What do you get when you take an author like Chetan Bhagat who writes bestsellers, a director like Raju Hirani who directs hit movies like the Munna Bhai series, an actor like Aamir Khan who knows not just how to act but also can teach many MBAs a thing or two about how to market a film to the masses? The answer is 3 Idiots. Be sure to place your bets on this movie winning several awards besides raking in big bucks for the producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra who is laughing all the way to a solvent bank (not affected by recession). 3 Idiots is proof that it is not good enough to make a great film, you also need to market it to engage the viewer early on and perhaps block the share of wallet. Aamir’s doodles find their way to a clothing line by Pantaloon and Big Bazar. The online gaming company Zapak has created a game where Aamir Khan is travelling through India and popping up in different disguises in places such as Varanasi, Palanpur or even in Saurav Ganguly’s house in Kolkata. Reliance Life Insurance creates an ad blitz over 50 TV channels, 40 radio stations in 250 cities and outdoor hoardings in over 500 towns. The message is the song from the film All is well or should I say “Aall ij well”.But then Aall Ijj Naat Well. There is this huge spat happening between Chetan and the trio Vidhu Vinod Chopra/ Raju Hirani/ Aamir Khan combination about what percent of 3 Idiots is based on Chetan’s book Five Point Someone. 75% or more says Bhagat. 3%-5% says the trio -making it sound like a debate in a chemistry class about how much Cynaide makes your cup of Potassium Cyanide potent. While I think the VVC/RH/AK combo as well as CB are beneficiaries from the controversy. The sales of the film and the book will go up. BUT… my vote is in support of Chetan. I think it is legitimate to expect the credit to be given to Chetan. It is not about the contract and the technicalities that VVC/RH/AK are hiding behind. They say we have given Chetan credit. Yeah, but putting it in an obscure place at the end of the film with the names of the accountants and second spot boys is just not morally right. C’mon guys, be gracious. Go back and now put it in the opening credits as “Based on the book Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat”.3 Idiots is a story of three friends in college and their coming of age. The film succeeds in capturing the essence of being a college student in India. The craziness of living in a hostel, bad food, crazy professors are all a potent combination that celluloid has not captured with this skill in years. 3 Idiots does this in a manner that makes the older folks remember their own college days and go gooey with nostalgia while the college kids get a chance to see their lives on screen – complete with crazy nicknames for Profs and friends, chasing girls, the suckup in class “Chatur” , you name it. It makes a star out of every viewer. That is why the film appeals to the masses.In Taare Zameen Par, Aamir exorts parents to let kids be kids and stop living their own failed aspirations through their children. In 3 Idiots, Aamir nudges parents to respect their progeny’s career choices. It is better to be a great wildlife photographer and earn less money than to be a terrible engineer, make more money and be miserable. Got to love that thought.The film has almost all the ingredients that spell success in Bollywood – including an over the top story, foot tapping music (by Shantanu Moitra of Parineeta fame); great lyrics by Swanand Kirkire – a lyricist to watch out for. I love the songs. Moitra and Kirkire make a great combo. The retro jazz feel of the song Zoobie Doobie is nice. But I worry if it is an original, knowing Shantanu Moitra’s track record (pun intended). He has been known to be “inspired” before – as they say in Bollywood. Kaisi Paheli from the film Parineeta was a straight lift from A Kiss To Build A Dream On by Louis Armstrong. His song Pal Pal was a straight lift from Cliff Richard’s Theme for a Dream. I only wish he would repeat the original music that he did for the non-film album Abke Saawan. So while I love the songs of 3 Idiots, I worry that someday I will discover that the ones I love are “inspired”. I worry…What’s the weak link in the film? Oh yeah, eye candy Kareena wears specs in this film to tell you that she wants you to remember her for acting skills. That’s tough given that her role in almost a size zero. And pray WHEN will middle aged men aka Aamir Khan (Madhavan and Sharman Joshi included and a zillion other actors) stop playing college going twenty somethings in films. You mean there are no real twenty somethings who can act in films? Reality show producers, here’s the idea for the next mega show – Kaun Banega College Student. The story line has some hard to believe elements like the childbirth sequence and a convoluted case about Aamir Khan’s identity. Since Indian audience does not flinch when the heroine changes her dress with every stanza of a song, 3 Idiots does not do anything as incredulous. But close enough. We are like that only.Overall rating : *** out of *****
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Three Idiots
Comments
14 responses to “Three Idiots”
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probably they did not think that this is going to be such a spat! but it does make sense to give some credit in the opening part of the film; the film is far different from the book though – inspired by the novel 5 point someone in the beginning somewhere should be the right thing to do. I agree
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There is a strong similarity between chetan bhagat ‘s novel and 3 idiots .in all fairness i am with chetan
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Sorry Abhijit, I would differ on the credit being given to Chetan Bhagat. There is no doubt in the fact that Hirani inspired himself to make the movie after reading the novel.The trio not only in the movie but also in the media give credit to Chetan for it. Entire media talks of the movie being inspired by the novel.. rediff, ibn or times.. u name it and u wl find his name. Writing “Based on Five point someone” would be unfair to the trio who except for the idea have put in valuable and visible effort to make the movie different with all internet jokes heard several times. I am sure hirani and vc are fully capable of creating a movie of this stature and it is the idea only which triggered them to make a fabulous movie.. We can try to give it to them.. They have proved it earlier and deserve it 🙂
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i will have to watch the movie before agreeing with you that he should be given more credit. For me the timing of Chetan’s raising of his hands is suspect. Why didn’t he cry hoarse earlier…thats before it turned into a money spinner? It is hard to believe that Chetan didn’t watch the movie on day 1 knowing that the movie was on his book….that is, if hadn’t already seen the pre-launch show.
