3 Idiots is cinema at its best

Title: 3 Idiots (U/A)
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, and others

Caution: The following review may strike you as gushy, overzealous, or exaggerated in praise. But films like these are made once in a while and, so, superlatives are in order.

Rajkumar Hirani is the best filmmaker Hindi cinema has produced in a long, long time. It's not that there aren't other mavericks, geniuses, and talented storytellers who give us some fabulous movies from time to time. But Hirani has, one film after the other, proved his mettle as a writer/director who does not believe in giving you entertainment the easy way -- he ensures that you take back home a few lessons about life, too.

Three Idiots has one of the most relevant issues of Indian society at its core, a heartwarming story woven around it and a narrative that takes you through the film effortlessly, leaving you happy, moved, and thoughtful in the end. Yes, the film has certain hard-to-digest moments -- like engineering students helping a woman to deliver a child in the campus with the help of some 'skills' -- but if the oft misused term 'cinematic liberty' has ever been put to apt use, it is here.

Ranchhoddas Chhanchad aka Rancho (Khan), Farhan Qureshi (Madhavan), and Raju Rastogi (Joshi) have got admission in ICE, the most prestigious engineering college in India. "You'll have to beat your competitor every step of the way if you want to be successful in life," dean Viru Sahastrabudhhe aka Virus (Irani) tells students on their first day in college.

While the others just follow orders, Rancho defies rules. He raises questions in class his teachers can't answer, refuses to complete assignments unless he really enjoys them, and infuriates the dean, who is a stickler for perfection. "You have the best college in the country, yet none of your students has ever invented anything of note," Rancho tells the dean straight-faced, enraging him further.

To make matters worse, he falls in love with the dean's daughter (Kapoor). The dean is out to make Rancho's life hell but is baffled how Rancho deceives him every time. The most laidback of all students, he surprises everyone by ending at the top of the class, year after year, confounding even his two friends. "We learnt an important lesson," says Farhan. "When your friend fails an examination, you feel bad. But when he tops it, you feel worse."

Rancho explains to his friends that the only reason he excels at everything he does is because he enjoys doing them. He coerces the two to follow their goals without worrying about the end result, and by the end of the four-year period, the two feel more confident of what they want to do in life than before they entered college and met Rancho. While the institute asked them to chase success, Rancho asked them to chase excellence, assuring them that success would follow.

But soon after teaching them life's most valuable lesson, Rancho disappears. Why does Rancho leave without telling anyone of his whereabouts? Where does he go?

The film starts with Farhan and Raju renewing their search for Rancho after five years, following a lead they get on his whereabouts from one of their closest competitors in college, Chatur. The movie then moves into flashback mode, returning to real time every now and then. Starting with the first scene, the screenplay moves in one fluid motion, interweaving scenes and sequences one after the other in brilliant, seamless fashion.

Writers Hirani and Abhijat Joshi (story, screenplay, and dialogues) and Vidhu Vinod Chopra (screenplay associate) have worked painstakingly on every sequence, each of which stands out for its brilliance. There are so many 'highlights' and scenes that impress you that pointing out a few would be unfair to the others. Three Idiots is, in every way, a complete film -- one that works in its entirety, be it storytelling, dialogues, acting, music, cinematography, art direction, editing, etc. At the helm of it all is the captain of the ship -- director Rajkumar Hirani.

Madhavan puts in a restrained performance and brings both the maturity and confusion that his character requires. Joshi is good. His character undergoes immense change in the film and the actor brings across those subtle differences beautifully. Kapoor, in a smaller role, does a good job. Irani's performance ranges from competent to caricaturish, but works with the mood of the film. Omi as Chatur aka Silencer gets ample screen space and performs well as the grades-hungry student everyone hates in class.

Shantanu Moitra's music blends into the film perfectly and the songs are extremely hummable. Hirani is impeccable with his editing and CK Muraleedharan's cinematography is easy on the eyes.

Aamir Khan and Rajikumar Hirani coming together was always going to be special. Three Idiots sure is. In fact, the film blends elements of Khan's Taare Zameen Par with Hirani's Munnabhai series, making a comment on the education system without going down the documentary route, but the film stands out on its own.

Even as you have come to accept Khan's genius at ensuring a good product for audiences every time, this one is a Rajkumar Hirani show all the way. And it becomes easy to say that because even if you take Khan out of the equation, the film would probably make a similar impact.

