Autism specialists in the UAE have hailed the depiction of people with special needs in the trailer for Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming film Barfi, and give Kapoor’s description of his character, Barfi, a thumbs-up.
The official teaser was unveiled on Monday with Kapoor, who plays a deaf-mute and co-star Priyanka Chopra, who plays an autistic woman. Experts in Dubai say featuring people with special needs in a film is a step in the right direction.
“From what I have seen of the trailer, they have done a good job presenting such cases,” said Mohammad Al Emadi, director general of Dubai Autism Centre. He added that films were a good medium to bring attention and awareness to the subject of special needs.
“We always encourage such initiatives. In the trailer, I saw the protagonist display a few symptoms that are attached to autism. I have always felt that films initiate dialogues among people, the public and officials. First we had My Name Is Khan in Bollywood, now we have Barfi in Bollywood,” said Al Emadi.
Sweta Daga, a volunteer at Special Needs Future Development Centre in Karama, agreed.
“Some parents have the tendency to hide the disabilities of children. But films like Barfi will spread awareness and push them to interact with the community. I liked the trailer and it shows them in a positive light,” said Daga who has worked with children with special needs for the last five years.
Sauda Kunhimon, arts co-ordinator of Sharjah-based Awladouna – For Learning And Disabilities, says such films serve as a pointer to many.
“Many people don’t how to deal with such kids and situations. It will help the parents and the people surrounding the child with special needs,” said Kunhimon. Gulshan Kavarana, founder of Special Family Support Group, believe that anything about autism from the entertainment industry will do good rather than harm.
“It’s great that the film is showing that autistic people can lead a normal life, fall in love. Whether they depict their roles well or not, such films will let the world know about autism and special needs,” said Kavarana.
Unveiling the trailer in Mumbai, Kapoor and Chopra, say the film is primarily a love story.
“This film is not about disability. It is a coincidence that these two characters are deaf, mute and one is autistic. But one will not feel that it is a disability film. It’s about enjoying life, giving happiness, feeling love. It’s a love story,” said Kapoor to reporters on Monday. He described Chopra’s autistic character as “this cute puppy dog who you will fall in love with.”
“I get what the actor is trying to say. Autistic children are beautiful characters. I look at them as angels in the form of humans. They don’t know the meaning of bad,” said Al Emadi of Dubai Autism Centre.
Chopra, who has played a number of award-wining roles in the past, believes that Barfi celebrates life.
“When we meet differently-abled people, or people who are special, we have a view point that they have a dark, sorrowful life we feel bad for them, it is not a film about that. There are people who smile, laugh, fall in love, enjoy It’s that side of their life. So it is not about disability,” said Chopra, who was in Dubai on Tuesday night for a promotional appearance.
