3 Idiots MOVIE and MEMBER Reviews - Post HERE! - Page 7

Rajkumar Hirani's trademark feel good touch is evident throughout the running time of 3 Idiots. Almost three-hour-long, this film is a satire on India's education system. Set in an engineering college, it focuses on some relevant issues such as – bookish learning vs practical knowledge, exam stress, parental pressure, student committing suicides et al.

Farhan (Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman Joshi) slog through engineering just to fulfill their parents' dreams and secure a stable, well paying job. Enter Rancho (Aamir Khan), a maverick genius who studies only for the love of it. His practical approach towards studies is in stark contrast to the marks-oriented model followed by college dean Viru Sahastrabudhhe aka Virus (Boman Irani). Hirani once again uses the protagonist as a tool to convey his optimistic philosophy about life. You can say Rancho does the job of a Munnabhai. On the last day of college, Rancho mysteriously disappears - till one fine day Raju and Farhan land up on a clue and set out looking for him in the hills of Ladakh.

Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone, 3 Idiots is a smooth ride as long as it stays within the campus. It flows in an episodic fashion going back and forth between past and present. The first half moves at a breezy pace, even though there are too many mediocre songs. Aamir's interaction with the dean, his take on education, and the hostel life are all cleverly handled. So even while there is no real story to speak off, the scenes work simply because of the easy chemistry between the actors. It's hard not to identify with the situations in this part of the film.

The cracks begin to surface when the plot meanders from its core. Lot of scenes in the second half are long and over drawn. For example the Mona Singh's delivery episode, Sharman Joshi's interview and Kareena's crazy wedding are all haphazardly written sequences that lack the stamp of a master filmmaker. Aamir's mysterious absence is also a bit hard to digest in this era of communication. It adds little to the plot and comes across as a mere gimmick to create some false sense of thrill. Thankfully, the pace picks up superbly in the last 15 minutes.

Hirani had set new benchmarks for writers with the Munnabhai series. And was seen as a successor to Hrishikesh Mukherjee and his brand of subtle comedy. This time around Hirani's humour is surprisingly amateurish, often bordering on silliness. The gags involving three friends in a college are funny no doubt; but it's the stuff you expect from a Rohit Shetty. Even the dramatic portions lack the bittersweet touch of Hirani's past works. Instead he goes out for flat melodrama. The truly gripping twists are few and far between.

Hirani's Munnabhai hangover spills on to several sequences. The entire premise of a college and one student taking on the rigid system reminds you of Munnabhai MBBS. The sub plot involving Kareena's arrogant elite boyfriend and Madhavan opening up in front of his strict father are straight out of episodes in Lage Raho Munnabhai. The maker's obsession with Aal Izz Well makes it a poor cousin of the legendary Jaado Ki Jhappi. But some brilliant dialogues and effortless performances make up for Hirani's weaknesses. Even in its boring bits the witty lines manage to keep you hooked onto the screen.

Kareena Kapoor looks radiant and is at her natural best for the first time since Jab We Met. Though it doesn't gel seamlessly with the main story, Aamir and Kareena's romance is cute.

Sharman Joshi is once again cast as the lovable coward. But given that the writers present his back-story as a hilarious spoof, it is impossible to sympathise with his character's struggle and achievements.

Saddled with a sketchily written part, Aamir Khan's role of a non-conformist student is a mix of Dutt from Munnbhai MBBS and SRK from Mohabbatein. Minus any makeovers or moralistic speeches this is Aamir Khan's most normal role in a long time. While he brilliantly emulates the body language of a genius, his dialogue delivery is a tad predictable. As the smooth talking wise guy his portrayal isn't too different from Rang De Basanti. Just an observation: 3 Idiots is not only Aamir's third successive Christmas release, it even ends in a school – just like Ghajini and Taare Zameen Par.

So in the end it is actually Madhavan who stands out. He doesn't have the best lines, but gets the most detailed role. And he plays it with remarkable restraint. Boman Irani as the dean is an extension of Dr Asthana from Munnabhai MBBS. Despite being caricaturish, he does manage to evoke the laughter. A special mention for the actor who plays the Silicon Valley IT nerd. His dialogue and mannerisms are just perfect.

Hirani's clumsy screenplay dilutes the genuinely thought provoking underlying message about following your dreams. 3 Idiots could have been a wonderful light-hearted story about India's education system and the ever-increasing tribe of aspiring engineers. In parts, the films presents a very relatable picture of students who suppress their dreams and follow the herd. But Rajkumar Hirani treats the overall enterprise like an over-the-top comedy. While the idea might have been to narrate a serious thought in a funny manner - the execution of many sequences is more contrived than clever.

Verdict: 3 Idiots is a happy film with a positive message. But you never feel for or root for its characters. Releasing in the festive season, this film will deliver truckloads of laughter, but might not satisfy the expectations of watching an Aamir Khan-Rajkumar Hirani film. It's just another feel good, time pass watch.

Rating: 3/5