First about the magic mantra of the film, "AL IZ WEL", it's nothing new, it's etched on our psyche, hardwired in our brains, the mantra. It is hard to explain our state of calm, as our politicians loot us, terrorists shoot us (probably they shoot our conscience with some invisible weapon,) and the world watches with ridicule, we tell ourselves "Al iz wel." We smile and sob with films that keep us in a state of overwhelm. We hate reality in reel life too.
I haven't read the book Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat on which this movie is based. And regarding the controversy, I agree with someone who had commented on some article, it is true that "Bhagat has not written An English Patient" but VVC & Hirani haven't made An English Patient either. But they are going to make tons of moolah and the least they could do is give the author the dignity.
The movie has the essential Raju Hirani touch. You would know if you have watched the Munnabhai series. It has all the ingredients refreshingly mixed. The campus-meets-streetsmart humour, the hardly-there romantic angle, questioning-the-system, all make you think you have been there.
Along with questioning the system angle, in this case India's premier technical institute specifically, and the whole education system in general and a few more on the periphery; there are also many other issues being handled at once. To someone who has grown up on bollywood spices this will not seem odd. There is a sidekick in the form of Millimetre, a college peon, emphasis is laid that he should be going to school, where he eventually goes. Hence an attempt at covering the child labour angle. Fits the Bollywood mileau!
Aamir Khan is good, though I have a strong feeling he was made very conscious of his age by others. He did
Dil Chahta Hain not many years ago but, omg, didn't he pull it off so well without any pressures to look it (make-up wise too, what's with attempting to make the chinky eyes!). He does have the energy to pull off the adolescent act.
However right after the protaganist worth mentioning is the "comic villain", Chatur Ramalingam, actor Omi. The nerd is a bit typical in terms of characterisation but new in Bollywood, and extremely well executed by the actor. The actor is so fine there is no way you can find an actor who can replace, the hard test for gauging if the choice of casting is perfect. Rest assured he will be typecast.
Also we all know Boman Irani is such a good actor, but why does everyone want him as an insufferable moron or a frustrating maniac is beyond me. Even in this movie, he is a stock; pounding, shouting, misunderstood, rogue who is the authority and villain against our good hero.
Sharman Joshi as Raju Rastogi is his talented self. I had previously seen him in Style, his debut film, and then in Rang De Basanti, and both the movies had explored a similar "loafer" dimension of the actor hence I didnt know what they meant when they said he was talented. Now I know, there is a great bit of acting, the role is a bit different and the subtle reaction when he is told that his friend is being rusticated because of him before the extreme suicide point is amazing.
Madhavan is good as Farhan, perfect. It is his pov that the film is, and his voice over. Kareena has itsy bitsy role but she is brilliant! Rest of the cast is good too, Sharman's ghar is especially loveable. The point where you feel it has been stretched too far is Mona's, Kareena's elder sister, labor by Aamir and all the gadgetry...
My Rating: 3 because Aamir is one of our few hopes.
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