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Other Critic Reviews
3 Idiots is a distant third compared to Hirani's previous works. Yet, it has this perfect combination of comedy with a social message that should work well with the masses.
3.5 Stars
By Ashok Nayak
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It's not that "3 Idiots" is a flawless work of art. But it is a vital, inspiring and life-revising work of contemporary art with some heart imbued into every part.
3.5 Stars
By Subhash K. Jha
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(3 / 5) : Good 3 / 5
This film was meant to be Hirani's break from the Munnabhai series, and though it would have been great if the director had adopted a sharper vision and stepped a little more out of his comfort zone, I still recommend you make time for 3 Idiots. Simply because in this cynical age, it is difficult to find the kind of optimism and large-heartedness that Hirani brings to his stories.
- Jahan Bakshi    Sat, 26 Dec 2009
Indulgence in cinema is a double-edged sword. In the hands of a brilliant filmmaker, it can sometimes make for exhilarating viewing- like a peacock displaying its feathers in its sheer glory. But unfortunately, more often than not, aal izz not well when a filmmaker can't rein himself or herself in.

Having said that, by no means do I mean to underestimate Rajkumar Hirani- the Munnabhai man, who evidently knows a thing or two about giving the most tired clichés in commercial Hindi cinema a magical spin- to put a smile on our face and tears in our eyes. In 3 Idiots, unfortunately the writer-director-editor doesn't quite manage the tightrope very well, and gradually as Hirani exhausts you with the film's mammoth length, the feeling of pleasant familiarity often begins to sour into yawn-inducing déjà vu.

How you wish Hirani the editor had been a little more ruthless with his material. Despite the fact that 3 Idiots is an eminently watchable film, it is undeniable that this is a film in serious need of some trimming. There are melodramatic moments that are milked way too much for comfort, and silly subplots that we could gladly do without. More importantly, Hirani and co-writer Abhijat Joshi fail to tie up the loose screenplay with a flourish the way they managed in the Munnabhai films. We all know how this Five Point Someone meets Munnabhai meets One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is going to end up, but unlike his first two films, Hirani doesn't manage to throw in those little surprises that delighted us even through the predictability of his premise(s).

I wouldn't like to go into script details, since it would ruin even the intermittent moments of joy in the film. Because the good news is that quibbles aside, 3 Idiots still pulls through on the strength of its talented cast. Even though Aamir Khan is hardly eligible to play a college student now, and both- the effort to recreate the youthful innocence, as well as the make-up that attempts to conceal his age, show- yet it is undeniable that he carries the film on his experienced shoulders without being overbearing or hogging attention. Like the screenplay, there's nothing particularly new or remarkable about R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor or even Boman Irani's roles- but they all do their job well, and steer the film well with competent performances. Newcomer Omi, on the other hand is a hoot, playing the proverbial geek armed with the film's best lines- and he is guaranteed to leave you rolling in the aisles.

To conclude, 3 Idiots- despite its obvious flaws and daunting running time- is not a bad watch. Technically, CK Muraleedharan does a neat job with his cinematography, and Shantanu Moitra's music- while not great as a stand-alone soundtrack- works well within the film.

This film was meant to be Hirani's break from the Munnabhai series, and though it would have been great if the director had adopted a sharper vision and stepped a little more out of his comfort zone, I still recommend you make time for 3 Idiots. Simply because in this cynical age, it is difficult to find the kind of optimism and large-heartedness that Hirani brings to his stories. And hope and a little sugar never really hurt, do they?
3 stars
3 / 5

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