After a lot of persuasion from my friends, I decided to check out 3 idiots.. I am somehow very wary of watching hindi movies as I never understand any dialogues.. ( @ this point, I would like to request the bollywood film makers to use just hindi expletives as dialogues for people like me.. U can get tips from Gautham Menon on how to do such a movie).Anyways, thankfully though, the movie hall in austin had subtitles for the movie. (apparently there r non desis who watch hindi movies too… :P Wake up bollywood guys.. triangular love stories are not going to sell anymore.. u have the face of a nation to save, now..)
5 point someone never really moved me like this film. I read it in my 3rd semester (2005) . For me, it was more of a respite from Dr Vijayaraju’s maths 3 class than anything else. I couldn’t bear him saying time again “fourier series also laplace transforms also is also important also actually also”. GKB Ramkumar would be able to tell how many ‘also’s and how many ‘actually’s he used in a single hour of class. I simply went to the last bench and delved into the book..
However coming back to 3 idiots, 1 hour into the movie, No longer could I laugh at the jokes. I was into some serious thinking.. I could see myself as one of the characters. I was virtually looking at my life in celluloid.. My life seemed no different.. Engineering/medicine were the only options.. I was forced into a lot of unpleasant things like tuitions and extra coaching just so I could score more. I even remember feeling very down in confidence when I first entered CEG.. I was from a small town and my worldly knowledge at best was only about cricket. I had no real skill set to make myself believe that my life was worth living. To be frank, this was the case from my schooling days.
Whenever a fellow friend ran superbly in a race or excelled in a chess competition, or was able to speak fluently in English or even render wonderful figures (I am talking abt the structures in paper and not anything else, here), I would just stand there, wow it for a while and then go about trying to do stuff to score marks that would eventually get me into an engineering school or a medical school.. I am sure that is true for many people as well.. Every 5th grade student would tell u that he wants to become a pilot or a cop or a teacher or a cricketer.. Not many say engineering or medicine.. Whoever says that would be because of the influence of their parents. That notion however slowly changes when u get to the 12th grade.
The very fact that parents/society influences what u do with life is very disappointing to say the least. But to blame the system alone would be horrendously stupid. If u ask ur parents, they will inevitably tell u how difficult it was for their parents to put food on table and that is the reason why they force upon u, what u need to do with ur life. They don’t want their children to suffer financially.. 100% True.. But little do they realize their children are actually suffering mentally. As brilliantly pointed out in 3 idiots, sadly there is no apparatus to measure the pressure of a brain.. (Now u doctors, don’t chase the logic by saying that u can actually measure intercranial pressure.. I watch House MD too). But to blame the parents or the system would be plain stupid.. The decisions that we take after college should be ours and if they are not, we are to blame ourselves.
At the end of the day, what really matters is not what the society thinks of u, what the so called ‘pakkathu veetu mama’thinks about u or rates of u, but what u think about urself and I got to say that I m not feeling very hot.. I have never really felt very hot.
But all in all, 3 idiots - a good effort. could have done with the melodrama though.. However, I came out of the theatre realizing that I am the real idiot. I am reminded of the dialogue in the Malayalam film Thanmathra when Mohan Lal points to his father, “I could never be an IAS officer.. Therefore I want my son to be what I could not..” Lets hope that atleast this generation doesn’t impose on the future generations…!! Cheers..
I think this post is well-written. The reason why the book and movie both were hits is that people like us can empathize with the plot and/or one of the characters.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I never wanted to be a physical therapist either. In a way, it's forced. At this moment, I can say, 'aal izzwell' but it was really painful for me back then.
Also true that in a country like ours, it's imperative to be in the so-called lucrative professions and it's more like money over mind+heart; because most of the fancy professions (read: professions you love) are most of the times either hard to get or hard to get you anything in future. Exceptions prevail but who trusts exceptions?
Anyhow, I'm glad this wasn't one of those posts which went ahead to describe how either the book was better than the movie or vice versa! :) Good job, Rameshwar!
Pressures from family, peers n society! *sigh*...!! true that!
ReplyDeletenice post anna!!! :)
Completely the opposite case for me...If it werent for peer and family pressure, I would have evolved into some kind of roadside bum. Those constant nudges from parents and family and the emotional blackmail have worked...sort of, I now have an aim in life..to get laid!
ReplyDeleteWell I guess my response as a parent, and a US parent not Indian, is that we are all result of the accident of our birth. Parents who help and push you seems like a burden at this point in your life, and they might be, but at the same time be thankful that you have them. Yes we all need to live our lives in a way that makes us happy and full filled, but there is time to do that. I'm biased toward engineering but if thats not for you, find your own path.
ReplyDeleteNobody gets to ignore the pressures of society at any age, and your parents in the choices they make are responding to that as well. Society tells us that a good parent wishes for their children a better life a better chance for success. Their influences on you are not sad Ram, nor is their intent to make you suffer mentally, its just to help you until you are ready to take over decisions for your own life. And it sounds like you are at that point now. I can't say I've known you either really long or really well, but from what I have seen you have many reasons to have self confidence. Sounds like you need a frosty beverage and a little fun my friend.
@ Jim.. American society is way more different dude..Or atleast thats what I think...!! But nevertheless, got to accept what u say.. Very true..!! This post is just a means to vent out whatever little frustration, I have..!! Nothin serious..!!
ReplyDeleteBut we need to burn all the conservative policies in Indian policies. Be the change... The entire system will change on seeing you. That will be the "Change we believe in 3 idiots"....
ReplyDeleteAamir Khan, the one I admire more than Kamal Hassan. I would like to point out my child hood incident. It was during std 5 in St. Josephs. I won the inter school competition for quiz. But I was not allowed for another big event outside. Only rank holders got chance. Next I came to Carmel. I defeated the same St. Josephs several times. I won 3 trophies for Carmel. Where lies the standard for academic excellence? Are the rank holders masters in quiz? I made the answer "NO".
The above incident also reminds me the Machines class in 3 idiots. This is what the "Change I believe in".
Also for the comparison I would like to point out the sin commited by Indian Parents. Comparing their child with others. This gives chance for forcing their children to a certain discipline.
Well said. but things will become more clear and convincing when you become father of a teenaged boy. you will be able to realise whais right and what is not right.
ReplyDeleteHow ever all these facts and convictions are a function of time and generations.
If we could rotate the time backwards, so many rights will become wrong and viceversa
A Parent of a teenaged
@ Anonymous
ReplyDeleteAs a parent of a teenaged, it is normal to show this much of anxieties.
But I will always say that you can achieve even a single task "Successfully" just by forcing.
We are in no need to look at the past. In this era of internet, everyone need to adapt themselves according to the change in trends. This applies to parents also.
If the parent of Mrs. Indra Nooyi, refused to send her abroad according to her wish, will Pepsico get a nice CEO like her?
If we rotate back only things will become wrong. In this generation, past is always kept in museums.
Its easy to get admission in MIT, Boston or any sort of biggies, for creative and innovative students, whereas its an augean task for getting qualified in GATE exams of IIT.
I am a youth who successfully crossed teenage life.