Raju Hirani will never make you cry. He'll tell you the truth, give you life as it is, and sprinkle a bit of his magic on it. 3 Idiots is that magical touch. The issue is simple: overambitious parents, peer pressure, IIT or IIM...it's everyone's life story. What the idiot says is 'why take life so seriously'.
"I love Aamir's take on life in the film; we worry so much about our future that we forget to live today...how true," said city-based writer Mrinalini as she walked out of the theatre with a big smile on her face. This (the smile) is my first in a long time, she says.
Pardon the cliche, but 3 Idiots was a much-awaited film. And what a year-end big bang we've been treated to. One of the biggest releases worldwide — 1,766 cinemas, 4,000 prints across 32 countries.
To add to the excitement, producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra has announced the release of film on the internet. In eight to ten weeks, you'll be able to download 3 Idiots legally!
Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat's book Five Point Someone, the film is fresh and funny. "You can't draw a parallel with Munnabhai or with the book, but what you can make out is the spontaneity of the actors who've played their parts well. Nowhere do they look old or ragged. Moreover, the humour is not forced and nor were the emotions. The story flowed gently and makes a point without preaching," adds Mrinalini.
For Aditi Srivastava, vice-president of INIFD, it's a must-see for all parents. "The movie packs in a message, and I could relate it as a parent — the pressure kids go through, how mugging up is not everything. There is more to life; one needs to grow and develop their own personality," she said, along with her husband Sanjay and son, giving the film a thumbs-up.
While the super hype worked, Twitter has critic Rajeev Masand saying" "It falls short of Munnabhai standards, yet 3 Idiots is a broad, massy entertainer; pushes all the right emotional buttons. Melodramatic yet feel-good."
"Outstanding. Proud to be an Indian because we can make movies like this. That's three in a row for Raju," tweets music director Vishal Dadlani.
But here's the best by writer Shridhar Raghavan: "Deadliest movie I've seen this year. 80 per cent Hrishikesh Mukerjee, 20 per cent Manmohan Desai, 100 per cent all heart. Hirani's best."
So what's the consensus? Watch it. For fantastic performances, Hirani's flawless direction, Shantanu Moitra's melodious music and a story with a soul.