Movie: 3 Idiots

After receiving a phone call, Farhan(R Madhavan) fakes a cardiac arrest to get off an airplane about to depart from New Delhi. Once he successfully gets off the plane, he rushes to the engineering college campus from which he graduated. On the way, Farhan picks up his friend, Raju(Sharman Joshi). On reaching the college, they are met by Chathur(Omi). During the college days, Omi was always at loggerheads with Farhan, Raju and their third friend. Ten years back on the same day, Chathur had vowed that he will become more successful than the three friends. He also promised to meet them ten years later.

Farhan and Raju are disappointed to see Chathur as they were expecting their friend, Rancho(Aamir Khan) instead. Rancho has not stayed in touch with his friends after college. For the friends who desperately miss Rancho, Chathur comes in as a relief as he has unearthed the whereabouts of their missing friend. Farhan, Raju and Chathur leaves for Shimla to find Rancho.

During their journey to find Rancho, Farhan reminisces the college days. He fondly remembers Rancho who inspired to pursue excellence instead of success. There were many interesting characters who they meet in college life. The strict college professor, Viru Sahastrabudhhe(Boman Irani), his daughers Pia(Kareena Kapoor) and Mona(Mona Singh), Farhan’s dad(Parikshat Sahni) and Raju’s poor family are some of them.

Rajkumar(Raju) Hirani directs this movie which is based on the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. Unlike his previous outings, this movie is more a drama than a comedy. But, the characters and situations evoke laughter. Also, the message in this movie is right on the face where the main protagonist hammers in the need for being educated instead of being successful. The movie is predictable and is fraught with a sense of déjà vu. In spite of all these, the movie still makes you eagerly wait for events to unfold or brings a smile on your lips. This feeling you get while watching the movie is Raju’s success.

Aamir Khan delivers a memorable and captivating performance as Rancho. Rancho is intelligent, energetic and innovative. These are easy to portray as it is already written into the script. But, Rancho is also in his early twenties. Aamir is blessed with a boyish face. But it is his mannerisms that make you sit up and watch the performance. Be it placing his hands inside his trouser/jeans pockets or the way he scratches his head or the way his neck stretches out when he teases Pia, Aamir has effectively changed his body language to suit a twenty year old.

Boman Irani becomes Veeru Sahastrabudhhe by a curly wig, a lisp and his dress. Veeru is a very serious man who is very competitive. He makes us laugh while being earnestly serious. Kareena is endearing. Madhavan and Sharman are good.

Raju Hirani has chosen never before seen locations like IIM campus in Bangalore to depict the college campus and major cities like Delhi, Shimla and Ladakh. Muraleedharan’s camera gives us a jaw dropping view of these locations.

The background score is overly melodramatic in some emotional scenes.

Go for it. It has everything we need.

Language: Hindi

Genre: Drama

Rating: ****

Picture Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama

Tags: Movies,Aamir Khan,Kareena Kapoor,R Madhavan,Sharman Joshi,Boman Irani,Mona Singh,Rajkumar Hirani,Chetan Bhagat,Drama