3 Idiots: Ending the year on a happy note

Seeing Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots names of two movies immediately came to my mind- Taare Zameen Par and Patch Adams. In one way, you can say that 3 Idiots is another version of TZP. Both these movies reveal the weakness of the Indian education system. How students are forced to memorize and not be creative. How parents force their children to fulfill their dreams but they end up miserably. 3 Idiots is just the adult version of that story. On the other hand, Patch Adams is a Hollywood movie starring famous comedy actor Robin Williams. Patch Adams is the story of Patch Adams a brilliant doctor whose unconventional views about medical treatment put him into direct conflict with the school’s dean. I am not saying that 3 Idiots is inspirited from Patch Adams, even if it did, there is no problem because both these movies have their own stories to tell and both of them are great and at the end of these movies you will go home teary eyed feeling good. First of all, I would like to congratulate director Rajkumar Hirani and all the actors for giving us such a great movie. 3 Idiots deserves a straight “A”. The year 2009, would be remembered as a year of financial crisis for Bollywood movie industry but this movie will give the movie makers a reason to smile.

3 Idiots starts with the journey of two friends- Farhan Qureshi (Madhavan) and Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi) who resumed their journey after five years in search of an old friend, Ranchoddas Shaymaldas Chanchad (Aamir Khan), who changed their lives and taught them to pursue “Excellence.” The movie then goes to a flashback to the college days of the three friends narrated by Farhan Qureshi. Raju Rastogi came from a lower middle class family. His father works as a postman. Since he was good in his study, his family went through great hardship to support him through his school and college. Now, he is in one of the most prestigious engineering colleges in India and if he graduates from here, his family’s condition will change. Raju carries a huge burden of expectation. Farhan always wanted to become a wildlife photographer but he gave up his dream for the sake of his family. Finally, there was our Rancho, a free thinker and a genius who loves what he does. Rancho is the problem creator in the class. He never conforms but asks questions which puts him into direct conflict with dean, Viru Sahastrabudhhe (Boman Irani). Everytime, he tries to pressure Rancho, he deceives him. Rancho acts like stupid in the class but at the end of the day, he scores the highest mark. 3 Idiots gives you an idea of an education system that does not spawn creativity and make students pass exams and get good jobs but not inspire them to do something bigger and better.

The strong point of 3 Idiots is its direction and screen play. Vidhu Vinod Chopra,

Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijit Joshi worked diligently on the script which comes with lots great scenes with superb dialogues.

In terms of acting, 3 Idiots is a movie of characters. There are three friends with three different characters and then there are the supporting characters and the actors did a great job.

I have great respect for Aamir Khan because his movies are always special. He is consistent and when he does something it becomes unforgettable. In 3 Idiots he just did that once again. The actor played a dual role- the role of a young college graduate in his twenties and the role of a grown up guy. He played his roles with great ease and gave out a great performance.

Madhavan and Sharman Joshi was no less talented. Sharman’s role was also very complex but he proved himself to be an actor who can deliver rocking performance be it comedy, be it serious melo-drama.

Kareena Kapoor’s role Piya, the daughter of Viru Sahastrabudhhe, the dean of the Engineering college who is engaged to a business tycoon but falls in love with Aamir Khan played his part very well.

Boman Irani played the cruel dean who likes the traditional ways and always clashing with Rancho. He fits in very well because he already played such role in Munnabhai and he knows what he has to do.

In the end, I would suggest that you go and watch 3 Idiots and give yourself a reason to be happy in the Christmas Eve.

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