3 Idiots - Funny and entertaining !!!

Movie adaptations based on books are not as popular in India as it is in the west. We rarely see them happen here. So it was kind of interesting when 3 idiots was supposed to be the adaptation of the successful novel ‘Five point someone’. Hirani had come public and clearly stated that it’s not an adaptation of the novel, but just takes the basic premise from it. Rajkumar Hirani has precisely done that.

He takes the main characters and basic knot out of the book rehashes his cult classic Munna bhai and dishes out his own new product. So we have the story of three friends in their engineering years ( taken from the book), out of three the main idiot Rancho is sketched out to be a mix of Nikumbh from Tare Zameen Par, John Keating of Dead poets society and also has shades of munnabhai . Then we have the strict disciplinarian in Sahastra Buddhe the college dean who wants high scoring engineers and not free thinkers, (this one is straight out of Hiranis Munnabhai where we had the hospital dean endorsing such a philosophy). If it was Munnas tapori attitude questioning the work culture of the doctors there, here our live wire Rancho questions the very structure of our education system in general and Mr. Buddhes way of learning in particular. He also preaches everyone to follow their heart and passion and not to succumb to external (parental/society) pressures (Again an extension of Taare Zameen Par)

3 Idiots works wonderfully well as a comedy. Hirani is in top notch form in his comic sequences and the actors pull of their scenes brilliantly well. Take for instance the scene where Rancho tampers with the speech that has to be delivered on the teachers day function makes for a great laugh. The funny portrayal of Sharman joshis suffering family was a hatke se thinking, like the scene where they mix up all the answer sheets to confuse the invigilator are all nicely done. I seriously wish Hirani had stuck to such smart heartfelt comedy sequences.

But he fills the second half with so many melodramatic sequences and fills in with a whole lot of convenient coincidences which took away all the zest and energy from the movie. Take for instance the most crucial scene where Rancho successfully helps a delivery with the help of doctor through web cam using a vacuum cleaner ( it was shocking that I was reminded of a ridiculous scene from ‘Sabari’ when I was watching this). If that wasn’t enough the baby which is so close to have been dead born suddenly starts kicking alive when everyone says ‘Aall is well’. Even in midst of such a sequence there are shades of Hiranis humor ( watch when Aamir and Boman Irani both instinctively throw the keys to Madhavan to get the Vacuum cleaner asap, you cannot resist from cracking up).

So as much as the serious melodramatic sequences never created the expected lump in the throat, while the comic portions were brilliant and enjoyable. Another big reason why the movie works so well is because of its actors. Though Aamir has the Nikumbh hangover from TZP throughout the movie, his likeable charm and high energy levels works wonders for the movie. Sharman Joshi is underrated and has a brilliant timing in comic sequences ( How does an Induction motor start :P ). Madhavan is restrained and plays his part well. Kareena with little screen space does justice to her role. Boman Irani was strictly ok and looked like he was overdoing it a bit. Omi Prakash who plays Silencer is a brilliant find.

If I end up saying that this movie is a no brainer entertainer then it would be utter cruelty to its makers and as the same time you cannot say that is a satirical comedy that needs brains then I would be fooling myself, so if I may say so it fits in somewhere in the middle of these two categories but assures you unadulterated entertainment. It’s not a movie which might change your life or way of thinking ( as some people portray it), not sure if the makers even intended the movie that way, but it gives you a hearty laugh and big smile on your face for sure !!