BARFI Movie analysis

Done by
Mohammed Afzal
ODCL
H2019odc010
Movie Plot: Barfi is a 2012 Indian romantic comedy-drama film directed, written and co-
produced by Anurag Basu. The movie goes around a character Barfi whose parents named him
Murphy, but everyone calls him Barfi. He is always ready with a prank up his sleeve, he's quite
the charmer, especially with the ladies. In Darjeeling, Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor) is the talk of the
town. His bitter-sweet relationship with two beautiful young ladies, Shruti (Ileana D'cruz) and
Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra) sets in motion a chain of events that will turn his life upside down. A
heart-warming tale of selfless love and about finding happiness in the smallest things in life; that
tells you no matter how tough your life may be, 'Don't Worry. Be Barfi!’

Analysis of the film in the light of communication:

Communication is the way of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts,

messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, writing, or behavior. It is the meaningful
exchange of information between two or more living creatures. Communication may be
intentional or unintentional, may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take
linguistic or non-linguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes.

BARFI is an Ideal one to demonstrate communication, its elements and classification because the
entire elements of communication are present in the movie. Below are the some primary
communication contexts been described according to communication

Verbal and Nonverbal communication:

Verbal communication refers to human spoken and pictorial languages can be described as a
system of symbols and the grammars by which the symbols are manipulated. Language learning
normally occurs most intensively during human childhood. Most of the thousands of human
languages use patterns of sound or gesture for symbols which enable communication with others
around them.
We can say that, the way majority characters of the film BARFI communicate to each
other is verbal communication. The communication between Shruti and her mom is verbal
communication.

Nonverbal communication describes the process of conveying meaning in the form of non-
word messages. Some forms of non verbal communication include gesture, body language, facial
expression, eye contact, object communication such as clothing, hairstyles, architecture, symbols
etc. Speech also contains nonverbal elements known as paralanguage.

In this film in first sequence the way Shruti communicates with the children through the
sign languages in the classroom is nonverbal communication.

Oral and Written communication:

Oral Communication, while primarily referring to spoken verbal communication, can also
employ visual aids and non-verbal elements to support the conveyance of meaning. Oral
communication includes speeches, presentations, discussions, and aspects of interpersonal
communication. As a type of face-to-face communication, body language play a significant role,
and may have a greater impact upon the listener than informational content.

In this film, the way all characters except Barfi communicates among themselves is
generally oral communication.

Written communication is primarily verbal, but nonverbal characteristics can affect messages.
We get a different feeling when we receive a personal handwritten greetings card.

In the movie, we see Shruti gets a note from Barfi which he made with the help of his friend
to communicate Shruti is written communication.
Formal Communication and Informal communication:

In formal communication, such as public speaking or mass communication, we pay more

attention to both verbal and nonverbal messages. Language use is more precise, with careful
attention to grammar. People are more concerned with items such as dress, posture, or eye
contact.

For example we see the sequence in police station where Shruti goes to set Barfi free from
police custody and the communication between Shruti and the police officer is sort of
formal communication.

In informal communication, such as interpersonal and small group communication, people are
more at ease and can be themselves.

For example, we see in this movie, the communication between Shruti and her friend in her
house while talking about her fiancé is informal communication.

Intentional and unintentional communication:

Intentional communication occurs when messages are sent with specific goals in mind. For
example, we see Barfi tries to communicate Shruti with the intension to make a
relationship with her from the beginning.

Other communication takes place unintentionally, without the communicator’s being aware of
it. The greatest numbers of unintentional messages are non verbal. Our nonverbal behavior often
speaks louder than words.
For example, in this movie, we see Barfi watching Shruti while she was accompanied by her
fiancé and that made him realized about the reality of her situation which was
unintentionally done by Shruti.

Basic elements of the communication process: the communication process is a system that
involves an interrelated, interdependent group of elements working together as a whole to
achieve a desired outcome or goal. Applying this approach to the communication process, we
find seven elements.

