3 Idiots

All I expected from this film was some light, easy fun, a simple “Bollywood inside”, but what these almost 3 hours got me was just so much more then that.

India’s best film of 2009 has indeed many things to be proud of. An excellent story-line made to inspire and break the chains the caste system binds Indian society with, the film follows how three students of engineering Rancho, Raju, and Farhan, wrestle with the education system. Rancho is the “cool guy” at school, talented, smart, but good-hearted, always ready to help is friends and fight against the system mainly based on middle-aged memorizing and success clichés.

Freely based on the best-selling novel 'Five Point Someone' by Chetan Bhagat, the film takes liberty to change the plot a bit to highlight other important issues troubling India such as poverty, raping people’s dreams for the sake of future income, the schools‘ monopoly on everything from the curricula to the testing methods, forced marriages, etc. etc. and does so in an entertaining way so typical for Bollywood (yes, there’s dancing, you’ll get to see men cry and women fight for love against their fathers will again, ladies).

On top of that, director Rajkumar Hirani proves he’s the master of his craft by pointing the camera exactly to what we want to see, keeping the flick consistent, even spicing it up with some sequences á la 1950’s footage. It never bores, never slows down, which is remarkable for its length.

I’m not an expert on Indian acting, but Aamir Khan’s (Rancho) performance is so convincing I was close to shedding a tear several times. He’s supported by other brilliant performances (of which Boman Irani’s “Virus” I found the least convincing, but still entertaining enough).

If you get a chance to watch this film, don’t miss it. It’s really worth it. Especially for those who are struggling to make it out there doing what they really love and not just follow any job the system serves them to do because, as the parents always say “that’s what you should do or you won’t earn enough to make a living”.

I won’t spoil it for you but from now on when I have doubts or feel a bit down, I’ll just keep telling myself that 'Aal Izz Well' and I know I will feel better instantly :)