A Bollywood

movie trailer is generating a lot of curiosity on social media platforms. If you are a movie buff, you must have seen the trailer of the movie ‘Barfi’ starring Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. If you haven’t, there’s a surprise in store for you!

The much awaited movie trailer has received immense praise from critics and audience, the most striking part being the complete absence of dialogues from the promo!

Yes, you heard it right. The trailer of the film completely relay on background score and emotions to convey its message. A first of its kind promotional strategy and it seems to be working wonders going by the interest it has generated.

The unusual qualities of the preview have left audiences awestruck with over a million views on YouTube and numerous shares on social networking websites. The 2.47 minute fast paced promo mostly has Ranbir Kapoor clowning around with his comic antics and one cannot miss his chemistry with Southern siren Illeana and the talented Priyanka Chopra, who plays an autistic girl with a very unusual look. It certainly seems like Director Anurag Basu has a surprise in store for us on September 14.

It’s important that you watch the trailer before we continue to talk about it!

http://youtu.be/yZxrao3zou4

Don’t you think it’s pretty brave on the part of the markers to release the promo in this (very innovative) package, considering it may have backfired by creating confusion for the audiences. But don’t confuse the silent promo as only a promotional strategy to generate interest. The promo infact conveys the theme of the movie as both Ranbir and Priyanka play the role of differently abled characters and hence have no dialogues in the movie. They will have to rely on their acting skills to convey their emotions.

Going by the promo it’s quite obvious that Ranbir has drawn inspiration from legendary characters “Charlie Chaplin and Mr Bean” to portray his deaf and mute character ‘Murfy’. Just to clarify the title of the movie has nothing to do with the Indian sweet Barfi. In the movie ‘Murfy’ is mispronounced by everyone as ‘Barfi’ and their lies the connection for the title. It’s also interesting that the initial choices for the title were ‘Silence’ and ‘Khamoshi’ which would

have perhaps gone well with the theme of the movie.

The silent promo was so striking that people thought the whole movie would be a silent film. Finally the movie’s director Anurag Basu had to deny the rumors.

The movie is supposed to be a dark romantic thriller set in the 1970’s. Not to be letting out the suspense, the movie is a love triangle with a twist as Ranbir and Priyanka portray differently abled characters (you will have to wait for the movie to know more).

If you remember Bollywood has had movies on disability; Black, Guzaarish, My Name Is Khan and Tare Zameen Par have dealt with various issues sensitively. It needs to be seen if the movie is successful in enthralling audience with its script and charm.

Staying with the silent promo, silent movies have had a long history in Indian cinema (1913-30) but with time we seem to have left the bygone era to the past. While Bollywood shies away from producing silent movies, ‘The Artist’ (a French silent movie) has bagged 5 Oscars this year. (Seems like we have the recipe for an Oscar win, anyone’s listening?)

For now the promo has changed audience perceptions and set high expectations. We will have to wait and watch if the movie is as sweet as the title.

What do you think about the promo? Share your views with us and let us know if we are right!