be sent as a nomination for the Oscars? That will be a stern No. We give the film all its due credit, but the film fails to qualify the basic criteria of being Indian in essence. The film might not have been a product of plagiarism but it has heavily borrowed from various Hollywood films; which have inspired its conception and creation. The film despite having a great script and mesmerizing performances is not representative of Indian culture, ethnicity or Indian realities in any way.
“Paan Singh Tomar” on the other hand was relatively non publicized film. This film created ripples at a multitude of international film festival, including the London Film Festival and stars one of India’s Finest Actors, Irrfan Khan. This film holds evidence to the competent direction of Tigmanshu Dhulia, who has worked under veterans like Shekhar Kapur in “Bandit Queen”. Most critics lauded this film as a sheer little masterpiece. The pivotal reason why “Paan Sigh Tomar” should have been chosen over “Barfi” is essentially because of the Indian-ness quotient in it. The film very meticulously paints a picture of Indian realities, which most belonging to the ‘Mc-Donaldized’ India seem to overlook.
The film was biopic which tells the story of a medal bringing athlete who turned into a dreaded dacoit and throws light on the circumstances which led to it. The life of the real Paan Singh Tomar is tragic and curious, mostly interesting. The film very carefully blends tragedy, humor and drama to create an exquisite piece. Not to mention, Irrfan Khan’s compelling acting gives the film its added sheen. Biopics are stereotyped as boring cinema. And “Paan Singh Tomar” shatters the boundaries of cinematic genres by creating an enthralling film which will touch the hearts of each of its viewers and definitely not boring!
Paan Singh Tomar Movie Stills
Reputed magazines and dailies including The New York Times, could not stop singing praises of Irrfan Khan’s performance, stating that he gave the film a romanticizing factor and yet maintaining the honesty and the depth of the film.
It is a shock that the Jury at the Film Federation of India could ignore a film of this stature. The film has fulfills every parameter of being selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars, rather it was better suited. This makes us question FFI’s sense of judgment and knowledge of real cinema. Is there power play involved? Or they simply rewarded a film with a greater publicity quotient? Choosing “Barfi” over “Paan Singh Tomar” was an indignant decision, to say the least! It is a sheer insult to perhaps one of the most brilliant creations of Indian Cinema. This skillful narrative has the ability to rise against every odd, and we perhaps failed to give India a solid chance at getting home an Oscar!
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20 Comments
I laugh because Hindus hoped on Oscar for Barfi. You hoped on what? Americans will pass lie? You don’t make laugh. Priyanka’s game killed, it is full lack of talent! Or the director is guilty, what he forced it to play so? You think that Americans fools? Asperger’s syndrome so don’t play, watch the movie “Rain man”, Dustin Hoffman game is ingenious. Priyanka plays feeble-minded, but not Asperger’s syndrome. Barfi – the good movie, but is based on lie. If Barfi remained with Ileana, I would believe in this couple, but couple feeble-minded – the deaf is marasmus!
There are lot of message conveyed by Vicky Donor silently. Be it Marriage after divorce, intercast marriage, adopting a girl child happily, sperm donation, accepting daughter in law who cannot conceive etc etc. The Delhiites language and the acting, all seems like real and what we experience in daily life. Regarding Barfi not sure about the learning’s and take away from the movie. Acting from Ranbir, Priyanka is superb though.
pansingh tomar a originil story and welldirected and brillantly acted. ontheother hand barfi also welldirected andbrillant performences.but barrfis many scene were copied from charlichaplins movies and other hollywood movies.that is the big diffrences 2of them.
This is for those who have seen barfii. Have you noticed poster of charle chaplin once in movie after statue scene? Murfii was inspired with charle chaplin as I have inspired with many great personality and i would like to do as they did to achieve that.As murfii did to make jhilmil happy
Wake up people! Why do Indians claim to want respect & recognition for their film industry & the minute they get it, they still find something to crib about? This “self hate” attitude is the exact reason that Hindi cinema will never rapidly progress! Indians are way too judgemental against each other. Cinema is about experimentation, entertainment and the ability to transform the viewer into the screen. Barfi did all of that! When Bollywood makes comedies you complain! When films are too Westernized, you complain. When it’s too Indian, nobody goes to see the movie and it flops! When it’s a nice masala movie people say it’s regressive cinema! When it’s a nice love story, then you prefer action & the list goes on…. Nothing pleases you! I am not Indian but I LOVE & can appreciate Hindi cinema for what it is – growth, experimentation, beauty & entertainment! Why can’t you people appreciate the beauty that lies within your own people, country & film industry instead of hating & criticizing everything? Shame on you! I hope Barfi wins!
Paan Singh Tomar
barfi has been chosen just to boost barfi’s collections and that exactly what happened!
it think both movies were good but OMG OH MY GOD is far better than both of then i OMG is a True deserver of Oskar nominations. Omg is a finest movie of all time, But i was surprised by only 2.5 points by you. I think you should change your points to atleast 3.5 or more. Why do you think this movie was bad than Ek Tha Tiger, because you gave it 3 points.You give points to only famous actors but not The Best Actors such as paresh rawal. even a filmfare magazine gave it 4 points.
ofkors BARFI!!!
tho PST is also a gud movie but Barfi is the r8 choice for oscar…coz it has all da ingredients dt is required to mould da golden lady
Barfi is the right choice for oscars.