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Statutory Warning: While this is a movie review, the author will also digress into flashbacks of his own life.

Finally someone does justice to Chetan Bhagat's writing skills. His books always have had a Bollywood sense of appeal to them, as a result of which they were lapped up by Indian readers like never before. However, one of his adaptations (Hello) was made by an insipid Atul Agnihotri. Trust the team of Vidhu Vinod Chopra/Raju Hirani and to top it all...Aamir Khan to not mess up with a novel storyline such as 5 point someone.

So, Imperial College of Engineering is where a bunch of 20s something assemble to make a future in the world of engineering.

As a South Indian, I have heard this statement many a times...unknown and distant relatives would come home, when you are busy faking with a book in hand. "Aur beta, what do you want to become...Engineer ya Doctor." Fullstop!

Why!! Are they no other choices? I didnt even know what exactly is engineering. I asked my cousins. Sadly for me, all my cousins were engineers. The only exception was an architect, but I was told that is also a form of engineering. Galti se Std 10th and 12th main number bhi itne aagaye ki engineering main admission bhi mil gaya.

So, where were we...ya the 3 Idiots...Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi), Farhan Quereshi (R Madhavan) and Ramchand something something (Aamir Khan). Their days at the engineering college is all about making awesome experiments (I couldnt even write a simple computer lab program on my own). They make helicopters with webcams, educate the dumb audience about salt being a good conductor of electricity and also show the effective use of car batteries.

However, beneath the simple experiements there is a khazana of advice to the old and the new generation. Raju Hirani sensitivizes us on the ugly face of student suicides, or simply why "public places main pishaab karna nahi chahiye". I was really apprehensive of using the mall washroom post the movie!

They make fun of a South Indian classmate, have a panga with the dean Mr. Viru Shahastrabudhe (aka Virus aka Boman Irani), but at the same time Amir Khan shows more than traces of the lovable Munnabhai MBBS. He helps a classmate with his assignment, he sends the hostel aide to school, gives career tips to his confused friends and what more tops the class with ease. He also passes a new mantra "All Izz Well" already used by Reliance Insurance I guess.And slowly the movie becomes a one track Amir movie with other characters revolving around him.

The humor of the movie is copy pasted from engineering corridors." Jab dost fail hota hai to dukh hota hai...par jab wahi dost top karta hai tab aur bura lagta hai" Nimit will be able to identify with this...after Anup scored 91 in Mech and Nimit failed ;)

The black n white setting of Sharman Joshi's house and the ripping apart of his poor family was very offending to Sharman Im sure. Also, the scene where the 3 Idiots are late for the exam and ask for half an hour more. " Aap hume jaante hai...humara roll no. pata nahi"...is too good. The convocation photograph with Sharman and Madhavan on the last row must have given Jajoo and Batty a deja vu feeling ;).Also when Aamir bajaos us MBAs by saying "engineering kari, fir MBA aur ab bank main naukri kar rahe ho" such kehta hun...sharam se sar jukh gayi"

And senti scenes...Parikshat Sahni as Madhavan's dad always has the ability to make you cry. He did the same with Jimmy Shergil in Munnbbhai 2, and here his scores on the wet eyes quotient too. And Aamir Khan kuch kam nahi hai, when his eyes get moist on screen, automatically you start crying as well.

The songs nicely embedd themselves in the screenplay. Though I wish the behti hawa sa and I wanna grow up once again could have been better and timely picturized. The picturseque Rohtang Pass, Simla, Manali and Ladakh make you visit these places atleast once in your llifetime.

The cast...Kareena is subdued, doesnt have much to do. Madhavan and his well rounded body doesnt matter as he packs a punch while Sharman gets ample space to time his humor and display his serious face throughout the plot. However, there do look a little overawed by Aamir's presence. Boman Irani was a little dissapointing inspite of another innovative apperance, dialogue delivery and pesky nature he brings to Virus. Who else...is worth mentioning...oh ya...main usko kaise bhool gayi...dunno the guys name but Silencer (the South Indian from Uganda) is good too.

His name is Khan! Acting half his age, a trim structure, a peculiar walking style, mannerisms like hands in the pocket, and a dozen minute character touches. Aamir excels in each scene, win hearts of all his fans as well as those who were upset with Ghajini (thats me). He has yet again delivered. He is my best actor of the year for 2009. (Though havent seen Paa as yet)

Raju Hirani has a hattrick now!! Munnabhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munnabhai and 3 Idiots. The ace director has made himself the successor to the great Hrishikesh Mukherjee of the '70s.

All in all..this movie will transport you back to a time when marks books ruttofying worked in life. More importantly it was a time when friends mattered first.

Special mention and envy at all those IIMB guys who not only got to see the shooting but also made a teeny weeny bit appearance in the movie!

Review Rating: 4.5/5

There is a reason for deducting 0.5. Will be disclosed later.