FILM REVIEW
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH
3 IDIOTS
This is the story of Farhan, Raju and Rancho who are engineering
students at the Imperial College of Engineering, one of the best
colleges in India. Farhan wants to become a wildlife photographer,
but is pursuing an engineering degree to fulfil his father's wish,
whereas Raju needs to improve his family's financial situation, and
Rancho studies for the pleasure of building machines. Rancho
incurs the wrath of college's dean, Professor Viru Sahastrabuddhe
a.k.a. 'Virus' (Boman Irani), by giving creative and unorthodox
answers, and later blames the rote-learning mentality of the
institution for the suicide of fellow student Joy Lobo. The three
friends break into Virus' house so Rancho can propose his own
marriage to Pia, and then urinate on a door inside the compound. The next day, Virus threatens
to expel Raju, who, unable to choose between betraying his friend and disappointing his family,
attempts his own death. Virus vows to make the course's final exam as hard as possible so that
Raju is unable to graduate. Pia, in reply, tells Rancho of the exam, and he and Farhan steal the
examination's questions for Raju who refuses to cheat. Virus sentences them to expulsion; but
they earn a reprieve when Viru's pregnant elder daughter Mona (Mona Singh) goes into labour
at the same time. A heavy storm cuts electricity, and Pia instructs Rancho to deliver the baby in
the college common room via Voice over IP, after Rancho restores power using car batteries
and a power inverter invented by Rancho. After the baby is apparently stillborn, Rancho
resuscitates it; wherefore Virus allows them to take and pass their final exams. Rancho comes
first and is awarded Virus's prize pen, retained hitherto for an especially-capable student.
rancho went missing after their graduation. Farhan and Raju race to locate Rancho, at his last
known address - little knowing the secret that was kept from them all this time.Rancho, Raju and
Farhan enter the elite engineering college, only to learn lessons of life that cannot be taught
through books and classrooms. Principal Viru Sahastrabuddhe is no help at all.
A. CAST
Aamir Khan-Aamir Khan (pronounced born Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan on 14 March
1965) is an Indian film actor, producer, director, singer, television talk show host, activist, and
philanthropist.
Ranganathan Madhavan- Ranganathan Madhavan (born 1 June 1970) is an Indian actor,
writer and film producer. He has received three Filmfare Awards and an award from the Tamil
Nadu State Film Awards along with recognition and nominations from other organisations.
Sharman Joshi- Sharman Joshi (born 28 April 1979) is an Indian film and theatre actor. He has
worked on stage productions in English, Hindi, Marathiand Gujarati languages, but is mostly
known for his work in Hindi films.
Kareena Kapoor-born 21 September 1980), also known by her married name Kareena Kapoor
Khan, is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films.
Boman Irani- is an Indian film and theatre actor, voice artist and photographer
of Parsi Irani descent. He is widely known for his comedic and villain roles in Bollywood films.
Omi Vaidya- Omi Vaidya is an Indian American actor who is best known for his performance as
Chatur Ramalingam or "The Silencer" in the 2009 Bollywood film, 3 Idiots.
Rahul Kumar- (born 1995 at Almora, Uttarakhand) is an Indian actor working in the Indian film
industry. Active from 1998 through his theater projects, Bollywood films, television commercials
and television shows.
B. ROLES
Aamir Khan- as Ranchoddas "Rancho" Shamaldas Chanchad / Chhote / Phunsukh
Wangdu.
Ranganathan Madhavan- as Farhan Qureshi, the film's narrator and a friend of Rancho
and Raju.
Sharman Joshi- He comes from an impoverished family with a mother who is a retired
school teacher and a paralyzed father who had been a postman.
Kareena Kapoor- as Pia Sahastrabuddhe, Virus' younger daughter, an intelligent and
capable doctor.
Omi Vaidya- as Chatur Ramalingam, a Ugandan-Indian educated in Tamil-
speaking Pondicherry who has little knowledge of Hindi.
Rahul Kumar- as young Manmohan (nicknamed Millimetre), and Dushyant Wagh as
adult Manmohan.
Boman Irani- Dr. Viru Sahastrabuddhe (nicknamed Virus), college's strict director. He is
also Pia's father, and the film's antagonist. He stubbornly sticks to a doctrinal method of
teaching, putting him at odds with Rancho.
C. PRODUCTION TEAM
Directed by Rajkumar Hirani
Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Screenplay by Abhijat Joshi Rajkumar Hirani
Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Story by Abhijat Joshi Rajkumar Hirani
Starring Aamir Khan
R. Madhavan
Sharman Joshi
Kareena Kapoor
Boman Irani
Narrated by R. Madhavan
Music by Original Songs:
Shantanu Moitra
Background Score:
Sanjay Wandrekar
Atul Raninga
Shantanu Moitra
Cinematography C. K. Muraleedharan
Edited by Rajkumar Hirani
Production Vinod Chopra Films
company
Distributed by Reliance BIG Pictures
D. DATE RELEASED
8 May 2013 (Philippines), 25 December 2009
E. FINANCE/BUDGET
350 million INR
F. BOX OFFICE
The film's worldwide lifetime gross was 459.96 crore (US$88 million), making it
the highest-grossing Indian film ever at the time. The film was listed in Guinness World
Records for the record of highest box office film gross for a Bollywood film.
