BILLU BILLIONAIRE

Movie Rating: 4/5

Billu barber ( Irfan Khan) lives in the charming country-side of Bubuda, virtually penniless and without much hair left to cut. The reason behind his collapsing business is a new rival outfit , the rural avatar of Bombay Blunt , a modern salon , with revolving chairs, green-colored gels, electric trimmers , foreign shampoos and a “hairdresser” ( now please don’t protest, guys), who wears clothes which are as glaring as his sunglasses.

Billu’s two kids are on the verge of being thrown out of school, as the straight as a ramrod principled and semi-stubborn Billu refuses to cut edges for survival. Things look bleaker for Billu and family than the dark overcast clouds on the village skyline suggests. But there is a silver lining round the corner . Or is it?

India’s reigning superstar Sahir Khan ( Shah Rukh Khan) comes to shoot his futuristic techno-razz at the picturesque location. The starry-eyed yokels go crazy, the town is engulfed in irrational frenzy, and everyone wants to touch and feel the magical Khan; even feed him and give him a tub bath. It is hilarious, authentic and damn real. Khan manfully survives the ridiculous obsession and literal hero-worshipping, but the poor barber doesn’t.

The village goes into a tipsy drunken state when rumor mongers insist that the modest Billu in fact knows the celebrated hero as they were supposedly childhood friends. Overnight, Billu becomes the cherished one amongst the country-bumpkins. Bubuda buzzes with Billu bhayankar ( deadly Billu). But does the reigning King Khan really know the impoverished hair-cutter?

Billu’s kids suddenly get free education in the private school, and his disintegrating shop gets charitable donations of the entire modern day barber sales and operations kit. But the star-struck villagers want their pound of the super-hero, and Billu must deliver at least a handshake, a meal or a speech with his famous friend. Even wife Bindiya ( Lara Dutta) is gradually sucked up in the changing saga of Billu’s transformed existence.

But Billu does not just fail to deliver, he cannot even contact Sahir Khan, enveloped on all sides by Z level security , and a personal staff which guards him as the jewel of India.

As the enraged cheated villagers turn their ire on Billu, he is left isolated. The whole world thinks he is a crafty cheat, even his kids think he is just a phony. So does the audience.

In the ending sequence of the film, some home-truths tumble out. The superstar Khan gives an inspirational talk to the school-children before leaving the village for tinsel-town , and therein reveals the humble origins of his beginning. And that of a friend who changed his life.

Billu Barber is a simple story of a stubborn good man , living by his principles and penury. And self-respect. As Billu, Irfan Khan is first-rate, and by the end, will want you to have a trim under his expressive, watchful eyes. Great stuff! Lara Dutta, as his caring better half, touches just the right chords, even managing the rustic dialect with ease. The usual assortment of Priyadarshan characters loom large like a kebab platter , impregnating the movie with humour, spice and colourful diversity.

Shah Rukh Khan dances with three sexy sirens, to bring in Gen Y to the theatres. The Love Mera Hit Hit with Deepika Padukone is like a red hot chilly peppers sizzler. And Khudaya Khair lingers on as does Priyanka Chopra with her long legs.

As for SRK, for a seasoned star to play himself, it is pure cheesecake. He is indeed a rock star. But when the two Khans meet in the end, Billu Barber assumes incredible proportions of fine acting . The barber in fact emerges a rich soul with just a rupee in his pocket.

In the age of Dev D , what we need is a Billu B ..