SMASHING INDEED!
By K. N. Gupta
By Eye TV India Bureau
Critic's I-view
click for larger view
Bollywood needs to rejoice that it ends 2009 with '3 Idiots', the most outstanding movie of the year. This proves that the three actors calling themselves as idiots are indeed 3 geniuses. After all, they call themselves so at their own terms. Similarly, all the other three - Raj Kumar Hirani as director, Vidhu Vinod Chopra as producer and Aamir Khan as superb actor provide the audience a movie perfect in all respects. Yes, we can ditto their peppy phrase " all izz well'. At the same time, '3 Idiots' ranks amongst Aamir Khan, Raj Kumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's finest films. This is emotional, entertainer and also enlightener.
Besides, it is universal as it appeals to all sections of the audience. This is a better mix of the two movies of the two stalwarts - Raj Kumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's "Jaadu ki jhappi" in 'Munnabhai MBBS' and "Gandhigiri" in 'Lage Raho Munnabhai'. The movie is based though loosely on Chetan Bhagat's bestseller "Five Point Someone" its story goes far beyond the campus and the youth target audiences reach as in their earlier movies. '3 Idiots' has a wider plot and universal appeal. For a group of all-male engineering students, to 'deliver' means to literally carry out a delivery operation on a woman in labour pain. And when the motionless newborn responds to a goodwill chant of ' Aal izz well.
click for larger view
The movie's story begins a decade after the graduation of college companions comprising R. Madhavan playing as Farhan and Sharman Joshi as Raju Rastogi. Anyhow, both get a clue on the whereabouts of their missing third friend Aamir Khan playing Rancho. So, they travel by road from Delhi to Shimla to Manali to Ladakh to find their friend. Rancho is just different from other college students inasmuch as his individualistic thought-process and rebellious attitude is concerned.
click for larger view
That's why Rancho invites the wrath of college head Boman Irani playing Viru Sahastrabudhhe. Despite his fun, Rancho always surprises everyone by topping the class. He even manages to win the affection of Boman's daughter Kareena Kapoor playing Pia. The twist comes when he vanishes even after being awarded the Student Of The Year award. But Rancho's greatest contribution lies in making his friends realize their true calling! That's why they (Farhan and Raju) embark on a journey to find their missing friend. The movie swings between Aamir's romance with Kareena Kapoor and his clash with oppressive mentor, Boman Irani.
click for larger view
Yes, this reminds us of Sanjay Dutt vis-à-vis his disciplinarian college principal Boman Irani and his daughter Gracy Singh in Raj Kumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 'Munnabhai MBBS'. In spite of similarity the movie doesn't look repetitive. Again, the sequence of the principal is hilarious and so is an annual day Hindi speech of honor by an NRI student. Even the Raju's otherwise poor family background is changed into a riot of laughter. Similarly, Sharman's revival scene in hospital reminds us of the carom board scene from 'Munnabhai MBBS' though the child delivery is tastefully handled.
click for larger view
To 'deliver' for male engineering college students means to literally carry out a delivery operation on a woman suffering from labor pain. And when the motionless newborn responds they say 'Aal izz well ' for this, Hirani and Abhijat Joshi deserve credit; they have written the screenplay in such a way that either it evokes a complete riot of laughter or a full throat scream. Meanwhile they have also introduced several worthwhile topical issues like grading system, parental pressure, student suicide etc. though without turning ideologues. Even the jokes from engineering students make us roar in laughter. So also the romantic song "Zoobie Doobie" looking more creative than their earlier numbers like " Dhoom Taan …" in ' Om Shanti Om' and "Woh Ladki Hai Kahan…" in 'Dil Chahta Hai'.
click for larger view
The three actors look like college students though they are 30 plus. Aamir Khan is the USP of the movie. He plays excellent as a livewire Rancho, perhaps his best so far. Sharman Joshi proves his mettle again even as a funny and emotional actor. Madhavan complements his costars. Kareena Kapoor appeals the most even in her short stint. Boman Irani reminds us of lecturers of our times. Omi is good too as a teachers' pet.
Shantanu Moitra's music is in perfect sync with the mood of the film. C K Muraleetharan's cinematography and so also Hirani's editing are praiseworthy. Manish Malhotra, Sheena Parekh and Raghuveer Shetty's informal styling gives the film a trendy campus feel.
via:http://ww.smashits.com