That is not to say having Khan doesn't help. The character of Rancho is the voice of the film, innocent yet intelligent, and the script demanded an actor of Khan's calibre to take across the film's message to audiences. As a younger man, Khan springs the kind of performance you associate him with. For the three hours that you are watching the film, Khan ceases to exist and Rancho takes over.

But the real hero of Three Idiots is the guy who gave us jaadu ki jhappi and Gandhigiri. Raju Hirani, you are the man! After all the terrible films and flops this year, you have ensured that in the end, Aall Izz Well.

Aamir Khan-Kareena Kapoor weave some magic

It was a call that Sabyasachi was definitely not expecting this Tuesday. On the other hand, both Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor were trying desparately to get across to the rest of the world from the remote village of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh.

Both stars were camping in the village on Tuesday as part of their clandestine promotional tour when impoverished weavers of the village sought their help to help save their endangered traditional art. The weavers of this non descript village are synonymous with the famous Chanderi saree that is a dying art thanks to faulty marketing plans, numerous middle-men and no government support. Aamir in fact was the guest of a weaver couple Kamlesh Koli and Hukum Koli.

"Aamir discussed the matter with Kareena and they both agreed that it would be a good idea to get a known designer who speacialises in ethnic wear to lend synergy to market Chanderi sarees. It was Kareena who suggested Sabyasachi's name," says a source.
So after struggling with bad network, Aamir managed to speak to Sabyasachi. "On Aamir's insistence, Sabya will design these sarees and market them internationally.

Kareena, on her part, has promised to wear the hand woven saree at public events," the source added. It is understood that Sabyasachi is already planning his trip to the village with his close associates to get a first-hand idea of the handloom cloth and figure out how it can be used for creating designer ensembles.

Apparently Aamir and Kareena also tried their hand at weaving sarees. They managed to weave a little piece which will now be auctioned for charity to benefit the weavers there. Aamir is also reportedly going to start a trust for the local weaver community with a personal donation. When messaged, Kareena SMSed back, confirming the development.

Aishwarya, Shah Rukh ‘Actors of the Decade’

Superstars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan were declared ‘Actors of the Decade’ at the IIFA awards here on Saturday night.

Aishwarya won two honorary awards for her work in Indian and international cinema, while Shah Rukh was honoured for his work in Bollywood.

The 35-year-old actress, who also performed on stage at the function, received both trophies while Shah Rukh missed the ceremony because he is shooting for his upcoming film ‘My Name is Khan.’

The 43-year-old actor, who began his career on the small screen, beat Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan to the title.

Aishwarya won the ‘Golden Decade’ award for her memorable performances in the past 10 years, beating off competition from Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra.

While Aishwarya shot to global recognition with international projects like ‘Pink Panther’ and ‘Provoked,’ Khan too has a global following as the ‘Badshah of Bollywood.’

The former Miss World won the ‘Outstanding Achievement by Indian in International Cinema’ award which was bagged last year by musician A.R. Rahman who won the ‘Golden Decade of Music’ award for his contribution to Indian films.

Bollywood's leggy beauties

Thankfully Deepika Padukone is dating tall dude Ranbir, or her long legs may have caused her beau some embarassment



Rising star Katrina Kaif is yet another Bollywood diva with amazing legs.



Priyanka Chopra's gorgeous legs have taken her far this year. With the coming of Fashion and Dostana she has now been established as an A-league actress



Model turned actress Mugdha Godse showed off her model's legs in Fashion



Check out the Bollywood beauties with the sexiest legs. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may look a tad short next to hubby Abhishek but she has still got the legs of a world-class model.



In the past year Shilpa Shetty's life has been just perfect and that includes her legs.



Budding actress Jiah Khan too can boast of really gorgeous legs



Bipasha Basu too was a model in her pre-Bollywood days and she has made it a point to retain her perfect legs.



Actress Neha Dhupia needs to train her legs to direct her towards some success in tinsel town.

Salman Khan-Shah Rukh Khan clash averted

Bollywood was abuzz with reports that films of the actors would release on the same date in Feb; analysts confirm that the clash will not happen.

It seems it was the clash that a lot of people in Bollywood had been looking forward to, but now it won’t happen. The film fraternity was abuzz with rumours that Shah Rukh Khan’s Billoo Barber and Salman Khan’s Main Aur Mrs Khanna would release together thereby clashing at the box office in the Valentines week. But we spoke to industry bigwigs and analysts only to find out that the big clash (we would love to see though) is not happening.

Informs Amod Mehra: “Shooting of both the films are still underway and so it’s improbable that they will release on the same day. There is still a lot of shooting left for Main Aur Mrs Khanna. So it would release sometime much later than February. So, the clash between the two Khans is not happening.”

