[rating:4/5]

Boasting of powerful star cast of Aamir Khan. Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi and Boman Irani; and directed by the unfailing Rajkumar Hirani from the Munnabhai fame, 3 Idiots in many ways was one of the most expected movies of the year. The movie not only stood up to expectations but went on to blow away every single box office record there was.

3 Idiots is the story about 3 aspiring engineering students, their college life, their goals and also an commentary on the perceived idea of how education must be done. Based on a book, Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat, the movie combines rib tickling comedy with heart warming emotion to get the message to its audience.

For me the biggest winner in the movie had to be Boman Irani. His brilliant portrayal of a college Professor Viru Sahastrabudhhe was simply one of the best performances I have seen in Indian Cinema. Another reason to watch the movie is the amazing screenplay, having read the book I have some idea about what the movie started from and what it became. The concepts and storyline inserted into the movie and deleted from the story in the book were pretty much perfect. This is an excellent example of a movie being better than the book it was based on.

Story wise I totally loved the subtle romantic backdrop during the entire film. The romance never overpowered the main story and creating that is an absolute art in itself. 3 Idiots is a testament to that art. The script was also highly engaging, something which not many bollywood movies take notice of, I doubt there was even a dull moment in the 160 odd minutes of the running of the movie.

Acting wise I was very disappointed with Aamir Khan. Frankly he cant pull off a 19 year old, getting rid of wrinkles and scratching ones head makes them look mentally retarded as opposed to looking like a teenager. From his very first frame to the last scene, I could not figure out the character that Aamir was trying to play. The ragging scene and his body language at the end of it gave me the idea that he was playing someone like Rainman… Two scenes later he seems like this quiet genius full of himself and later like this prankster who is like the Robin Hood of the college. These can be interpreted as shades but they are at times so way apart that you think he has Multiple Personality Disorder.

Among the other actors I loved Kareena Kapoor and her interpretation of Pia. I loved how charming she looked and it gave her the same aura she had in Jab We Met. Sharman Joshi was the best of the Idiots, he was the most convincing as a teenager plagued by the pressure of studies. Madhavan was barely visible in the movie, leaving the scene with his father(towards the end) he was pretty much second fiddle all the time. Omi Vaidya was highly impressive in his performance as Chatur Ramalingam and I was personally thrilled by the performance by Rahul Kumar as Millimeter.

Rajkumar Hirani direction was as expected, perfect. He has this ability to get audience to the state he wants them to be in a specific scene, an art he has mastered over the Munnabhai series. He truly is one of the best directors in the country and I wont think twice about watching any movie made by him.

3 Idiots in the end is an “All Izz Well” movie. Its entertaining and it has a core message that it delivers well. Watch it I doubt you will regret it.