Flying Bee at 09:17, 7 August 2021

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'''{{short description|2009 film by Priyadarshan}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Billu
| image = Billu-poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Priyadarshan]]
| producer = [[Shah Rukh Khan]]<br> [[Gauri Khan]]
| screenplay = Manisha Korde<br />[[Mushtaq Shiekh]]<ref>http://www.shiekhspear.com</ref>
| story = [[Sreenivasan]]
| based_on = [[Kadha Parayumbol]] (Malayalam)
| starring = [[Irrfan Khan]]<br />[[Lara Dutta]]<br />[[Shah Rukh Khan]]
| narrator =
| music = [[Pritam]]
| cinematography = [[V. Manikandan]]
| editing = [[Arun Kumar Aravind|Arun Kumar]]
| studio = [[Red Chillies Entertainment]]
| distributor = [[Eros International]]
| released = 13 February 2009 ([[India]])
| runtime = 2h 16m
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = ₹ 260 million
| gross = ₹ 475 million
| image_size =
}}
'''''Billu''''', previously known as '''''Billu Barber''''', is a 2009 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[comedy-drama]] film by [[Priyadarshan]], produced by [[Red Chillies Entertainment]] and distributed by [[Eros International]], with an adapted screenplay by Manisha Korde and Mushtaq Sheikh based on the script by [[Sreenivasan]]. It stars [[Irrfan Khan]] and [[Lara Dutta]], with [[Shah Rukh Khan]] in an extended guest appearance and features [[Om Puri]], [[Govardhan Asrani|Asrani]] and [[Rajpal Yadav]] in supporting roles. [[Kareena Kapoor]], [[Priyanka Chopra]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Priyanka to sizzle for Shahrukh |work=Entertainment.OneIndia |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/gupshup/2008/priyanka-shahrukh-billoo--211108.html |access-date=20 November 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} (dead link 19 February 2009)</ref> and [[Deepika Padukone]],<ref name="Pre-production">{{cite web |title=Shah Rukh Khan speaks about Billoo |work=Bollywood Hungama |date=26 April 2008 |url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2008/04/26/11293/index.html |access-date=29 April 2008}}</ref> make guest appearances in [[item numbers]]. The film was released on 13 February 2009 worldwide.

It is an official adaptation of the 2007 critically acclaimed [[Malayalam film]] ''[[Kadha Parayumbol]]''. It is also a retelling of the story of [[Sudama|Sudama, and Krishna]].<ref>[http://www.glamsham.com/movies/news/09/jan/24-billu-barber-to-rekindle-the-krishna-sudama-friendship-010910.asp BILLU BARBER to rekindle the Krishna-Sudama friendship]</ref> The film was screened at the 2009 [[Hawaii International Film Festival]].<ref>http://video.tvguide.com/Billu+Barber/Teaser+Trailer/2944468</ref>

== Plot ==
Billu ([[Irrfan Khan]]) is a poor barber who lives with his wife Bindiya ([[Lara Dutta]]) and their two children, Gunja (Mitali Mayekar) and Ronak (Pratik Dalvi) in the village of Budbuda. He also spends time with his close friends Budbudiya ([[Rajpal Yadav]]) and Naubat Chacha ([[Asrani]]). Billu lives an uneventful life until [[Bollywood]] superstar Sahir Khan ([[Shah Rukh Khan]]) comes to the village for a film shoot.

Billu has mentioned to his family that he knows Sahir from the past but has never elaborated how he knows the star. When his children talk about their father's friendship with the star, word spreads throughout the village. Virtually overnight, Billu, who had previously been scorned by most due to his lowly state, becomes the center of attention. People who had spurned him only the week before now call him a close friend so that he will introduce them to Sahir. Billu refuses and downplays the friendship. Even so, the powerful businessman Sahukaar Daamchand ([[Om Puri]]) demands to see Sahir and offers Billu expensive gifts in order to gain such a meeting. When Billu consistently fails to introduce the people of the village to Sahir, his situation changes once again. He is accused of lying about his friendship and everyone – including his wife and children – begins to doubt his character and integrity. Rather than defend himself, Billu remains quiet about the nature of his and Sahir's friendship.