Another trade analyst Taran Adarsh adds: “I know about this speculation in the industry but I don’t think they are releasing together as enough shooting is pending.”

Our industry insider threw some more light on the issue.

“At one point it was really looking probable that SRK and Salman’s films would open in the Valentines week but now it seems Billoo Barber will release much before Main Aur Mrs Khanna as Salman’s film has considerable shooting left and then post production will follow. It would have been a great clash because most probably no one would have pushed back their release dates for sure given their current stand-off,” says the source.

While Priyadarshan directed Billoo Barber that stars Irfan Khan and Lara Dutta in the lead, will see King Khan do an extended cameo, Main Aur Mrs Khanna (reportedly the name of the film has changed to Mr and Mrs Khanna) will see Salman play the lead role. The film also has Kareena Kapoor and Sohail Khan in it.

Katrina Kaif is sexiest Asian woman for 2008

Katrina Kaif is sexiest Asian woman for 2008

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has been adjudged the sexiest Asian woman in the world in 2008 by a UK-based weekly, with last year's winner Bipasha Basu pushed to the second spot.

In the annual round conducted by 'Eastern Eye', a leading British Asian newspaper, Kaif emerged on the top in a shortlist of 10.

The judges included Brianna Ragel, editor of Asian Woman Magazine and the former editor of FHM India, Farhad Dadyburjor.

Hamant Verma, editor of Eastern Eye, said: "Katrina Kaif's natural beauty and easy charm has enabled her stock to rise in Bollywood. This has resulted in a number of lucrative offers, and appearances in films that proved to be box-office hits."

Kaif, who was brought up in London, was ranked one place above last year's winner Bipasha Basu and two ahead of 2006 winner Priyanka Chopra. Kareena Kapoor came third in the list.

New entrants to the 'sexiest list' included Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat (nine), Miss India Universe Simran Kaur Mundi (10), former Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez (12) and south Indian actress Asin (22).

Former Miss World Aishwarya Rai was at the seventh place.

Kareena Kapoor Latest Wallpaper Photos

Kareena Kapoor Wallpaper Photos,Kareena Kapoor Photos,Kareena Kapoor Wallpaper,
Kareena Kapoor Latest Wallpaper,Kareena Kapoor Latest Photos,
Bollywood Latest Photos,Bollywood Latest Wallpapers










Kareena Kapoor Wallpaper Photos,Kareena Kapoor Photos,Kareena Kapoor Wallpaper,
Kareena Kapoor Latest Wallpaper,Kareena Kapoor Latest Photos,
Bollywood Latest Photos,Bollywood Latest Wallpapers

Vivek Oberoi’s finally got a girl

Tara Sharma will be playing Vivek Oberoi’s love interest after most leading heroines declined to star opposite himVivek Oberoi has finally found somebody to star opposite him in the Karan Johar film to be directed by Renzil D’Silva. Tara Sharma plays his love interest in the film. Vivek must be breathing a sigh of relief specially after so many press reports claimed that not many Bollywood ladies are game to work with him.
Vivek’s last three releases Mission Istanbul, Fool N Final and Shootout at Lokhandwala saw him without a heroine. The other film that he is currently associated with has two newcomers paired opposite him. Apparently Bipasha Basu was approached for this film but she declined to be cast alongside Vivek. With Salman Khan in no mood to reconcile with him, Katrina Kaif (Sallu’s girlfriend) too can’t work with him. The other leading stars are also not too enamoured by Vivek, who at one point of time was the next big thing in the industry. Karan’s film will see Kareena Kapoor pair up with Saif Ali Khan as the lead and Vivek, though he plays a pivotal character, has to be content with the second fiddle. Many thought that he would be teaming up with Kareena but that’s not the case certainly.
“I have been paired with Vivek for Karan Johar’s film. Though I don’t have a very big role but still it’s a very nice character that I’m playing. I play a journalist in the film and Vivek is my boyfriend. He has a very strong role in the movie,” Tara says.

2008: The super-couples of Bollywood

What is Bollywood without its duets? How glossy would be Bolly premieres without hand-in-hand entries?
Bombay has always celebrated its couples, from Himanshu Rai-Devika Rani to Saifareena. It has been an Eden for lovers, both on and off the screen. The Bolly buff, on his part, has made these romances a part of Indian mythology.
Here is a list of Bollywood's super hit couples of 2008. Watch out! There is a sursprise in store!