G. INTERNATIONAL/LOCAL
It was released on May 08, 2013 in the Philippines and December 25, 2009 International
H. MUSIC SOUND
1. "Aal Izz Well" Sonu Nigam Shaan
Swanand Kirkire
2. "Zoobi Doobi" Sonu Nigam
Shreya Ghoshal
3. "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" Shaan
Shantanu Moitra
4. "Give Me Some Sunshine" Suraj Jagan
Sharman Joshi
5. "Jaane Nahin Denge Tujhe" Sonu Nigam
6. "Zoobi Doobi" (remix) Sonu Nigam
Shreya Ghoshal
7. "Aal Izz Well" (remix) Sonu Nigam Shaan
Swanand Kirkire
I. CRITICISM
Naman Kapur from India 24 December 2009: 3 IDIOTS has the potential to break all
records and sweep all awards.. Watch it... You will Love it...My Rating: 9/10
vivek santhosh (vivee003) from United Arab Emirates 24 December 2009 :So to sum up,
Aamir and Hirani has delivered the best movie of 2009... Do yourself a favour by seeing
this highly emotional and feel good comic entertainer...Verdict : THE BEST of 2009 !
Rating : 9/10
ahujarajiv from India24 December 2009: We saw a sneak preview of 3 Idiots last night
at Globus Cinema in Bandra, Mumbai. Brilliant. Simply, brilliant.
Simple but articulate story telling laced with lots of humour and lessons from life. A
wonderful experience to watch as every single actor from Sharman, Madhavan, Boman,
Kareena & Aamir deliver probably the best performance in a movie this year. This is
THE best movie of 2009. Aamir again reigns supreme. Thank you Raju Hirani & Vidhu
Vinod Chopra.
Cliché word, but I have to use it - FANTASTIC !! 10/10
P.S. Don't forget to say 'Aal Izz Well'
José Ancona from Mexico6 February 2012: I just watched this film and i gotta admit it...I
loved it!!!! At first i was like well "lets see what this movie has to offer" (btw its also the
first Indian movie I've ever seen) and I was like okay its funny and then... like wow so
thoughtful and reflexive! It really made me meditate about my career and my real
dreams! Its a very good movie! I'll recommend it to all my friends!
You must watch it! All is Well!
Jan Ray Yagyagan 3 December 2017: The movie is so inspiring I watched the movie 5
times ALL IS WELL!
Michael Radny from Perth, Australia 20 October 2015: I feel like a fool wasting three
hours on what practically is the Indian equivalent of the Three Stooges. With some
context, this was the first Bollywood film I had seen, and it doesn't make me want to rush
back and view more. The jokes are pretty unfunny, almost inline with unintelligent
slapstick comedy and weird foreign comedy. Nothing in this film made me want to
continue viewing; poor acting, a poor script and horrible cinematography are among the
worst I've ever seen.
3 Idiots may be a favorite in it's homeland, but as a foreign viewer to India, I had a huge
problem with viewing it. The jokes fall flat, very flat and the story feels juvenile and
childish. 3 Idiots is among the worst in IMDb's top 250 and I discourage viewing at all
costs.
abhineetgrover from India18 September 2014 : This particular film is atrocious. I went to
see it with my friend hoping to see a good film.It turned out I wanted to leave the theater
in around 15 minutes.It has crass humor.jokes on rapes.I don't know why the idiotic
Indian audiences rated it so high.This film shouldn't be rated at all.I hate this film,with all
my heart.I never thought Aamir Khan would do such a horrible film.This film ensured me
to not go out and watch Dhoom 3.I know people have hated chetan bhagat a lot but he
wrote something very mediocre that deserved a mediocre film.Five point someone had
drugs and music.This film had crap and more crap. I would rate this film as the worst film
ever made in Hindi language.
braindead from Australia 12 March 2016: The horrible humour and the irritating
characters, this film is nothing but another Bollywood tripe that been overrated by the
larger majority look for the ultimate escapism with bright colours and artificial
environment and settings. The music so loud and blatant at the time, it become unstable.
Aamir khan is charming as having a hernia, why he in so many Bollywood that are so
well received that i think we forced to believe he will be the next Mahatma Gandhi. Never
been so appalled that i felt that i was the idiot for ever watching this film.
moviebuff223 3 January 2010: OK, now i really don't understand why people are so
obsessed with the movie. Aamir khan made it so that does not mean it has a great story.
The story is a munnabhai mbbs ripoff. As acting goes a 40+ man pretending to be in
college is a pathetic idea. The story is so predictable and annoying.The movie is full of
sad jokes which are so not funny. i totally hated the movie. 2hrs 48 mins of my life
wasted which could be so better used.The only good acting done was by boman irani or
sharman joshi. And i don't care whether chetan bhagat wants credit for the movie
because the movie completely sucked. i wasted my money on the movie ticket. And just
don't get me started on the songs.