On Sahir's last day in the village, the star speaks at Gunja and Ronak's school function. He tells the children about his own impoverished childhood when he had nothing but a special bond of friendship with another young boy, named Billu. It was Billu who had taken care of Sahir and eventually helped him travel to [[Seven Islands of Bombay|Mumbai]] by giving him his gold earring where Sahir became a star. Billu, who is standing at the back of the event, leaves during the talk without revealing to Sahir that he is there. However, the townspeople realized their error, and take Sahir to Billu's house. Billu's children come home and apologize to their father. Then, Sahir appears in his car and is reunited with Billu. In the end, Sahir must leave for another shoot but promises that his and Billu's friendship is reignited and will remain friends.

== Production ==
Director [[Priyadarshan]] cast [[Shah Rukh Khan]] and [[Lara Dutta]] in pivotal roles in the film. While these roles were initially offered to [[Akshay Kumar]] and [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]], Kumar eventually opted out of the project<ref>{{cite web |title=Shahrukh picks what Akshay dumps |work=Kumar opts out of Billo Barber |url=http://www.bollywoodmantra.com/news/shahrukh-picks-what-akshay-dumps/2597/ |access-date=29 April 2008}}</ref> as did Tabu.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hotbed of problems |work=Tabu opts out of Billu Barber |url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article&sectid=30&contentid=200803272008032702260113946296127 |access-date=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024183614/http://mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article|archive-date=24 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The director then offered Kumar's and Tabu's role to [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]] and [[Amisha Patel]] respectively, and both of them agreed to do the film.<ref>{{cite web |title=SRK mil gaya! |work=Shahrukh Khan & Amisha Patel signed on |url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article&sectid=30&contentid=2008032520080325021221920fa868c2f |access-date=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024183614/http://mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article|archive-date=24 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Patel also opted out of the film<ref>{{cite web |title=Yeh dil maange more! |work=Patel opts out of Billoo Barber |url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article&sectid=30&contentid=20080401200804010207191839f60c64d |access-date=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024183614/http://mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article|archive-date=24 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and sources have indicated that [[Juhi Chawla]] was signed on for the role.<ref>{{cite web |title=Juhi to replace Amisha in Billoo Barbar? |work=Juhi Chawla to essay the roles of the barber's wife |url=http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2008/apr/02juhi.htm |access-date=29 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405195623/http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2008/apr/02juhi.htm  |archive-date=5 April 2008}}</ref>

In April 2008, the director announced that he had cast [[Lara Dutta]] as Billu's wife.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Barber gets a wife |work=Priyadarshan signs Lara Dutta |url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article&sectid=30&contentid=20080413200804130331524258edf724 |access-date=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024183614/http://mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article|archive-date=24 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The cast began filming for the project on 8 April 2008<ref>{{cite web |title=SRK shoots for Priyadarshan's BILLOO BARBER! |work=Billoo Barber begins filming |url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/08/apr/14-srk-shoots-for-priyadarshans-billo-barber-040805.asp |access-date=29 April 2008}}</ref> and according to Shahrukh Khan, "the film is a sweet story of friendship...quite similar to the bond shared between [[Krishna]] and [[Sudama]]".<ref name="Pre-production"/> The film also features [[Kareena Kapoor]], [[Priyanka Chopra]] and [[Deepika Padukone]] in [[item number]]s with Shahrukh Khan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tanwar |first=Sarita |url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2008/oct/271008-shah-rukh-khan-bollywood-superstars-interviews-salman-khan-akshay-kumar-tiff1.htm |title=It's silly and embarrassing |publisher=Mid-day.com |date=27 October 2008 |access-date=12 August 2011}}</ref>

== Cast ==
*[[Irrfan Khan]] as Bilas Rao Pardesi aka 'Billu'
*[[Lara Dutta]] as Bindiya Rao Pardesi, Billu's wife
*[[Om Puri]] as Sahukaar Daamchand
*[[Asrani]] as Naubat Chacha
*[[Rajpal Yadav]] as Zallan Kumar (Budbudiya)
*[[Manoj Joshi (actor)|Manoj Joshi]] as Damodar Dubey
*[[Jagadeesh]] as 'Modern' Madan
*[[Rasika Joshi]] as Principal Gahalot
*[[Mitali Mayekar]] as Gunja, Billu's daughter
*Pratik Dalvi as Ronak (Duggu), Billu's son
*[[Shah Rukh Khan]] as Sahir Khan (extended guest appearance)
*[[Kareena Kapoor]] in "Marjaani" as Sahir Khan's heroine
*[[Priyanka Chopra]] in "You Get Me Rocking & Reeling" as Sahir Khan's heroine
*[[Deepika Padukone]] in "Love Mera Hit Hit" as Sahir Khan's heroine

== Release ==
The movie received great critical acclaim and rave reviews.

