This has been a decade of transformation for Hindi cinema. Riding on a the creative waves unleashed by a new breed of writers and directors, it has found a way to make films that are both meaningful and successful, without sacrificing one for the other. ‘3 Idiots’ is a perfect crown for the new Hindi cinema.
Based on the novel ‘Five Point Someone’ by Chetan Bhagat (all the controversy notwithstanding) ‘3 Idiots’ is the story of 3 friends who befriend each other during their engineering studies. Rancho, the brilliant yet maverick student helps the other two bottom feeders discover the true meaning of learning and discover their calling in life. Their life is made difficult by the tyrannous Viru S, the director of the institute who tries his best to have the three disband or get thrown out or be denied job placement for not complying with the rules of the institute. How they get past him and what they do with their new found meaning of learning is what the film explores.
Raju Hirani could well end up being the Hrishikesh Mukherjee of modern times. He has the same simplicity of expression in his plots, his protagonists have the same purity of heart and his concepts are as fresh as they are relevant. With this film, he takes his storytelling abilities to a new level. Each scene leaves you either in splits or in deep reverence to the craft of this man in creating such a compelling screenplay with so much meaning. There are a couple of instances when the plot gets a little too preachy, with Rancho almost playing the modern day ‘Rajini’, but apart from that, there are very few things amiss. The climactic delivery sequence seems a bit farfetched, the only doubtful part of a very believable movie. His allegorical naming of characters is extremely endearing.
Aamir Khan as Rancho once again loses himself in the character. For many years now, he has come across as an intelligent, nerdy yet charismatic actor, with his self-proclaimed favorite toon character being Dilton Doiley of Archies fame. He is convincingly nerdy, eccentric, mature and reassured all at once. A wonderful performance. Madhavan is not given a meaty enough role for his charm to come through. Instead Sharman Joshi delivers a sensitive performance as the sole potential breadwinner of a BPL family with an ailing father, mother and sister to care for. Kareena Kapoor is passable in a zany role, one that she is used to breezing through comfortably. Boman Irani as Viru S and Omi Vaidya as Chatur, the geeky rival to the naturally brilliant Rancho deliver stellar performances.
‘3 Idiots’ has taken the movie business by a storm. And deservingly so, for it brings in a richer, balanced and more enjoyable dimension to the top revenue slot in Hindi cinema as compared to its predecessors.3 cheers!