Bareilly Ki Barfi

Bareilly Ki Barfi, a 2017 Indian romantic comedy film, directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, is built around a fun, small-town narrative, woven with the flavors of Uttar Pradesh. With an engaging star cast of Ayushmann Khurrana, Kriti Sanon, and Rajkummar Rao, the movie bangs on the drum of love, life, and laughter, while capturing the quirks and characteristics of a small town.

The film is based in the old-world charm of Bareilly, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, which adds a whole different flavor to the story. The town is reflected with an authentic touch and full of lively colors, vibrant culture, and local dialect, which renders the perfect, earthy backdrop for this delightful tale to unfold.

The film revolves around a free-spirited young girl, Bitti Mishra, played by Kriti Sanon, who loves breakdance, smokes casually, and watches English movies. She is unlike the conventional small-town girl and is, hence, often found running into societal expectations and norms. Bitti tries to find her own identity within the parochial societal boundaries and her family, wherein her mother constantly reminds her of her to-be-married status, while her father, who owns a sweets shop, supports her unconditionally.

Bitti's life takes a turn when she comes across a book titled 'Bareilly Ki Barfi,' authored by Pritam Vidrohi, whose protagonist she identifies with deeply. The story within the story begins when Bitti decides to meet the author, who she believes would understand her. This quest introduces her to the printing-press owner and comic book lover, Chirag Dubey, portrayed by Ayushmann Khurrana.

Khurrana's character, Chirag, is a man of complexities; he is grappling with his past and carries the silent love for Bitti. His character is of a typical small-town boy, who's had his share of heartbreaks that leaves him defensive and conflicted about expressing his love for Bitti. He helps Bitti on her mission to find the author, without revealing an important secret – that he himself is the author.

Rajkummar Rao plays Pritam Vidrohi, the supposed author of the book, who is roped into Chirag's plan to help him win Bitti's heart. Rao outdoes his role with an impressive performance as the timid salesman who blossoms into a rowdy local to impress Bitti's family. His character's transition forms one of the most entertaining aspects of this rom-com.

The three characters, with their own unique quirks, bring the essence of love, friendship, and broken hearts while creating a complicated yet extremely entertaining love triangle. Their journey is adorned with comical undertones and the affectionate tussles that make the plot vibrant and engaging.

Bareilly Ki Barfi is filled with witty dialogues, hearty humor, and several unexpected twists that keep you glued to your seats. The narrative is crisp, filled with situational humor and the feel-good factor that the audience can resonate with.

The performances of the lead actors are commendable. Kriti showcases a performance brimming with raw essence, effectively nailing her character's groundedness and vivacity. Ayushmann, who is seen in a much different role from his usual urban characters, impressively pulls off the local UP boy's role. Rajkummar Rao, however, steals the show, with his impeccable comic timing and the ability to balance the two contrasting personalities of his character. His character as Pritam Vidrohi stands as a definite highlight in the film.

The soundtrack of the film can't be missed either. It complements the storyline beautifully, with tracks like 'Sweety Tera Drama' and 'Nazm Nazm' rendering the essential regional feel and emotions to the narrative.

Overall, Bareilly Ki Barfi serves a delectable cinematic experience with its earthy charm, delightful characters, and humorous plot. It is the kind of film that leaves you with a sweet taste, just like the traditional Indian sweet, 'Barfi'. Flaunting its local flavor with pride, Bareilly Ki Barfi firmly underlines the fact that a good storyline with even better execution results in a film that’s thoroughly entertaining and impressively memorable.