3 Idiots

Some films leave you coruscated, enthralled and inspired. Sadly, 3 Idiots does none of that. It is nevertheless an entertainer and a big time entertainer. It is almost a ‘Shawshank Redemption’ set in an engineering college with a more self-gratifying hero. The movie offers you vicarious experiences and quick superficial emotions that makes the mango audience go gaga over it.

The film moves in two time frames, the present one being Farhan (Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman Joshi) going in search of their lost college buddy Rancho (Aamir Khan).On the way, Farhan remembers the story of his forced career choice, their pitiable college life and how Rancho was a breath of fresh air to it. He wonders what happened to the man who changed so many lives and gives him a saintly status doing so. The film is about what they find out at the end of their journey.

Aamir Khan as Rancho is a prankster at best and a sadist at worst. He is a gifted brainy who barely has to study(or attend classes for that matter)to top the college and humiliates his mortal classmates, who somehow need to study to pass grades, as humourless assiduous crammers. Being a genius, he is licensed to do so, prank teachers and romance the Dean’s daughter (Kareena).

I call it a fantasy because the film is largely a screen portrayal of teenage day-dreams if not a fairy tale.

The film still has great watchabilty by virtue of its clever one liners, engaging speed and songs that stick. In spite of certain clichés and slapstick comedy scenes, sequences like portrayal of Raju’s home, “dost fail ho jaye” and the phenomenal Chatur’s speech leave you gasping for air throughout the film. However, stolen jokes and analogies forcefully incorporated demand keeping your brains at home. The advancement of I.T. in the era of old FIAT cars is downright goofy. But as they say-“Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the public”.

In “Munnabhai M.B.B.S.” by the same director-producer duo, dealing with “tension nahi lene ka” attitude, Munna did not come off as doctor. 3 Idiots shows truant playing behavior awarded and rewarded. The movie has no message whatsoever as conceived by some masses. If the makers tried to do so,then with due respect to them, it is a wrong message.Conclusively, so long as you don’t let the film meddle with your brain, it’s a great movie and “AAL IZZ WELL”.

Bandwidth Verdict: Download it, watch it; delete it, forget it.