1) The source/ encoder: the sender or source of a communication is the person or

organization that has information to share with another person or group. It should be
noted that the source can be an individual.Encoding is the process of putting together
thoughts, ideas and information into a symbolic form to communicate a message. The
sender’s goal is to encode the message in such a manner so as to ensure that it will be
understood by the receiver.

If we take the scene of the phone conversation between Shruti and Ranjit as an
example, we can say that Ranjit is the source or encoder.

2) Message: the encoding process leads to the development of a message that contains the
information or meaning the source or sender hopes to convey. Messages can take a
variety of forms and may include symbolic forms or signs. To better understand the
symbolic meaning that might be conveyed in a communication.

We can say the dialogue that Ranjit threw to Shruti was the message in the same
sequence.
 3) Channel:the channel is the method or medium by which the communication travels from
source or sender to receiver.

4) Receiver/Decoder: the receiver is the person with whom the sender shares thoughts or
information.Decoding is the process of transforming and interpreting the sender’s
message back into thought and is heavily influenced by the receiver’s frame of reference
or field of experience. Effective communication is more likely when common ground or
shared meaning or understanding exists or has been established between the sender and
receiver. Here in the same sequence Shruti is the receiver/decoder.

5) Feedback: response refers to the reaction the receiver has after seeing, hearing and/or
reading the message. These responses can range from non-observable actions such as
storing information in memory to taking immediate actions such as ordering a product
seen in a direct response ad. Feedback is the part of the receiver’s response that is
communicated back to the sender and takes a variety of forms. Feedback provides the
sender with a way of monitoring how the message is being decoded and received by the
target audience. Here we can see Shruti cuts off the phone as her feedback.

6) Context: intricately related to the concept of shared field of experience is the concept of
context or the situation. This element of communication is, perhaps, the most important;
it affects each of the other elements as well as the communication process as a whole.

Communication context: Humans communicate with each other across time, space, and
contexts. Those contexts are often thought of as the particular combinations of people
comprising a communication situation. Communication transactions include
1) Intrapersonal communication: an internal communication process that occurs when we
send messages to ourselves and develop messages to send to others. Communication with
ourselves.

E.g.: In the movie, we can see at the very beginning of the film Shruti confessing and
struggling with her own conscience.

2) Interpersonal communication: communication between two people, either face to face

or through mediated forms such as a telephone or computer, characterized by the mutual
awareness of the individuality of the other.

E.g.: the communication between Barfi and Jhilmil.

3) Small group communication: It occurs among three or more people interacting in an

attempt to achieve commonly recognized goals

E.g.: the communication among Shruti, her friend and Barfi in the restaurant.

4) Public communication: It occurs when a small number of people usually one person
address a larger group of people speeches, lectures, oral reports, and dramatic
performances.

E.g.: the sequence of Shruti taking the class of deaf and dumb children

5) Organizational communication: It occurs within a particular social system composed of

interdependent groups attempting to achieve commonly recognized goals.
 E.g.: the sequence in police station, they are trying to interrogate Barfi.

Nonverbal communication

It is the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless cues between people.
Nonverbal communication encompasses much more, such as use of voice, gaze, time, and
physical environments/appearance. As infants, we learn nonverbal communication from social-
emotional communication, making our face rather than our words the major organ of
communication. As we become verbal communicators, we begin to look at facial expressions,
vocal tones, and other nonverbal elements more subconsciously.

Types of nonverbal communication: According to experts, a substantial portion of our

communication is nonverbal. Every day, we respond to thousands on nonverbal cues and
behaviors including postures, facial expression, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our
handshakes to our hairstyles, nonverbal details reveal who we are and impact how we relate to
other people.

1. Facial Expression:

Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication.

Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. While
nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the
facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger and fear are similar throughout the world.

As shown in the film, we see from the very beginning, Barfi’s growing interest about
Shruti and her disinterest about him.
2. Eye behavior:

Looking, staring and blinking can also be important nonverbal behaviors. When people
encounter people or things that they like, the rate of blinking increases and pupils dilate.
Looking at another person can indicate a range of emotions, including hostility, interest
and attraction.

