~ Reetu Bajaj ’12
Having visited India this past winter break, I found one main aspect in common: everyone was talking about Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots. From advertisements on the road to live news streaming on television, to all popular radio stations, 3 Idiots was everywhere. Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller “Five Point Someone,” “3 Idiots” mocks the best institutions of higher education in India. Set at the fabricated Imperial College of Engineering, the movie connects the story of three rebellious roommates, lead by the comedic Rancho Chanchad (Amir Khan). Rancho, being the most talented out of the three, pursues knowledge for pure interest whereas his friends Farhan (R. Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman Joshi) battle under strains from families of lower economic standards. Adding to the fun (and sometimes destruction) of their adventures is the principal of the Engineering College, ViruS, played by Boman Irani. And as many know, there is rarely a Bollywood movie without any romance. This is where the principal’s daughter, medical student Pia (Kareena Kapoor), comes in and falls for Rancho’s positive attitude and lively charisma. With such a lively caste, storyline, and even music, you are in for 3 hours of a tuneful adventure.
It should be noted, however, that this film is not only for the laughs. “3 Idiots” touches on many sensitive topics, such as suicide and hazing rituals that take place behind a college’s closed doors. Some say the movie doesn’t just depict an insidious problem, but actually influences it. After seeing the movie, my cousins who live and attend college in Bangalore, relay stories on how the suicide rates are due to how intense and competitive colleges are. The movie also touches base with common stereotypes of Indians, such as students who receive pressures from their parents to become either an engineer or doctor.
Thus, “3 Idiots” touches very close to reality, creating a sense of seriousness but also of nostalgia in its audiences. We all wish we were given “some sunshine, [given] some rain, [given] another chance to grow up once again.”
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