Director: Priyadarshan
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in Bollywood are as beloved as Shah Rukh Khan. Ever since his toward recognition in the 1990’s, Khan has become one of the greatest actors in the Indian film industry. Whether it is star-crossed lovers, gangsters or doomed superheroes, Khan has proven he can portray many characters. Arguably, Khan’s finest strength as an actor has always been his charisma. He has often been of those rare actors with the abilities to use his charisma to attract audiences to the theatres. Through his abilities to play characters which prove to be compelling, Khan has created a legacy that’s lasting. Known as the Badshah of Bollywood, Khan has stood the test of time as a great icon in Indian Cinema. Despite reaching the ages of retirement, Khan hasn’t lost his passions for making engaging entertainment. An icon in India, Khan has become a bold actor whose movies commonly attract audiences to the Cinema. Throughout his long-lasting career, Khan has appeared in several unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Khan and adore all movies he has made in his career. However, “Billu” definitely stands out as his most underrated film. Released in 2009, Priyadarshan’s film offered a strong portrait of Indian poverty. Packed with breathtaking production, bold storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s an extraordinary Bollywood drama. At centre of it all is an incredible performance by Shah Rukh Khan, who embodies a famous movie-star that reconnects with a childhood friend. Although “Billu” is a captivating Bollywood drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing that tests viewers’ patience. Nevertheless, it offers strong entertainment for fans of Shah Rukh Khan.
“Billu” tells the story of a poor villager that struggles to make dreams come true. Irrfan Khan plays Billu, a poverty-stricken Indian hairdresser that has tense hardships to go through. Billu finds it challenging to make ends meet for his family that’s struggling to stand on its feet. However, Billu’s life forever changes when he is given chance to reunite with a friend. Sahir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) is a famous movie-star that has long held a childhood connection with Billu. Seeking an escape from harsh poverty, Billu strives to reunite with a friend that’s a celebrity. As all the odds are over time stacked against his favour, Billu questions whether he can ever overcome poverty disaster.
Priyadarshan has always been fascinated with themes of poverty. A fantastic Indian filmmaker, Priyadarshan has often created engrossing movies about poor individuals facing disaster. His award-winning movie “Hera Pheri” offered a captivating portrait of poor tenants that engage in con-artist crimes. With “Billu”, however, Priyadarshan created his first village drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture tense hardships faced by hairdressers enduring village poverty but he succeeded. Through captivating cinematography, Priyadarshan captured a poor villager embarking upon a journey to find his identity. Evoking Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Lagaan”, Priyadarshan deftly uses montages to capture a poor villager’s journey. For instance, montages elevate the hairdresser scene. During this memorable scene, Billu struggles to take care of a poor barber store. Using montages, Priyadarshan crafts a portrait of poverty that’s engaging. Montages are complex techniques to use in films. As Aditya Chopra’s “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” suggested, montages enhance romantic films. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Using bold visuals, Priyadarshan captures tensions poverty-stricken barbers are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Billu” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood movies you will ever see. Evoking Ramesh Sippy’s “Sholay”, Priyadarshan effectively uses the backdrop of villages to constrict musical sequences that are engaging. For instance, the village backdrop elevates the Marjaani song. During this heartfelt scene, Billu marvels in astonishment seeing Sahir Khan deliver a musical performance. Using villages, Priyadarshan creates a portrait of poverty that’s engaging. Moreover, music is magnificent. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing a heavy burden that poor barbers bear. Using strong production, Priydarshan captures villagers which endure tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Billu” is a Bollywood movie that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses dramatic monologues to capture lives of impoverished hairdressers which endure tension. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the friend reunion scene. During this emotional scene, Billu is overcome with bold emotions when he gets to reunite with Sahir after years of separation. Through stunning monologues, Priyadarshan crafts a portrait of poverty that audiences could easily relate to. Monologues are a complex technique to use in films. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Khabie Gham” proved, monologues elevate classic Bollywood films about dysfunctional families. Nevertheless, it works extremely in this film. Through a spectacular screenplay, Priyadarshan captures poor hairdressers facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Shah Rukh Khan delivers one of his best career performances as Billu. Khan first earned appreciation for playing romantic heroes in classic Bollywood movies. With “Billu”, however, he took upon his most personal role. It isn’t simple to portray a movie-star that faces adversity but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most comedic role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and grief of a famous actor facing tensions. It’s a strong performance from one of the finest actors in Bollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Shah Rukh Khan, the supporting cast is excellent and worthy of appreciation. Irrfan Khan is incredible, bringing compassion to a hairdresser that seeks to reunite with his long lost childhood companion. Lara Dutta is dazzling, capturing the charisma of a young woman that struggles to care for a family facing poverty in India. Lastly, Om Puri merits praise. As an elderly relative, he is unforgettable.
Although “Billu” is a breathtaking Bollywood drama, it isn’t a flawless movie. If there’s a shortcoming to the film, it lacks engrossing pacing. Priyadarshan’s decision to integrate subplots about village politics into the film is bold but hinders the pacing. Due toward this faulty technique, scenes capturing villagers seeking political elections aren’t entirely as engrossing as Billu’s hairdressers journeys. Therefore, “Billu” can’t quite capture tense hardships which poor hairdressers in India go through.
Nevertheless, fans of Shah Rukh Khan will absolutely love “Billu” and so would movie-goers seeking enjoyable entertainment. A captivating Bollywood drama, it honours a legendary actor with charisma in India.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about a hairdresser that seeks to reconnect with a celebrity companion, it’s a strong reminder about a legendary actor that has built a formidable reputation in India making memorable films which absolutely without a doubt deserve appreciation.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 