3 Idiots (2009)

Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Story: Abhijat Joshi, Rajkumar Hirani (based on the book by Chetan Bhagat)
Cast: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor 
Music: Shantanu Moitra
Time: 171 minutes
Bottom-line: A masterpiece among Bollywood films; a film to treasure

The Bollywood film that took both the box office and the award ceremonies by storm, 3 Idiots seems to have it all: comedy, romance and a message to deliver. Many films have been made about friendship, but this film would be my pick. Starring Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi and R. Madhavan, the film (in one line) is the story of how two friends try to find another.

The trio: Sharman Joshi as Raju (right), Aamir Khan
as Rancho (centre) and Madhavan as Farhan

Farhan Qureshi (Madhavan) and Raju Rastogi (Joshi) are two friends in Delhi. Farhan gets a call from Chatur (Omi Vaidya), saying that their friend Rancho (Aamir) is in town. Farhan and Raju go with Chatur in search of Rancho, who is supposedly in Shimla. En route, Farhan narrates the story of their college days together. We see that Rancho (real name Rancchoddas Shyamaldas Chanchad) is a care-free student, always enjoying the moment. The three of them become thick friends. Rancho falls in love with Pia (Kareena), the daughter of the college dean Viru Sahastrabuddhe (Boman Irani). The rest of the film tells all the events that take place during their college days, and whether or not Farhan and Raju find Rancho in Shimla.

Kareena Kapoor as Pia

The story is quite fast-paced. I like the way the film begins: Farhan pretends to be sick and makes the plane perform an emergency landing in Delhi. When he calls Raju, Raju just forgets everything (including his pants!) and goes with Farhan to see Rancho. These scenes themselves show how thick the friendship is. Another part of the story I liked is the message it gives. This film gives the message, “Become what you want to become…don’t let others tell what to be and what not to be.” Rancho is a guy who loves engineering and wants to become an engineer. Farhan is a guy who has a deep interest in photography, but is being forced to study engineering because of his parents. Raju is a guy who likes engineering, but fails because of superstition and fear. How Rancho makes them follow their own passion and live a happy life forms the major part of the story. The other twists and turns that take place in the story (particularly in the house in Shimla) also add to the fun and thrill of the film.

Omi Vaidya as Chatur, giving his speech

The story also shows how strong the friendship between the three of them is. Normally we forget out friends as soon as our school days get over, or even if we don't forget, we don't go about the country searching them. But Farhan, as he says, "Stops a plane, almost puts the ashes of a person into the toilet...", and does many more dangerous and stupid things, just to find his friend, along with Raju. The way in which the film portrays friendship is what makes it a hit.

Now other than the moral the film gives, 3 Idiots also has plenty of comedy and entertainment. From the ragging scene in the beginning, till the scene at the lake in the end, every scene has some joke or the other. There are tons of memorable scenes in the film: the ragging scene, the scene where Rancho tells the definition of ‘book’, the scene where Chatur tells his speech (and that is the best of the lot), the comic sequences at Rancho’s house in Shimla and many more. The song Behti Hava Sa Tah Woh is one my most favourite songs, that describes the friendship in a melodious and beautiful manner. The songs Aal Izz Well and Zoobi Doobi are more fun-filled than meaningful, but both are comic to watch.

             Boman Irani as Viru Sahastrabuddhe

The acting is excellent. Aamir’s character is what makes his role interesting to watch, more than his acting. But Sharman Joshi has done the best job in acting. His expression of sadness when he is asked to type the letter, by Viru, is the scene that brings out the best in him. Boman Irani has acted equally well, and he plays a terrific role as Viru. He has the typical attitude of all headmasters: wanting his college to be first, someone who doesn’t care about his students but only about his college… His put-on lisp also makes his role a funny one. His facial expressions during Chatur’s speech are brilliant, and you will find yourself laughing during that scene even if you don’t want to. Madhavan and Omi have also acted superbly.

Poster of  Nanban

This film was remade in Tamil as Nanban (meaning ‘friend’), directed by Shankar. This film stars Vijay for Aamir, Jiiva for Joshi and Srikanth for Madhavan’s role. The Tamil film was a scene by scene copy of 3 Idiots , with even few jokes being the same. The songs were much worse in the Tamil film, compared to the Hindi one, except the song, Aal is Well, which I liked.

To sum up, Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots is a film that can be watched how many ever times without getting bored. A film which provides the right amount of comedy (romance may have been a tad extra) along with a meaningful story, Hirani’s blockbuster provides entertainment from all angles, be it acting, story or dialogues. Simply brilliant is 3 Idiots, don’t miss it!

My Rating: 5/5