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Billu
बिल्लू
2009 137 min India PG 0+
★6.8
Comedy, Drama
Director: Priyadarshan
Trailers
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Description
When a famous Bollywood actor visits a small village for a film's shoot, a poor hairdresser's claim that they were once childhood friends soon makes him the centre of attention.
Budget:
$5.75M
US Gross:
$754,928
Worldwide:
$10M
Starring
Irrfan Khan
Actor
Lara Dutta
Actor
Om Puri
Actor
Awards
3 nominations total
Key opinion
Billu is widely praised as a poignant and emotionally resonant exploration of friendship, anchored by strong performances from Irrfan Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. The film is noted for its clever subversion of celebrity culture and its effective modernization of the Krishna-Sudama parable.
| Acting | Irrfan Khan delivers a grounded, heart-wrenching performance as a humble, struggling barber. | |
| Acting | Shah Rukh Khan successfully balances his real-world celebrity persona with a humble, self-ironic portrayal of the character Saahir. | |
| Adaptation | The narrative effectively reimagines the Krishna-Sudama fable, grounding the mythological themes in a contemporary, realistic context. | |
| Acting | Lara Dutta gives a standout performance, capturing the relatable struggles and emotional depth of the protagonist's wife. | |
| Score | Pritam's score and the vibrant choreography contribute significantly to the film's engaging, entertaining quality. | |
| Pacing | While some viewers are immediately drawn into the story, others find the initial pacing slow before it builds to an emotionally rewarding conclusion. |