The Movie Analyst

Language: Hindi

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Cast: Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, Omi Vaidya

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Music: Shantanu Moitra

Reasons to watch: It is Christmas time and good laughs are guaranteed.

Reasons not to watch: Some scenes drill in the film’s message too often.

Storyline: Rancho (Aamir Khan), as it turns out, can do just about anything. Right from electrocuting his senior with a spoon and two wires to delivering a baby using a vacuum cleaner. He remains an oddball among all the students studying in the Imperial College of Engineering run by Hitler’s reincarnation, Viru Sahastrabuddhe (Boman Irani), fondly known as ‘Virus’ among students. Rancho’s motto is to strive for excellence rather than success. But half-hearted efforts or fear or even worse, a mechanical methodology of studying will not help in the attainment of excellence. Enter – Farhan (Madhavan) whose dream is to become a wildlife photographer, but is forced into engineering by his dad; Raju (Sharman Joshi), a poor lad whose fear of failure thwarts him from achieving his dreams; and Chatur (Omi Vaidya) who is a mechanical mugging machine. Rancho’s efforts to help his friends live their lives by instilling his ideals in them, pits him against ‘Virus’ who sees him as a threat to his conservative ideology of education. But soon after helping his friends in achieving their dreams and touching their lives (Hirani’s signature touch that leaves you with moist eyes) in some way, Rancho disappears. The film is almost shown as a flashback, with Farhan and Raju going in search of their long lost buddy after ten years.

Kareena Kapoor as Pia adds to the on-screen vivacity. Though her expressions give you an impression of a Jab We Met hangover, she excels in her role as daughter of ‘Virus’ and Rancho’s romance with finesse. Omi Vaidya as Chatur (hats off to him) cracks you up with his portrayal of a typical innocent engineering student who is obsessed with being No.1, which surprisingly turns out to be the life-line of this movie.

Climax Handling: Though not up to the standards set by Munna Bhai MBBS, Rajkumar Hirani and co-writer Abhijat Joshi give us a mix of emotions at the end; a lump in the throat, the never ending slapstick and a satisfaction of having watched a totally refreshing movie.

Points: More or less based on Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller Five Point Someone, 3 Idiots takes many a light-hearted jabs at the Indian education system, evoking apposite wringers about the congruity of learning by rote, the usual rat’s race for high grades, and the alarming consequences of parents squeezing their wards into pursuing long-established educational streams.

Rating: 9/10

Comments: ALL IS WELL! Go for it!