BILLU - STRUCK BY SUPERSTAR

The legend of 'Krishna - Sudama ', dwells deep in our subconscious as story of friendship.It conveys that childhood friendship is true friendship and lasts for ever,that one never forgets one childhood friend even if one is rich and other poor.It invokes in us the most secular emotions of comradrie and brotherhood.
Billu; is also based on the theme of 'Krishna - Sudama ',story.How king of Dwarka never forgets his poor Brahmin friend of childhood when compelled by his economic hardship and taunting wife he musters the courage to visit him not sure if he will be remembered and recognized.On meeting Sudama Krishna weeps in joy and showers him with wealth and gifts; restoring our faith in childhood friendship.
Alas! what could have turned into a simple and sweet allegorical expression is damaged by the loud and brash treatment by Priyadarshan.
The story from Billu's angle is well presented. But; that of Samir Khan the film star who is billu's friend is marred by poor screenplay. Instead it is filled with song after song ( all mediocre item numbers ). Shah Rukh's presence in the film is that of an item number artist. The director may have injected a few scenes to convey his super star larger than life status but there is an over dose of his star charisma and exagerration of star status.
Priyadarshan should have understood that the mere presence of a star like Shahrukh is enough to portray to the audiance the gulf in the status of two friends in order to convey the conflict. But; stressing it by showing three similar group songs at short intervals the pace and mood of the film is marred. Indeed! this was one film where one wanted Irfan ( Billo ) to appear more on screen as seriousness of shahrukh toward the project becomes suspect after the item performance.
Like me the audiance too felt cheated for having been taken for song!! and also for want of cinematic sense.Did Shahrukh think that his mere presence in multiple songs would steer the film to safety and success?
Irfan's portrayal of the poor yet humouros ( reminds one of fidler on the roof )barberwho prefers to remain in anonymity and never boasts of childhood friendship with Shahrukh comes out convincingly. Though he too appears to be constrained in the starstudded atmosphere-- successful director and superstar costar.
Sitting in cinema hall one feltthat Priyadarshan may have successfully handled many ventures and maybe the original Malyalam version would have pleased the audiance but this billu seems not his forte. Perhaps; Shyam Benegal, Gulzar or even Amol Palekar would have handled better.
Irfan was expected to break into big league on the success of this film but i am afraid he has been struck by the 'superstar' whose vision it was to narrate the story the way it has been done.
Cinema too requires performance;not mere presence and pelf.