But I recently saw another film that I really enjoyed. But that's maybe because SRK is served up throughout the movie in small doses and at long intervals. The movie is 'Billu Barber' & and it's story centers around the title character, Billu, essayed by Irfan Khan. He has a wife, Bindiya (played by Lara Dutta) and 2 kids and lives in a village called 'Budbuda'.
The village itself is a very interesting hoi polloi of weird/demented characters (there's one who steals famous songs from Hindi movies and passes them on as his own). You have to remember that this is a Priyadharshan film after all, and the one thing that I really appreciate about his movies is that even the smallest of characters are usually well etched out, and his movies have a lot of characters.
Back to the film. So Billu runs a barbershop in the village, but not a very successful one as his shop is a decrepit, old run-down place; all his equipment is old and rusty and even his chair is on the brink of collapse (which it does, sometime during the film). And also because right in front of his shop, there is another, more upbeat, upmarket, new barbershop, which is giving Billu a run for his money; speaking of which, he hasn't got any, and is trying to apply for a loan so he can get some new equipment. In other words, he's pretty much miserable...but things are about to take a turn for the worse...
Enter Mr. SRK, aka, Sahir Khan in the movie. He's a big shot movie star who's currently shooting for a film, and are looking for an outdoor location. Sahir Khan suggests the name of 'Budbuda' village, as he's read about it someplace. The production crew is sent ahead to make the necessary arrangements in advance before Sahir Khan arrives and the shooting can commence. The news of a film shooting spreads like wildfire through the village, and everyone wants to meet Sahir Khan. Of course the rest of the film crew and security do no let that happen, and the villagers are dejected. That is when Billu mentions to his children in passing that he happens to know Sahir Khan personally and that they are good friends. The kids spread the news all around the village and the villagers they go beserk.They beg, plead, cajole Billu to introduce them to Sahir Khan. Everyone becomes his best friend and virtually overnight, he becomes the center of attention. They set out to fulfill his every whim, and he even manages to get new equipment for his shop, courtesy of Sahukaar Daamchand (played by Om Puri, a staple in Priyadarshan films), a powerful businessman who demands Billu to introduce hom to Sahir Khan, although he keeps telling the villagers that it would not be possible for the them to meet Sahir Khan, and keeps postponing the event. Life changes for Billu and he accepts these changes unwillingly. He never really tells anyone why wouldn't he take them all to meet Sahir. Eventually the villagers, including his wife and kids, start to suspect whether Billu really does know Sahir Khan or not, as the shooting is coming to an end and they have yet to meet the movie star. Life changes for Billu once again as the villagers decide to take matters into their own hands and boycott Billu as a lying cheat who only said he knows Sahir khan because he wanted to improve is status in the village. Even then, Billu remains quiet about the nature of their friendship.
During this time, the local school manages to get Sahir Khan to attend their annual function, on the last day of the shoot. By this time, Billu and family have been humiliated by the village and even the kids are ashamed of their father and don't want to be seen with him. At the function, Sahir is asked to make a speech, in which he starts off with how important education is, moving on to his current life and then finally, talks about his childhood. A childhood in which he had nothing but the very special friendship with a boy named Billu. He says that it was Billu who took care of him and eventually helped him in getting to Mumbai. Billu, who is standing at the back of the event, leaves without letting Sahir know that he was there. The villagers, after listening to this emotional rendition, realize their folly and take Sahir to Billu's house, where finally the two friends are reunited.
Wasn't that lovely? What really made me like this film was that it was a simple, sweet story, told very in a very non-comptemporary setting. The best part of the film was not once does it go over the top or does anything look out of place. It all looks very real. The village and it's inhabitants, the situations, even SRK (to some extent) look very identifiable. The movie has it's fair share of comedy (as I said, it's a Priyadarshan film) but not once does it look forced.
The performances were top-notch. SRK as Sahir Khan didn't really have much to do in the film, except of the last 20 odd minutes. Lara Dutta excels as the naive Bindiya. Rajpal Yadav as the poet with dubious talent is hilarious, as so is Om Puri, who plays the businessman who's always trying to save a buck or two. Billu's kids, especially the boy, manage to bring a smile on your face.
But the movie belongs to one man only, and that is Irfan Khan, who plays the role of the out-of-luck, hapless, simple barber to the T. He brings so much sincerity to the role that you actually feel sorry for him and want to help him out of his predicament. Honestly, this movie wouldn't have been half as good if it weren't for Irfan Khan. This is what they call perfect casting.
In case you are wondering, Billu never discloses about his friendship with Sahir Khan because he was afraid that Sahir probably wouldn't remember him and even if he did, would prefer not to recognize him as he had moved on to become a huge movie star, while Billu was nothing but a measly little barber. But you could have guessed that.
Overall, a very enjoyable film as it is different from what we usually get served from the great movie restaurant called Bollywood. Dig in, before it gets cold!
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