The 4th Idiot
I finally saw the movie. And I can proudly call myself the fourth idiot. It was all about me. Many scenes I could relate to, I am forcing my parents to go see it asap, would love to see their guilt ridden faces when they get out.
I was also one of the idiots who auditioned for a small little tiny role in the film, however I am glad I dint get through. (I never get through auditions). After watching the movie I figured what part I had auditioned for, they were such small parts that it would not have added to my experience in any greater way then what manasaare did. Interacting with Raju is something I would want to do, but I guess i’d rather do it as a screenplay writer than as a struggling actor.
I am not all gaga about the movie. Its a very smart script. The makers knew what would make the audience have a good time, and what would make them send more people to the theatre to watch. They just did that. And there is nothing wrong, as long as the content makes sense and entertains. I have been very impressed with Raju since Munnabhai. I like the way huge boring cliche scenes are packaged into small funny scenes. Its an art and I have tried to do that in Manasaare and also in the current script. Many a times I think of his movies and correct my own. However I am sure he is a die hard fan of Patch Adams and Amelie, both the movies inspire me a lot.
Another beautiful part of the film was the way they packaged the cliche beaten to death kind of scenes. They were required in the movie, specially when you are making an Indian Film, there are a few scenes that you HAVE to have. Raju managed to put them in a very interesting way, Eg. The entire black and white treatment for Sharman’s family. And many a times when he spoke, the background score was deliberately of the old style. Raju managed to laugh at himself, and that would make us laugh more, thereby seeing the scene without hate but still taking in the content. There were many like that in the entire film.
The idea of non linear narration also added to the pace of the film, and adding a narrators voice makes it easier. When one writes a film in a non linear format with a narrator, he is making the story telling job a lot easier. A lot of content can be packed in tight and nice in a smaller period of time. The movie is so enjoyable for that reason. Imagine the movie in the linear format and you will see it wont be so much fun.
I dont want to brag about my own work, but I want to proudly say that Manasaare could be a nice Hindi film. I hope it gets done in Hindi sometime and a larger audience gets to see it.
Whats with my life? ALL IS WELL 
Tags: 3 idiots, Amelie, Manasaare, Munnabhai, non linear, Patch Admas, Raju, screenplay
excellent observations .. very nicely put down in words..
the other cliche presented in a unique way was “bride running away from the mantap” .. best part was the way scene was concluded in a signature style— Boman Irani putting his hand on the Bell of a Trumpet creating a suppressed Pooo sound and in turn creating more laughter in the movie hall !
Non-linear screenplays keep the audience engrossed, but not always .. one example I can think of is the screenplay of Yuva – which had triple flashback from a single point. Eventhough the screenplay won the filmfare award but in a movie hall it turned out to be very boring.
Something I missed out in the blog -
I could relate to both Aamir and Madhavan in different scenes. An info that was not really shared is that I didnt quit college bcoz i wanted to do theatre. I quit for the reason bcoz i was writing 6 internals and 2 exams a year and hardly learning anything. All my schooling time and PU time I wanted to learn and it never happened, people around kept pushing for exams. And I was hoping engineering would let me do that… but it turned out to be the worst of all. My last paper of my 4th sem was Fields and Waves, in that exam I wrote a 20 page report on how I am gonna be quiting BE and how the entire system sucks etc etc. I had answered just one question and I got 4/100 in that
… My 20 page report was worth more scores though!!!!!
After reading your articles I found I am an Idiot too.. but I realized it now.. !!!!!
Hey Pawan.. Will you try non linear screenplay for your upcoming movies? Kannada movies rarely or never used Non linear screen play I feel. I liked the screen play of Sathiya (Alaipayuthey) it was too non linear.
Hey what will you call screen play of “Memento” Its not non linear but is there any particular name for that type of reverse screen play??
Anyway..I liked Manasaare very much.. Best of Luck for your future projects..
i totally see ur point about studies in BE. just mugg and vomit on paper was all that it was. at some point i did like a couple of subjects but by then i had lost all interest in engineering too. But most depressing of all was the fact that no matter how much i like or dislike my electronics subjects what was out there waiting for me was a job as a software developer. I think thats where the rebel in me woke up and defied everything. Now that i am back in school again and away from the push vomit style of schooling i am enjoying every bit of school.
Pawan,
I really liked the movie ’3-Idiots’. Like you mentioned, I could also relate to few scenes in the movie….I could recall many wonderful moments I had during my engineering days. Sometimes I feel that it needs more than just guts and courage to even follow your dream which you really don’t know whether you are gonna make it & break it. I am sure many engineering students would have definitely enjoyed watching the movie….But for many people, I still wonder why dreams always come true very late or they just don’t come true at all……..