3 Idiots is a 2009 Indian Hindi-language coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who also co-wrote and co-edited the film. It was produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra under the Vinod Chopra Films banner. The screenplay was written by Hirani along with Abhijat Joshi, and is loosely inspired by Chetan Bhagat's 2004 novel Five Point Someone. The film stars Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor and Boman Irani.
Released on 25 December 2009, 3 Idiots became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of its time and is widely regarded as a landmark in modern Hindi cinema for its critique of rote-learning, parental pressure, and the high-stakes culture of engineering education in India.
| Title | 3 Idiots |
|---|---|
| Director | Rajkumar Hirani |
| Producer | Vidhu Vinod Chopra |
| Writers | Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi, Vidhu Vinod Chopra |
| Based on | Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat |
| Studio | Vinod Chopra Films |
| Distributor | Reliance Big Pictures |
| Music | Shantanu Moitra (songs); Lyrics by Swanand Kirkire |
| Cinematography | C. K. Muraleedharan |
| Editing | Rajkumar Hirani |
| Language | Hindi |
| Release date | 25 December 2009 |
| Runtime | Approx. 170 minutes |
| Lead cast | Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, Omi Vaidya |
The narrative alternates between two timelines. In the present day, Farhan Qureshi (R. Madhavan) and Raju Rahe (Sharman Joshi) set out with their former rival Chatur Ramalingam (Omi Vaidya) to find their college friend Ranchhoddas "Rancho" Shamaldas Chanchad (Aamir Khan), who disappeared after graduation. Flashbacks recount their years at the fictional Imperial College of Engineering (ICE), under the strict principal Viru Sahastrabuddhe, nicknamed "Virus" (Boman Irani). The film explores Rancho's unconventional approach to learning, his romance with Pia (Kareena Kapoor), and his influence on his friends' choices, ultimately advocating the pursuit of excellence over the pursuit of success.
The film was shot across multiple locations in India, including Ladakh, Shimla, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Manali. The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) campus was used as the principal stand-in for the Imperial College of Engineering. The climactic scenes were filmed near Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh, which subsequently saw a marked rise in tourism.
The screenplay drew elements from Chetan Bhagat's novel Five Point Someone, leading to a public dispute over credit between Bhagat and the producers. The makers credited the book in the closing titles as a source of inspiration.
The soundtrack was composed by Shantanu Moitra with lyrics by Swanand Kirkire, and released by T-Series. Notable songs include "All Izz Well", "Zoobi Doobi", "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh", "Give Me Some Sunshine" and "Jaane Nahin Denge Tujhe". The phrase "All Izz Well" became a popular catchphrase in Indian youth culture.
3 Idiots opened in India on 25 December 2009 to wide commercial success. It set domestic box office records of the period and went on to become the highest-grossing Indian film up to that time. The film also performed strongly in overseas markets, particularly in East Asia. It became one of the highest-grossing foreign films in China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, helping open these markets to Hindi cinema.
The film received broadly positive reviews from Indian and international critics, who praised its writing, performances, humour and social commentary on the Indian education system. Aamir Khan's performance, Boman Irani's portrayal of "Virus", and Omi Vaidya's portrayal of "Silencer" were particularly noted.
The film won six Filmfare Awards at the 55th Filmfare Awards, including Best Film and Best Director (Rajkumar Hirani). It also won three National Film Awards, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and several IIFA, Star Screen and Zee Cine awards. It was India's official entry consideration for awards circuits in the year of its release.