Based on the popular novel of Chetan Bhagat “Five Point Someone”, the film is one of the most successful adaptations of a literary source. It's more of a cinematic reinterpretation of the novel than a loyal reproduction.

The film has a fairly simple but extremely pertinent theme-one’s right to choose a career! Rancho (Aamir Khan) is a gifted engineering student whose heart lies in what he’s pursuing. Hari carries a burden of his impoverished family expectations, while Farhan isn’t cut out to be an engineer at all! These three lives are woven together by a string called Rancho, whose character is established in the contrast of Chatur alias Silencer, who’s driven by an urge to be successful and rich. Chatur is a hilarious character-though prone to be looked at as a stereotype-whose mere screen appearances make one laugh!

The plot has many surprises and twists, all brought in at the right moments, and the film, a slightly warmer tone than usual realistic dramas, perhaps, a prerequisite of comedies. However, its characters are situated well within the make-belief world that it creates, a world full of parental-aspirations, cut-throat competition, love, male-bonding and increasingly rare earthly charms.

Three Idiots is an extremely inventive film that’s rib-tickling and profound.

Bikas Mishra / dearcinema.com