And THAT'S how you make a movie!

I know I’m supposed to love Bollywood movies because the song and dance and drama is supposed to be in my blood. Compared to a large percentage of the Indian population, I watch very few Hindi movies and I like even fewer but one cannot deny the fact that every now and then a gem of a movie does surface. There will be that one movie that has all the elements of a typical Bollywood film fiasco and yet manages to surpass pure genius.

‘3 Idiots’, directed by Rajkumar Hirani is one such film. The film depicts the stress associated with the education system in India and how parents tend to push their kids towards professional careers that may/may not be of their choosing. Parental pressure and strict professors are big in India. Kids grow up early in terms of responsibility and there is always the general fear in breaking away from the norm to take up an arts course or God-forbid choose not to study.

I have not laughed this hard while watching a movie that had such a strong message in a very long time (I actually don’t remember the last time that happened). Laughter is the best medicine and it is true that once you get people laughing they are more likely to listen to what you have to say.

'3 Idiots’ has everything – youngsters, college life, random song and dance sequences, beautiful cinematography, amazing dialogues, a star cast and of course parts of the plot that would only happen in a Bollywood movie. I actually took my Zimbabwean friend along to watch the film and he was pleasantly surprised and definitely entertained.

I like the idea that Indian cinema is now more easily accessible the world over and that people from all walks of life are more accepting to Bollywood. I’m glad Danny Boyle made ‘Slumdog Millionaire because it opened doors and opened minds and made It possible for at least a fraction of the population to conceive that maybe India has more to offer than just poverty and over population.

So the next time you see that Indian movie playing at a cinema near you, get a good opinion and maybe give it a go. You might actually like what you see. As with most things, you never know until you try.