Three Idiots and Five Point Someone
Twenty one years ago, when I watched QSQT, Aamir became an instant favorite. Jo Jeeta still remains one of my favorite movies. When he refused to accept the Filmfare award for Raja Hindustani, I “cheered” his decision. Then came Lagaan and “perfectionism” (I didn’t see it) and RDB and his blog… all of these convinced me that he is just as much flesh-and-blood, but with a holier-than-thou attitude that fooled me for almost eight years (Raja Hindustani to Lagaan).
Six months back, I considered Chetan Bhagat to be an idiot. I had read half his book. What I read did not impress me. Then I read some of his columns, and read a reply to his critics that he isn’t targeting the literary class, but folks who perhaps have read few English books. I read FPS and Two States. He had a story to tell and he told it in a fairly straightforward manner. And his prose was better than the drivel I manage to write. [A friend rightly commented that she disagreed with this stand for I am not the one writing novels]. I was hooked and bought rest of his novels. And then I read some more of his editorials. Well, suffice to say, I can’t remain a fan of a messiah for too long.
Two days back, I watched 3I. If one uses strict definitions of “adaptation” and “inspiration”, three idiots lies somewhere between the two. While FPS ends shortly after the three main characters graduate from IIT-D, 3I ends ten film-years and 45 minutes (approximate screen-time) later.
I think Chetan Bhagat made a big boo-boo when he signed-off all his rights for paltry eleven lakhs. Amit Varma is right on dot when he says that “It was silly on [film-maker’s] part not to [credit Bhagat at the start]—though the resultant publicity has done everyone involved a world of good.”
So, there was nothing legally wrong with what the film-maker’s did. Chetan Bhagat is also right in feeling let down. And I think the contrast that Vir Sanghvi draws between Slumdog and 3I is revealing:
It is no secret that Beaufoy’s script differed significantly from the book by Vikas Swarup on which Slumdog was based. But Beaufoy made it a point to thank Swarup on stage and to say that without his book there would be no screenplay, no movie, and no Oscars.
Later that same night Slumdog director Danny Boyle while accepting his own Oscar apologised to the choreographer Longinus, whose name had been left out of the end credits of Slumdog.
And here is a second image. [..]. When journos keep asking about the lack of recognition accorded to author Chetan Bhagat, on whose book the film is based, producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra stands up, points a finger at an inquisitive journalist and shouts ‘Shut up’.
[…]What is the difference between the two images?
I think one word sums it up: grace.
Question: What lessons are we teaching our youth through all this? Right-on Mr. Sanghvi, we definitely lack grace.