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I totally accept your review, though response was overwhelmingly positive co’z of association of big names with the movie,youth appeal,but it’s a master stroke from the writing point of view,so he(Chetan Bhagat) should be given more credit .
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Paaji.Ke Farak Phenda whether 3 idiots is made well, makes sense, whether CB gets credit or not, whether Aamir is a marketing genius or not. The movie still does NOT solve any problem; communal rivalries, riots, terrorism, snitching, illiteracy, rampant corruption etc., look at it from PURE entertainment value..if it satisfies the masses for a few hours for a fraction of a dollar, than I say “Aall ij well”!!! If not than throw it in the can and lets move on. The intellectual capital should concentrate on real issues.Your revived dost…
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Chetan may have got less credits than he deserved but such things cannot be in black n white.he got paid ten lacs. So the placing of name in front of name cast wud made him happy? Or there is something else. The mkt angle to his book cannot be over looked . Film is a hit already
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Now who doesent know its chetan’s book which has been made into a movie,this circus is very foolishAgree with u when u say when will uclejis stop playing colege kids,as if no actors are there in that age group..and it is ridiculous when Aamir almost reincarnates into his version of eva ensler’s book title(pun intended). also what is sick is the way everyone throught the movie keeps calling Aamir great ,his friends,even chatur,big ego ammir mustve had ..one which never suffers bashing..In india one normal slightly sensible movie is put on a pedestal and worshipped,i personally know so many ppl who have disliked the movie ..haha and that includes two iitians.
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Notwithstanding the fact that Chetan has written a brilliant book, the film is, at best, “inspired” by it. There is more Hirani than Chetan Bhagat in it.But as you have rightly said, the film trio should be gracious to acknowledge his novel – in whatever form they like – at least at the start.About your mentioning middle-aged people playing college-kids, I agree with the idea but surely, this is not a disqualification for the movie. In all fairness, it shows on the screen that Aamir has worked really hard at his body structure and body language to approximate the age.I am no great fan of Kareena’s but would still say that ये रोल करीना के चंद तमीजदार पात्रों में से एक है.
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I completely agree with you Abhijit. I have read the book as well as watched the movie and feel that Chetan deserves a worthy mention in the movie
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Transformation is part of an actor’s skill set. I believe all 3 actors in this film transformed themselves credibly across the age divide. So this should be to their credit not their discredit.That said, I heartily agree with you about the importance of giving original story credit upfront. Vidhu Vinod Chopra bears responsibility for keeping up with global professional standards set by in this regard, however much the story may have repurposed for the mass cinema audience.
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nice read! 3 idiots is a fabulous movie……!!!!
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I JUST SAW 3 IDIOTS. AMIR, R. MADHABAN,SHARMAN , KAREENA, BOMAN IRANI ALL WERE THERE.WHAT I REMEMBER ALL THE WAY OR YOU CAN SAY ALL THE DAYS OF 2010 I CAN NOT FORGET SILENCER / CHATUR/OMI EVEN IF I DONOT WANT TO REMEMBER HIM. SUCH A NICE ACTOR AND HIS PERFORMANCE IN 3 IDIOTS. I LIKE TO SEE HIM A GREAT BOLLYWOOD FUTURE.
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WOW.. I JUST FINISH WATCHING THE MOVIE AND IT WAS GREAT… VERY NICE STORYLINE…. VERY INSPIRING….
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