Aroon Lyer: Too long - without most of the songs, it'd have been better.
J. AWARD
Award Category Recipient(s)
Filmfare Awards Best Film Vidhu Vinod Chopra
27 February 2010 Best Director Rajkumar Hirani
Best Supporting Actor Boman Irani
Best Dialogue Rajkumar Hirani
Abhijat Joshi
Best Story
Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Best Screenplay
Screen Awards Best Film Vidhu Vinod Chopra
9 January 2010 Best Director Rajkumar Hirani
Best Popular Actress Kareena Kapoor
Best Villain Boman Irani
Best Comedian Omi Vaidya
Best Screenplay Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi, and Vidhu Vinod
Chopra
Best Dialogue
Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi
Best Editing
Rajkumar Hirani
Screen Award for Best
Choreography Bosco-Caesar
Screen Award for Omi Vaidya
Most Promising
Newcomer – Male
Stardust Awards Film of the Year Vidhu Vinod Chopra
18 January 2010 Star of the Year - Kareena Kapoor
Female
Suraj Jagan "Give Me Some Sunshine"
Best Actress in an
Editor Choice
New Musical
Sensations (Male)
Bollywood Best Film Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Hungama Surfers
Best Director Rajkumar Hirani
Choice Movie
Awards
Best Actor Aamir Khan
29 January 2010
Best Actor in a Sharman Joshi
Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Comic Omi Vaidya
Role
Best Debutant Male Omi Vaidya
Best Marketed Movie Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Apsara Film & Special Honour of Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Television 2009 Best Film
Producers Guild
Awards
Special Honour of Rajkumar Hirani
2009 Best Director
11 January 2011
National Film Best Popular Film Rajkumar Hirani
Awards Providing Wholesome Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Entertainment
22 October 2010
Best Audiography Anup Dev
Best Lyrics Swanand Kirkire "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh"
International Best Picture Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Indian Film
Academy Awards
Best Director Rajkumar Hirani
5 June 2010
Best Performance in a Kareena Kapoor
Leading Role
(Female)
Best Performance in a Sharman Joshi
Supporting Role
(Male)
Male Debutant Star Omi Vaidya
Best Lyrics Swanand Kirkire
Best Male Playback Shaan - "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh"
Singer
Best Background Sanjay Wanderkar, Atul Raninga, and Shantanu
Score Moitra
Best Story Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi, and Vidhu Vinod
Chopra
Best Screenplay
Best Dialogue Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi
Best Cinematography C. K. Muraleedharan
Best Editing Rajkumar Hirani
Best Sound Recording Bishwadeep Chatterjee and Nihal Ranjan Samel
Best Re-Recording Anup Dev
Global Indian Best Engineer - Biswadeep Chatterjee & Anup Dev
Music Academy Theatre Mix
Awards
Best Music Debut Swanand Kirkire "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" (as
10 November 2010
Lyricist)
Best Male Playback Shaan, Shantanu Moitra "Behti Hawa Sa Tha
Singer Woh"
Best Lyricist Swanand Kirkire "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh"
Best Film Album Shantanu Moitra
K. GENRE
Comedy-drama film
L. REFERENCES/SOURCES
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/3-idiots-film-review-93817
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/3-idiots/movie-
review/5373913.cms
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1187043/fullcredits
http://www.metacritic.com/movie/3-idiots
http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/3-Idiots
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1187043/reviews?filter=best
3 IDIOTS
3 Idiots is a 2009 Indian coming-of-age comedy-drama film, directed and written
by Rajkumar Hirani, and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, with screenplay by Abhijat Joshi. It
was inspired by the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. The film stars Aamir Khan, R.
Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani and Omi Vaidya in lead characters.
The story is about three students at an Indian engineering college, and involves themes such
as friendship and the pressures of an Asian educationsystem.
Upon release, 3 Idiots was the highest-grossing film in its opening weekend in India and
had the highest opening day collections for an Indian film up until that point. It also held the
record for the highest net collections in the first week for a Bollywood film. It also became one of
the few Indian films at the time to become successful in East Asian markets such
as China and Japan, eventually bringing its worldwide gross to ₹459.96 crore (US$88 million)]—
it was the highest-grossing Indian film ever at the time.
The film is distinctive for featuring real inventions by little-known people in India's
backyards. The brains behind these innovations include Remya Jose, a student from Kerala,
who created the pedal operated washing-machine; Mohammad Idris, a barber from Hasanpur
Kalan in Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh, who invented a bicycle-powered horse clipper; and
Jahangir Painter, a painter from Maharashtra, who made the scooter-powered flour mill. The
character Phunsuk Wangdu may have also drawn inspiration from Ladakhi inventor Sonam
Wangchuk.
The subtitled version of the film grew popular in South Asia, East Asia (China, South
Korea and Japan), Southeast Asia (such as Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines),and
the United States. This film was remade in Tamil as Nanban (2012), which also received critical
praise and commercial success. A Telugu remake was planned, despite Nanban having a
Telugu dubbed version titled Snehitudu. A Mexican remake, 3 Idiotas, was also released in
2017.
