Aall Izz Well...

Bollywood has this unique ability to connect Indians all over the world and Indians all over the world have just one sentence to utter when asked about Bollywood these days- "Aall Izz Well"- thanks to the historic success of Raj Kumar Hirani's "3 Idiots".

The success does not really come as a surprise considering the track record of Raj Hirani as a film maker and Aamir Khan as the actor. With 3 Idiots, Aamir Khan has turned out to be the Santa Claus of Bollywood who brings that one brilliant film at the end of every year that becomes the face of Bollywood for that year- he did that with Ghajini in 2008 and Taare Zameen Par in 2007 and he does that again in style with 3 Idiots in 2009!

3 Idiots is not just unspoilt Bollywood entertainment at its best, it is also a statement against many ills that is plaguing the society these days- our Education System that focusses so much on grades and not on knowledge, the priority that money and material comforts have over a meaningful life and the unnecessary pressure that parents put on their children to see them become successful professionals in life without considering the interest of the child itself. As with Hirani's Munnabhai series, 3 Idiots never gets into the idealistic mode to drive home its point and that is where its success and acceptability lies.

Hirani with the backing of a successful producer like Vidhu Vinod Chopra takes his basic premise from Chetan Bhagat's best selling novel and turns it round into a cohesive and enjoyable script (Co writer: Abhijat Joshi) with enjoyable sequences, witty oneliners and brilliant character sketches. He does not get it 100% right but the minor flaws are more than made up his excellent cast- Boman Irani breathes life even into a caricature, US based actor Omi makes the cliche'- ridden Chatur Ramalingam look real, Television star Mona Singh puts in a delightful cameo, Pareekshit Sahani is adequate, Sharman Joshi makes good use of the most well written and layered character in the script, Aamir Khan is all over the place with his excellent comic timing and endearing screen presence and the leading lady, Kareena Kapoor lights up the screen and comes out with a solid performance even in a role that seems to be a last minute addition to the script.

Shantanu Moitra- Swanand Kirkire team deliver a couple of hummable songs- All Izz well has become the new national anthem and Zoobi Zoobi is a peppy romantic number that gets a boost with the electrifying chemistry that Aamir and Kareena share on screen.

The few scenes that stand out are the suicide of the brilliant student on campus, Omi's felicitation of the Director played by Boman Irani and the friends' visit to Sharman Joshi's house. On the flip side, Hirani seems to have not gotten over his Munnabhai hangover- old men and hospital seem to be present in all his films and the delivery scene on the ping pong table is pushing things a bit too far!

Hirani, Chopra and Khan have very little to be worried about though- 3 Idiots has clicked with all sections of the audience and is on its way to be the highest grosser in the History of Indian Cinema. If there is anyone who does not say "All Izz Well", it is Mr. Bhagat who has cut a sorry figure in the media. As they say, the arguement continues...