Aal Eez Naat Well

At the book launch of ‘2 States’ in a Mumbai suburban mall, which I had opportunity to attend, Chetan Bhagat thanked Vidya Balan, (who was a co-host at the Book launch and is, in his own admission, believed to be his harbinger of good fortune) for handing over his earlier book “Five Point Someone” (FPS) to Raju Hirani. Without this, as he put it, the making of the movie titled ‘3 idiots’ wouldn’t have happened! When well-known and reputed Bollywood filmmakers want to make a movie based on your work of fiction, you’ve come a long way! In fact, some writers cannot even find a publisher, let alone movie makers come forth for your piece of fiction, unless it is really worth it.

Firstly, Chetan Bhagat (CB) has done a great deal to writing English fiction, in that he has drawn several youngsters into a habit of reading books – a habit that is on the wane and needed just that kind of boost to draw youngsters back into the book-lovers’ club, as his books have done recently. If fiction-writers and the book publishing industry needed a shot in the arm at this juncture, he has provided just that. Even though there would be several book-lovers, who find Chetan Bhagat not exactly producing great literature, like Salman Rushdie, and kind of, find “masala content” in his work, to spice up his stories making them just the grist for the Bollywood mill. I would still give due credit for what he has successfully achieved – to increase new young readers in India, without really comparing his work to great English literature and scouting for his shortcomings through comparisons.

When several friends praised the latest released movie ‘3 idiots’ for being hugely entertaining, I watched the movie with my family this long weekend. Fortunately, I had read the book FPS recently. As a matter of fact, some book-lovers, known to me, had spoken not-so-highly about CB’s books so I had not been so keen upon reading them. But finally, I did pick up FPS and One Night @ Call Centre from a local library so that I can have my own opinion about his books.

Last evening, when CB and the makers of 3i played tug-of-war on the TV Channels, arguing how much of the movie was the book, I wondered whether there was any software or scientific instrument to measure it? The 3i Team said it was 5% -7% and Chetan Bhagat said it is 70%, based on the feedback he had from his readers of FPS and conveyed to him on his blog. His blogpost does cite the “aal eez naat well” episode in detail here.

Newspapers carry more about the CB-3i spat here

Having read FPS and watched 3I’s, I am obliged to say that it is neither 5% nor 70% it is really 50-50! Now that is not to promote the popular biscuit or its advertisement campaign – that is just my own judgement. Having constructed around the core plot and adding several variations to it does not make it substantially different. I am as much deprived of a scientific instrument to measure the %age of the content of the book in the film, as you all are, so I am quantifying based on my own analysis to arrive at this middle figure. At least i have read it, unlike that poor journalist who got shut up by Vidhu Vinod Chopra yesterday!

The 50% that the movie makers have added is constituted by large doses of humorous incidents (+20%). There is no denying that the script/dialogues has been substantially improved upon by the script writer namely Abhijat Joshi (as I understand) (+15%) and the message to take up a vocation that suits students has been punctuated to a greater extent (+15%), has lent the storyline greater credibility and structure to stand upon.

But if one analyses the humorous content, one may find several jokes and instances straight from the email forwards that one has received - all without credits by anonymous writers that dwell upon this planet and do not aspire to claim ‘credit’ for their gems among jokes – like how the induction motor works, or the pencil in space or the women clad in burkhas being photographed etc – are from email forwards. So the 20% added humour is not original! I did laugh at them, I must admit, though. But the subject is about originality, right?

To conclude, let me cite an anecdote on originality. An aspiring writer once sent in his write-up to a reputed writer, who responded thus “Your piece is both interesting and original”. The young chap was pleased – albeit for a short while. “But the original part is not interesting and the interesting part is not original”, he added to his horror!

The makers of ‘3 idiots’ may have to credit the core plot to CB and also consider giving credit to the countless anonymous joke contributors for making the movie so much fun to watch! Only then can they sing and dance “Aal eez Well”

Keeping the credit stuff aside, it is really a great entertaining movie to watch!
I enjoyed watching it!

Blogger’s Post-script:
1. Rashmi Bansal (author of the book 'Stay Hungry Stay Foolish') has this to say about the episode. I wanted to say the same thing too but didnt have the details.
Do read it in her "Lucky Idiot" post here
2.Tweeple have been voicing their views on Twitter saying
“Controversy is the new advertising” and
“There is no such thing as bad publicity”.
Search for the hashtag #30millionpointfiveidiots on twitter!

Wishing all my readers a Very Happy, Safe, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year 2010!

I do hope that Aaal eeez Well, folks!