In this film, we see Barfi communicating towards people through his eye behavior as
he can’t speak.

3.Kinesics and body movement:

Kinesics messages are more subtle than gestures. Kinesic messages comprise the posture,
gaze, and facial movements. American looks are short enough just to see if there is
recognition of the other person, Arabs look at each other in the eye intensely, and many
Africans avert the gaze as a sign of respect to superiors. There are also many postures for
people in the Congo; they stretch their hands and put them together in the direction of the
other person.

In the film, we come to know that Barfi is deaf and Dumb by his body language.

4. Personal Appearance

Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles and other factors affecting appearance are also
considered a means of nonverbal communication. Appearance can also alter
physiological reactions, judgments and interpretations. These first impressions are
important, which is why experts suggest that job seekers dress appropriately for
interviews with potential employers.

In this film we see the specific characters including Barfi, Shruti, Jilmil and others
wearing different types of colored outfit, hair styles which shows their different
types of personality.
 5.Clothing

Clothing is one of the most common forms of non-verbal communication. The study of
clothing and other objects as a means of non-verbal communication is known as artifacts
or objects. The types of clothing that an individual wears convey nonverbal cues about
his or her personality, background and financial status, and how others will respond to
them. An individual's clothing style can demonstrate their culture, mood, level of
confidence, interests, age, authority, values.

Here in the movie, we see Shruti wearing such dresses which shows her financial
ability and her taste of choice.

6. Touching

Touches among humans that can be defined as communication include handshakes,

holding hands, back slapping, high fives, a pat on the shoulder, and brushing an arm..
These behaviors are referred to as "adapters" or "tells" and may send messages that reveal
the intentions or feelings of a communicator and a listener. The meaning conveyed from
touch is highly dependent upon the culture, the context of the situation, the relationship
between communicators, and the manner of touch.

In this film we see Barfi slaps/kicks people which shows his innocence as well as
naughtiness.

Variables affecting interpersonal relationships

There are few substances which affects interpersonal relationships, including self-disclosure,
trust, feedback, nonverbal behavior and interpersonal attraction. Our success or failure in
addressing these variables in our own interpersonal communication determines how satisfying
our interpersonal relationships will be.
1) Self disclosure: Self disclosure is the fact which lies at the heart of the process of
interpersonal communication.it is a primary source of satisfaction in long term
interpersonal relationships.

For example we see from the film Barfi, when he meets Shruti from the very
beginning, tries to reveal himself to her which after a course of time makes her to
think of him at least.

2) Trust: Trust is another important factor affecting interpersonal relationships. Any type of
relationship moves forward based upon trust.

For example, the relationship between Barfi and Shruti moves onward because
Shruti could trust on his innocence which made her realize that this guy is not
harmful at all.

3) Feedback and feed Forward: Feedback and feed forward is another fact that affects
interpersonal relationship, whenever a person shows his or trustworthiness to another
then it depends upon the feedback of the other whether to move further or not.

In this film, when Shruti convinces about Barfi’s trustworthiness then she in turn
gave him a positive feedback which developed their relationships further.

4) Nonverbal behavior

It plays an important role to move interpersonal relationship further. Some affirmative

sign languages or body languages or even eye movement can allow a person to come
closer or it is fair enough to transmit a positive signal to other.

In this film, we see some nonverbal attitude of Shruti towards Barfi which even
could make understand the deaf and dumb guy that she is positive about him, for
example we can see the eye language of Shruti while they starts cycling and we
notice their gradual improvement of intimacy.
 5) Interpersonal attraction: When the entire facts mentioned above, works together in a
positive manner they increases the interpersonal attraction towards anyone.

As clearly visible in the movie also Shruti getting attracted towards Barfi gradually
passing through all the facts affirmatively.

Conclusion: The other place where the film scores is in its narration. But overall it is an ideal
movie to explain communication as the story develops with the triangular relationship of three
persons amongst them two is mentally disabled or undeveloped for which they need to use
nonverbal communications for their livelihood and we find almost all sort elements of
communication to explain all over the movie.