Chetan Bhagat might have had more heartburn than just for not being credited at the beginning of the movie (he apparently took umbrage at being mentioned in the end credits). The essence of "Five Point Someone" novella has been diluted to a big extent in "3 Idiots". However, this movie belongs to the category of films that are to be watched for the director, cast, and marketing blitz.
I can’t comment on the first few minutes (including the ragging scene which is now the raison d’être for someone to slap a notice on the movie producers) which as usual, I missed. Farhan (Madhavan) is the voice over for the narrative sequences in the movie, which chronicles the lives of 3 Idiots (Farhan, Raju-Sharman Joshi and Rancchoddas Shyamaldas Chanchad - Aamir) predominantly in their college (ICE and not IIT) and a little bit post their graduation. Professor Viru Sahastrabudhhe (Boman Irani), the head of the college, gives an exaggerated, but likeable, performance as a strict custodian of the exam-cram methodology. Aamir, along with Maddy and Sharman, predictably, tries to foster a feel-good factor and emphasize the importance of seeking knowledge without mugging up the textbooks. Some of the gags in the movie are genuinely funny, the most notable one being the time when Aamir outsmarts a random supervisor who declines to accept his answer sheets. But as many people have noted, majority of the antics are predictable and the cloying goodness is far removed from one what sees in real life. Pia (Kareena), Prof Viru's daughter, comes as a fresh addition to the rather overgrown college-goers.
Rajkumar Hirani has tried real hard to keep the goodness of his reputation intact, while also striving hard to do to justice to the original book. Aamir, quite surprisingly, and Sharman are made to look the part of the college crowd, while Maddy tries to muscle his way in. The song "All Izz Well" looks much better with the visuals, but the other songs are rather insipid. The plot involving Aamir's growing up, his achievements at the end of the movie, and Prof Viru's elder daughter giving birth in the college premises, seem forced and at times impractical. The message of the movie pretty mocks at the mentality of our education system and does succeed to a very small extent. After all the movie is intended to follow the Munnabhai franchise. Watch it for the laughs, Aamir, Kareena and reminiscing college days.