=== Reviews ===
''Billu'' opened to good reviews. In reviewing the film, Derek Elley of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' stated: "Bigtime Bollywood meets small-town India with quietly entertaining, finally moving results in ''Billu Barber''. A simple tale of friendship cleverly manages to bring together superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in full-on pin-up mode, with Irfan Khan, who's developed into one of the industry's best character actors, in a movie that straddles both mainstream Hindi cinema and more specialty fare. Mid-February release, produced by Khan's own company, ''[[Red Chillies Entertainment|Red Chillies]]'', won't approach the grosses of his last starrer, ''[[Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi]]'', but is way more engaging on an emotional level".<ref>Elley, Derek,[http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939712.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 ''Billu Barber''] (review), ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''</ref> Lisa Tsering of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' states that ''Billu'' is a "Bollywood comedy about an unlikely friendship [that] is full of unexpected pleasures".<ref name=thr>Tsering, Lisa, [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/film-review-billu-barber-1003943121.story "Film Review: ''Billu Barber''"], ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224160817/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/film-review-billu-barber-1003943121.story |date=24 February 2009 }}</ref> [[Frank Lovece]] of ''[[Film Journal International]]'' describes the film as a "delight" and states, "What makes it work ... is that neither Billu nor his situation is played for laughs—his hardscrabble poverty isn't glossed over, and neither is his wife's longing for acceptance in the class-conscious village. And a climactic speech by Khan at a school gathering works fully well emotionally, despite a huge potential for hokiness—and incidentally provides concrete reason why real-life Khan, who's often starred in glowering action-hero roles, is a genuinely top-notch actor in addition to being a popular star".<ref name=fji>Lovece, Frank, [http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/specialty-releases/e3i83b3be812614cf9914f15c8b1f8ec0c9 "Film Review: ''Billu Barber''"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227091403/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/specialty-releases/e3i83b3be812614cf9914f15c8b1f8ec0c9 |date=27 February 2009 }}, ''[[Film Journal International]]''</ref> The ''[[Times of India]]'' gave the film three stars and describes it as "a moving ode to friendship and ordinariness".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121025093617/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-02-12/news-interviews/28007940_1_irrfan-khan-billu-sahir-khan "Movie Review: ''Billu''"], ''[[Times of India]]''</ref> While [[CNN-IBN]]'s Rajeev Masand gave the film two out of five stars, he stated that it "works smoothly as a simple, moral tale, its charm interrupted every time the director goes for broader, more 'commercial' appeal. But it's enjoyable and heart-felt too, and for that reason deserves to be watched".<ref>{{cite web |title=Billu (Movie Review) – CNN-IBN (Rajeev Masand) |work=movie review |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-movie-review-billu-barber-a-simple-moral-tale/85289-8-17.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215104241/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-movie-review-billu-barber-a-simple-moral-tale/85289-8-17.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2009 |access-date=16 February 2009}}</ref> Shashi Baliga of the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' said that, "Though the film has its share of stock characters, maudlin and over-the-top moments and sags in the latter half, there's also good story-telling, some great acting, and a healthy dose of masala in the item numbers".<ref>Baliga, Shashi, [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=115ef2b3-bf5a-4664-a4f8-6e32174de899&Headline=STRONGReview%2fSTRONG%3a+EMBillu+Barber%2fEM "Yes, they Khan"], ''[[Hindustan Times]]'</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Billu
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Pritam]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2009|1|5}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer = [[Gauri Khan]]
| prev_title = [[Golmaal Returns]]
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = [[Ek: The Power of One]]
| next_year = 2009
}}
Released on 5 January 2009, the soundtrack for ''Billu'' has music by [[Pritam]] with lyrics from [[Gulzar (lyricist)|Gulzar]], [[Neeraj Shridhar]], [[Sayeed Quadri]], Ashish Pandit and Mayur Puri.
The song "Khudaya Khair" was recorded by playback singer [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya]] who has rendered his voice for [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]] in many movies. However, due to the ongoing controversy between Abhijeet and SRK, the song was withdrawn and was only used as a reprised version.
The song "Love Mera Hit Hit" was sampled by Serbian pop singer [[Anabela Đogani|Anabela]] in her song "Igra Istine", by Serbian singer Dejan Stanković in his song "Kaligula" and by Macedonian singer [[Boki 13]] in his song "Kaligula".
{{tracklist
| extra_column = Artist(s)
| title1 = Marjaani
| lyrics1 = [[Gulzar (lyricist)|Gulzar]]
| extra1 = [[Sukhwinder Singh]] & [[Sunidhi Chauhan]]
| title2 = Love Mera Hit Hit
| lyrics2 = Ashish Pandit, [[Mayur Puri]]
| extra2 = [[Neeraj Shridhar]] & [[Tulsi Kumar]]
| title3 = You Get Me Rocking & Reeling
| lyrics3 = [[Sayeed Quadri]]
| extra3 = Neeraj Shridhar & [[Dominique Cerejo]]
| title4 = Ae Aa O
| lyrics4 = Neeraj Shridhar
| extra4 = [[Krishnakumar Kunnath|K.K.]], [[Suraj Jagan]] & Rana Mazumder
| title5 = Jaaun Kahan
| lyrics5 = Sayeed Quadri
| extra5 = [[Rahat Fateh Ali Khan]]
| title6 = Billu Bhayankar
| lyrics6 = Gulzar
| extra6 = Ajay Jhingran, [[Kalpana Patowary]] & [[Raghubir Yadav|Raghuveer]]
| title7 = Khudaya Khair
| lyrics7 = Gulzar
| extra7 = [[Soham Chakraborty (singer)|Soham Chakraborty]], [[Monali Thakur]] & [[Akriti Kakar]]
| title8 = You Get Me Rocking & Reeling (Video Edit)
| lyrics8 = Sayeed Quadri
| extra8 = Neeraj Shridhar & Dominique Cerejo
| title9 = Love Mera Hit Hit
| note9 = House Mix
| lyrics9 = Ashish Pandit, Mayur Puri
| extra9 = Neeraj Shridhar & Tulsi Kumar
| title10 = Marjaani (Kilogram's Balkan Mix)
| lyrics10 = Gulzar
| extra10 = K.K.& Akriti Kakar
| title11 = Khudaya Khair (Reprise)
| lyrics11 = Gulzar
| extra11 = [[Abhijeet Bhattacharya]]
| title12 = You Get Me Rocking & Reeling (Remix)
| lyrics12 = Sayeed Quadri
| extra12 = Neeraj Shridhar & Dominique Cerejo
| title13 = Ae Aa O (Remix)
| lyrics13 = Neeraj Shridhar
| extra13 = K.K., Suraj Jagan & Rana Mazumder
| title14 = Marjaani (Electro Mix)
| lyrics14 = Gulzar
| extra14 = [[Sukhwinder Singh]] & [[Sunidhi Chauhan]]
| title15 = Love Mera Hit Hit (Remix)
| lyrics15 = Ashish Pandit, Mayur Puri
| extra15 = Neeraj Shridhar & Tulsi Kumar
}}

