After a long time I have finally come across a movie that I would love to watch again. 3 Idiots has come as a much needed relief in this current drought of meaningful Bollywood flicks. Like the old adage goes one should not judge a book by its cover, so is the case with 3 Idiots, the name may make it sound like the slapstick comedies Bollywood is known for; however, this movie is a classic that has the power to move your heart and soul. The screen play is simply marvelous. 3 Idiots revolves around three friends in a top notch engineering college and the story is framed as a flashback. Every scene in the movie has some meaning to it and the humor with which the issues are presented is simply fabulous, so I reckon not missing even a single scene.

Like any other movie from Rajkumar Hirani, 3 Idiots brings forth the value system created by the current education system. The movie wonderfully showcases how in our society parents are keen on making their children either a doctor or an engineer as these happen to be the two most sought after professions. The Director of the college Virus, played by Boman Irani, believes that each student should get good grades so that he can survive in the current job market or go to America for better prospects. It is interesting to see how these three come together as friends with Rancho, played by Aamir Khan, leading the group. Rancho believes that education should not be imposed but is something that should rather come from within. He believes, and so do I, that the desire to learn should be greater than just grasping marks and if you know your work well then the world will run around you, rather than you running around the world.

The movie also presents the complexity of the Indian society where a daughter “has” to be married off and the son “has” to pay for that wedding, while bringing forth the underlying issue of dowry system in India. The pressure that students face to reach the top most position so that they can fulfill their responsibilities at home is portrayed well by Sharman Joshi as Raju Rastogi. The movie shows how students cramp what is taught and how this pressure ends up bringing the worst out of them. Farhan Qureshi, played by R. Madhavan, has a desire to become a photographer but rather moves according to the wishes of his father and simply completes his degree; however, in the end he finally stands up for himself. He moves into the profession of his choice and is finally at peace, a lesson most Indian parents should pay attention to.

I’d say everyone should watch this movie at least once as somewhere down the three hours you would feel that it brings on screen an element of your life. I would also like to compare the relationship shown between Amir and Kareena to that of Guru Dutt’s characters in the movie Mr. and Mrs. 55. The music too is very catchy and you’ll start humming it within minutes of listening to it. My take on 3 Idiots is that it is a must watch and the perfect way to begin the New Year.

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