3 Idiots

There are two ways of looking at this movie -- as in the case of most movies actually.

One, as a standalone project. Second, as another Rajkumar Hirani-Vidhu Vinod Chopra presentation.

As the first, 3 Idiots scores. And scores well.

It has the verve and the heart to carry through the message about education, youthfulness, fresh thinking and competition. Aamir Khan, Madhavan and Sharman Joshi bring out their best.

Going by the second perspective, however, I was terribly disappointed by the movie.

When Raju Hirani, associated with gentle and healthy humour that one carries home and internalises in the next few days, needs an old sick man's pubic hair getting rolled into a chappatti to make people laugh, then there is something seriously wrong.

However, there is another flaw in this department that is even bigger and tragic for the film-makers. They fall for the convenient trap of stereotyping and caricaturing in various degrees, especially from a north Indian Hindu's point of view.

The cunning and geeky south Indian, the bearded Muslim taking a photograph of his army of burqa-clad womenfolk, the morose science teachers, the spoilt rich brat- hardworking poor brat -- the Hirani-VVC duo has used them to the hilt and gotten away with it... sadly.

Honestly, the movie left a slightly bad aftertaste in me. And tonnes of disappointment when I thought about Munnabhai and Circuit.

Bole To... Mamu Bana Daala.