== Controversy ==
The film was originally titled ''Billu Barber'', but salon and beauty parlour associations of Bandra raised objections by finding the word "Barber" derogatory.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barbers up in arms over SRK's Billu Barber |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/barbers-up-in-arms-over-srks-billu-barber/84800-8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211092438/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/barbers-up-in-arms-over-srks-billu-barber/84800-8.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 February 2009 |date=8 February 2009 |access-date=13 February 2009}}</ref> As head of the film's production company, [[Shah Rukh Khan]] eventually removed the word from the movie title and promotions,<ref>{{cite web |title=Coming soon: Billu, not Barber |url=http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2009/feb/10billu-not-barber.htm |access-date=13 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213094223/http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2009/feb/10billu-not-barber.htm |archive-date=13 February 2009}}</ref> renaming the film ''Billu''. He also invited 'The Hairdressers' Association of Mumbai members to the premier of the movie in order to assuage their protests.<ref>{{cite web |title=SRK to invite barbers, hairstylists for Billu premiere |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/srk-to-invite-barbers-hairstylists-for-billu-premiere/85082-8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216183723/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/srk-to-invite-barbers-hairstylists-for-billu-premiere/85082-8.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 February 2009 |date=11 February 2009 |access-date=13 February 2009}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Netflix title}}
*{{IMDb title|1230448}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama movie|billu}}

{{Priyadarshan}}
{{Red Chillies Entertainment}}

[[Category:Red Chillies Entertainment films]]
[[Category:2009 films]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2009 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Hindi remakes of Malayalam films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Priyadarshan]]
[[Category:Films featuring songs by Pritam]]
[[Category:Films featuring an item number]]
[[Category:Films about actors]]
[[Category:Films about Bollywood]]
[[Category:Films about friendship]]

Billu - Revision history

Flying Bee at 09:17, 7 August 2021