3 Idiots - All is Well  
| For those of you who haven't heard of it, 3 Idiots is the highest grossing Bollywood movie of all time. It is a charming comedy about 3 friends going through school, framed by a sequence set 10 years later where two of the friends seek out the first. It is a crowd pleaser and remarkably accessible for western audiences.
Many westerners are turned off of Bollywood films. Breaking into song, comparatively conservative values, earnest emotions and love scenes make it hard for cynical and culturally insensitive western audiences to embrace the medium. However, 3 Idiots can be quite comfortable for occidental audiences. It actually feels more western than most Bollywood films I have seen. The songs are fewer and farther between and when they do show up they are often presented, as western films do, as background to the action. There isn't as much singing and dancing as there is in most Indian popular films.
The story feels a bit more universal as well. Star Aamir Khan (Lagaan) has such an everyman quality about him. The plot is one of those with a little bit for everyone; buddy comedy, romance, adventure, mystery. They add just enough twists and turns to the fairly standard and predictable plot to keep it from being just that. It satisfies without being difficult. It is quite pleasurable despite getting convoluted and ridiculous at time.
What really make 3 Idiots work is the way it winks at itself. It knows it boarders on cheezy and takes some delight in itself. The singing and dancing musical numbers that do exist are done with a tongue in cheek tone. The humour and self-aware. Sure it's all a bit over the top. For example, the "villian" of the piece is Burgermeister Meisterburger. Look at him! He's right out of a television special. They know this is just for kicks and they have a good time with it. It is hard to resist having fun with the idiots.
The we're all just having a great time schtick pulls the rabbit out of the hat and audiences are flocking to it. I would suggest those on this side of the world who are not familiar or comfortable with the genre give it a try too. To paraphrase the bard; all is well that ends so well.
| |
