Partial concern

Sir — We certainly cannot grudge the increase in the dearness allowance of our proverbially hard-working and poorly paid Central government employees (“Another DA hike”, Sept 25). However, one wonders whether only Central government employees suffer the shock of inflation. The government is no doubt concerned about inflation and doing its best to curb it. But none of the experts has mentioned the possible contribution of the salary hikes recommended by the Sixth Central Pay Commission on inflation.

Yours faithfully,
S.M. Sen, Calcutta

Silent touch

Sir — The appreciation of all art requires a willing suspension of disbelief. In Barfi! Anurag Basu uses scenes from iconic movies and adapts them for the Indian audience in a way only a genius can (“Meet Ranbir Keaton Chaplin”, Sept 26). Barfi! is perhaps Basu’s way of paying tribute to Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and various other great actors. Basu’s mastery over the art of storytelling is evident. He narrates a story that is intensely emotional. Yet he refrains from using the techniques Indian cinema is associated with — the use of flowery, bombastic language. Instead, he uses visual metaphors that are pregnant with meaning.

Basu does not pretend to be a director par excellence, à la Chaplin, Quentin Tarantino or Oliver Stone. He gives his own interpretation of the characters’ emotions while, at the same time, not making Barfi! dark or brooding — as movies dealing with physically or mentally challenged people often are (Black, for example).

I am sure that Basu did not make Barfi! with the Oscars in mind. Perhaps he just wanted to make a commercially successful movie for Indian audiences that could stand its ground without being stuffed with high-pitched dialogue, song and dance routines in exotic locales and other related kitsch that is the hallmark of Indian cinema. The subject of the movie is clichéd, the lead actor and actresses have been deglamourized to a point where they are barely recognizable, and the locales (Darjeeling and Calcutta) have been done to death in various other movies. Yet Barfi! stands out because of its superbly told story and the intense performance of its actors.

The Indian movie market is bigger than Hollywood’s, and we can make better movies that those produced in the West nowadays. We just need to appreciate good art when we find it. Barfi! would be a great film, with or without an Oscar nomination.

Yours faithfully,
Pushkin Bhattacharya, Calcutta

Sir — After reading the article, “Meet Ranbir Keaton Chaplin”, I had to think twice about the originality of Anurag Basu’s movie since some of the scenes do seem to be copied from Western classics. At the same time, I think we should appreciate the fine performances of the actors, especially of Ranbir Kapoor, in the film. According to many, Kapoor has ‘copied’ Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. But if a young actor is able to successfully imitate these great actors, is this not an achievement in itself?

Besides, the movie has its own storyline, which is not borrowed from any other film. Murphy touches the heart of every person in the audience. I paid twice for the movie and I do not regret it.

Yours faithfully,
Himali Nailwal, Guwahati