Shoaib Latif

It’s time to roll out the red carpet, strum the guitars, blow the trumpets, beat the drums, uncork the bottles of red wine and dance to the tune of ‘Aal izz well,’ because ‘Aal izz INDEED well!’ Before the start, I must admit, I had a slight reservation whether Raju Hirani, the man who successfully wooed the masses with Munnabhai series, would be able to serve today’s young, ruthless and nitpicky generation? Tackling a young and peppy theme in the presence of ever-critical, scrutinizing eyes that cry for realism, but only under the fundamental stipulation of it being coated with entertainment, is not an easy task. Nor is it an easy task for a director to make a strong, personal philosophical statement in today’s cynical times. Hirani expresses his beliefs clearly and effectively without committing the cardinal sin of getting preachy. He also deserves kudos for convincing Aamir to play a college student. No one else could have done justice to Rancho’s character other than the master.

3 Idiots isn’t an ordinary film. It’s not a standard use-and-throw or watch-and-forget type of entertainer. It’s a life-changing experience. One won’t look at life the same way after watching 3 Idiots.

Does the supposedly long length come as a deterrent? Not at all! Time flies so quickly that one keeps yearning more for the ‘idiots’, their hostel life, their shenanigans and Rancho’s philosophies.

Now on to the biggie: Aamir’s performance. The master deserves credit for taking up this challenge. To play the role of a today’s youngster, of a generation as brutally critical as this, by someone from a completely different generation is no ordinary feat. To start with, he has the look that can easily pass him as a today’s youngster. But it’s not all about the looks. It’s about effectively using one’s eyes: those eyes say it all. One can only wonder and gaze in awe the amount of rigorous preparation he must have undergone to get into the skin of Rancho’s character, that of a today’s youngster. The numerous interactions that he’d had with his young fans played a big part in his performance. One has to be in touch with Them to be a part of Them. He keeps living up to everyone’s expectations.

Madhavan is a revelation. Kudos to him for gaining weight in today’s fit world of eight-packs and size-zeroes. The ease with which he expresses the awkwardness of his character without going over-the-top is highly commendable.

Who steals the show in the end? Everyone steals the show! It’s an Aamir Khan film! To all the people who vehemently criticized Ghajini, watch 3 Idiots. You’ll understand the necessity of blockbusters like Ghajini.