THREE IDIOTS - Are you one of them? You should be. :)

I have watched Three Idiots (2009 Indian comedy film) for almost two times - I was only halfway for the second time. It's too long - almost 3 hours - nevertheless it's worth it.

When I first heard the title, I thought it's the usual comedy that is about three friends who commit funny nonsense things for the 90% of the film, which will be the key in saving the day. I really do not have any idea about the film, but a friend of mine badly wants me to see it.

Three Idiots is about three friends (Rancho, Farhan, and Raju), referred by many as idiots - not because they are ludicrous but because they do not follow the trail of life (well yeah, still considered crazy by many). Actually if it wasn't for what we may call the 'impetus' - Rancho - Farhan's and Raju's lives would have not been full of adventures. Rancho thinks indifferently by believing that learning should not be boxed to the convention of books.

By fate, the three become roommates as they entered college at Imperial Institute of Engineering, a renowned school where thousands apply but only a quater of it (even lesser) pass. The school's director (Viru) expects a lot from them, and tells them that life is a competition by comparing it to a cuckoo bird that takes the nest of another bird and kills its babies. He said that they should do everything (fair or not) to top among others because being number two is never important.

A lot of (crazy) things happened in their four years of college life - lessons that they shall bring for the rest of their lives. But they are not lessons comming from the professors rather from Rancho and their experiences. It's hard to elaborate in here, I'll pass about it later in my reflection. However, for ten years, after graduation, they will not see Rancho. Why? They do not know. Not until one time a very competitive classmate of them (Chatur) who always losts to Rancho calls both of them and tells them that they shall see Rancho, which he only assumed because of the promise he had made with Rancho that they shall meet each other in a specific place at a specific date to see who is more successful. Rancho does not show up, but luckily they are able to get an alleged address of him which they try to seek. What awaits them? They do not have any idea.

So.... I recommend you to watch this movie to find out what happens. :)

My reflection:

I was strucked by the very first thought that I learned, which comes from the line "We all studied it, he applied it." There is a part in the story where the seniors intimated them. If the freshmen don't follow their rules (that includes taking off of trousers), seniors will pee on their doors. All followed except for Rancho who stayed in his room. When a senior peed on his door, Rancho improvisely made a simple device that electrified the senior (since salt is a good conductor of electricity). Oftentimes, we read books to learn new things but we do not really apply and integrate them. We are satisfied to know definitions, illustractions, etc. but we do not integrate the ideas to learn more, causing them to fleet immediately. Therefore, we should not be contented in learning only the given things but we should seek to learn more. Rancho said that people often cares about getting good grades but not really gaining knowledge. To put it further in the words of Rancho, he said, "students are good not because they are well-educated, but well-trained."

I admit that I'm having a hard time in defining things, and as much as possible I want to define by how the book defines terms. But when Rancho was asked to define 'machine', he defined it simply - that most people would understand. On the other hand, Chatur defined how the book defines it - technically, with all the jargons. But it's obvious that he just memorized it. He doesn't even understand what's he's saying. I learned that defining things should just help us in understanding and differentiating terms. We don't have to exaggerately be serious about it.

Since childhood, we have always been oriented to top always. They (most especially our parents) will often say that high marks will secure us a good job in the future, although it's a very good intention, that's not the case always. A child will likely get high marks because of memorization, but he does really understand it, just like Chatur. It is actually easier to get high grades than to love what you're doing. Moreover, college is very critical in one's education because it determines one's goal for his future. Farhan's passion is for wildlife photography, and he's really good at it, but his father wants him to be an engineer that they believe will make him successful. But one's profession does not immediately imply success. A person may be an engineer but not successful. Rancho said that success runs after us, it is not we who is seeking for it. If we love what are doing, success will come.

Also, personally I admit that I'm intimidated to my professors because they hold my grades. Students should follow their criteria, limiting them to explore more things. (However, I acknowledge that not all teachers are like this.) That's why teacher's pet were born. I am tired of treating life like a race. There's really no race. It is only made by those people who are too competitive and envious.

I have never been sure like this about my future before, that's why I know I will succeed (that's a secret for now :D). I suggest a person should find out what she really loves doing because that's the only way to have no regrets in life (although some people may have their eyebrow raised up), I believe that success is relative.

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I was dazzled to know that Three Idiots has become the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time in India. It has set a box office record for the Indian film industry, grossing 339 crore (unit in the Indian numbering system) worldwide (according to Wikipedia). It also received a lot of awards - one of it is Best Story. I agree with it. The film tackles an extraordinary story that is very much applicable to our society. It is an eye-opener. Many believes that education will solve poverty, but many films feature poverty (also an eye-opener) not education. Showing films about poverty, I believe, only informs us about their situation and makes us feel sympathy. However, a film like Three Idiots makes us think about how we see the world and react upon it, making us more aware of ourselves and our society. It encourages us to be better persons intrinsictly, not only externally, because almost all of us can relate because we go to school.

I like the simplicity of the production for it amplifies the story.

Also, I  love how Indians like to put those singing and dancing (choreography) in their films, just like in Slumdog Millionaire. I enjoy it! :)

Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF8W7DyPhsI. =)