Yesterday I watched Barfi for the first time. (I am sure i
am going to, again and again). A lot of hype has been building up around it for
some time now. It doesn’t come as a surprise given its A lister starcast and
one genius of a director. But once the movie hit the theatres, the Barfi fever
just went viral. I am not so much of a movie buff, but all those overwhelming
reviews from friends and strangers, on net and in papers compelled me to give
it a try. And trust me, I am glad I did.
This movie is made so delicately and is filled with so many
vow moments that everybody who has loved it has something to come back for. I
personally loved the plot, the intense acting, the unique mode of direction
& the locations. I was captivated to find such a warm story woven
through the folds of my own kolkata. This is the city I have grown up in and it
makes me nostalgic to see such a lyrical potrayal.
But Barfi ended up being much more than just a ‘brilliant
movie’. In bits and pieces , I saw a reflection of my own life in it...the life
that goes beyond three hours..the life I breathe in.
“Love can be blind, mute, deaf, crippled or retarded...but
it still finds a way to stand by, hold your hand & touch your soul.” If
thats what Anurag Basu set out to show through his masterpiece, then i too have
a Barfi story to share.
This story is about two sweethearts who met in an art
college, fell in love , married and stayed happily ever after. But there’s only
one glitch in this perfect story...the girl was sick when they first met, and
she progressively fell more sick with time. And then came a day when her
kidneys stopped functioning and she was put permanently on dialysis. But their
love didn't die, if anything it only grew stronger to a point when one became
the shadow of the other.Theirs is a story that doesn’t have either a damsel or
a rich handsome guy...its about two ordinary people from humble backgrounds, living
and loving each other through sickness and in health,...through need and in
wealth...till death does them apart.
If you are wondering whose story it is....well I am lucky to
be born to them!!
To tell you the truth, a three hour movie would never tell
you how difficult it is to actually live with someone who is terminally ill.
You are always on a red alert mode, lest some emergency occurs. You are awake
for nights on end, nursing her, scared at every upset and heartbroken at every
sight of her pain stricken face. You cry out of helplessness, when inspite of
all you efforts she only gets worse but then you wash your face before entering
her room and crack a silly joke to make her laugh. No matter how deep the love,
beyond a point something just snaps off. You start getting irritated and wonder
whether you were born just to be someone’s life support.
But I guess just like Barfi, my dad is an aberration. His
love for my mom is as lucid as Barfi’s was for Jhilmil. There’s never a sign of
disgust or irritation on his face. Everything he does, every moment he lives is
in some way linked to his wife. Feeding her, dressing her, nursing her, he does
everything, everyday and always with a smile. May be because he doesn’t
consider it an unfortunate responcibility. For him it is a fortunate
opportunity to serve the one he loves most.
Many liked Barfi because it was an unusual love story,
imperfect yet beautiful, fragile yet concrete. But believe me, most perfect
love stories are born in unfortunate, broken circumstances. There are people
who love truly. Its not just a story....its a truth....one that surrounds me..
Thanks Anurag, you just reminded me to appreciate the true
essence of love once more.
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