Barfi Movie Review

[bollywood]

Anurag Basu is happy that his film Barfi! has gone the Oscar way. The director, however, is upset about the plagiarism charges levelled against the movie and says that Barfi! is completely original. “It’s very difficult to make original cinema and I take a lot of pride in saying Barfi! is original. It baffles me why people are not appreciating the original plot, screenplay, characters and situations. The other films that are contenders for the Oscars are really good films. I am very privileged to be in that group.

I paid homage to the films and filmmakers that I grew up watching. Martin Scorcese and Quentin Tarantino have done the same. Does that make them thieves? Great moments of cinema that you’ve watched through the years, stay with you and come out in your work. It doesn’t mean you’re copying anyone. Thank God The Artiste was not made by an Indian. If it had been, it would have never been nominated for the Oscar, let alone winning the award,” Anurag told Mumbai Mirror.

Meanwhile Manju Borah, chairperson of Oscars committee, India defends the film.

"Had we selected any other film, we would have got the same response. I’m not bothered. Watching 20 films back to back, then choosing the best, is a tough job. There’s no vested interest. We don’t care who the maker is or who the star is. It’s the product that matters. Barfi!, we genuinely believe, is worthy," Borah told Hindustan Times.