With all that hooplah and hullaballoo going on around the movie and the book, what better way to start (or rather what an idiotic way) my Red scarf girl project. As much as I liked the movie, its not life changing for me and even have laid a bet with a friend to flaw-analyze the movie. So this is the answer to those who think 3 idiots is the next best thing which could have happened to Bollywood cinema. But dont be mistaken- there's magic and the film does work. (so much so that reviewers needed to change their review overnight to go along with the public feel) But its not going to change the world, it was just what it was meant to be- a clean Hirani entertainer with a message.
And here's an idiots flaw guide to 3 idiots movie
1. For a movie so innocuously based on IIT's, it fails to understand the basic fulcrum which holds the IIT/IIM brand together (You see IIT delhi was earlier called Imperial College of engineering). You probably can get into an IIT through rote learning (though I hardly can see how), you definitely cannot survive there through it. So essentially, a good percentage of IITians are actually like Rancho and the Chathurs of the world dont really get ahead in the race of logical precision. And for the sake of arguing, lets say the movie is all about the slice of life from a regular engineering college. Even then, the Ranchos of the real world cant get ahead there by topping the grades, because its all about Chathur style learning which works for grades. That brings me to the second and in my mind, most important flaw.
2. Why on earth it is so important that Rancho HAS to top the class? Aint that what the movie is all about- Let the education flow beyond grades and points. Are we afraid to say that if we fail/get bad grades in college, then we wont make it in life?. Agreed, this line of thought is explored vaguely in the case of Farhan and Raju who consistently get bad grades, but in the end does well in life. But even then, there are excuses of different passions and web of fears. When are going to say confidently that to be the best you need not have 99.9% marks? Im not saying, you flunk out. No- how exactly is a guy who stands 5 th so different from the one who is 1st? When you put your finger to it-not so much eh? I would have loved it even more if the movie had the guts to stay away from cliches of grades and toppers.
3. Apparently, they meet after 10 years of their college life.Everyone else has their own lives. ofcourse except the hero and heroine. The heroine is supposedly still not married and is getting married now after all this time on that precise day where they set out to find Rancho. It cant get filmier.:P. Do girls wait for 10 years like that and suddenly decide to tie the knot with the same jerk whom she dumped 10 years back? Duh!! And an intelligent, beautiful, sassy girl like Pia didnt find anyone else at all in this entire planet--?? But well, lets excuse that as the inevitable overbearing drama in Hindi movies. But aint a full life also mean a happy personal life?? ( And no offense to happy singles, Im guessing Rancho and Pia respectively have met the loves of their lives)Or when you have 100 patents down your belt and a school to run in Leh ( I love that.;)), you dont really need that to qualify as living your best life. Err, maybe!!
4. What was that whole imposter thing about? So are we saying every kid who cannot afford education should go as an imposter for a good for nothing rich kid?? And again stereotyping- Poor kids are good students and rich kids are not (which is totally not so). All of that is so wrong in so many levels. But again-creative freedom, so let it be.
5. The trio are the thickest of friends and even is close to families in a weird way. But nobody manages to wonder about Rancho's family in the 4 years they were together? Or wait! Rancho has so much of philosophy to dish out, he must have found one for that too.
6. And cant ignore this. A guy who played teacher at 43 is playing student at 44. Regression at its best. ( Ok, I need to admit he did heck of a good job).
7. And to be fair, I seriously dont understand the whole circus around 'five point someone' and '3 idiots'! Honestly, the movie was much better than the book despite all its lackings and Im guessing Chethan Bhagat is pulling a publicity stunt. Also arent we forgetting Abhijath Joshi who is also a writer?What about his feeling yaar? You take the money and now you're calling him a flicker. Not fair, Chethan ji..
8. And cant the engineering fraternity make a ruckus about flicking the heirloom jokes passed down through generations Aint it lame to borrow memes like the pen joke and the electric shock??
9. And a vaccum cleaner is enough for delivery, why are we spending so much on gynaecs??
Before I over do it, let me stop.
After all this, I will dare to say, if you havent watched it-do watch the movie. It might not change your life, but it is paisa wasool for every single minute of it.
