3 Idiots (2009)

I thought of the second movie to write about and I picked this one. It is one amazing movie I love to watch repeatedly. After the first time I watched it on my mobile, it was deleted. I had to search for it and get it back, and since then, its been there.

3 Idiots is an Indian movie starring Aamir Khan (Ranchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad / Chhote / Phunsukh Wangdu), R. Madhavan (Farhan Qureshi), Sharman Joshi (Raju Rastogi), Kareena Kapoor (Pia Sahastrabuddhe), Boman Irani (Dr Viru Sahastrabuddhe; the Engineering college Director), Omi Vaidya (Chatur Ramalingam) and Rahul Kumar (Millimeter), among others.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Readers, if you haven't watched this movie, I'll recommend you do. Let's see what I learnt from the movie:

• Life is actually a race, but not a race to compete with others; it's a race with oneself. Follow Excellence and Success will chase you!

Rancho taught this lesson to his friends, Raju and Fahran. While Rancho came first at the end of the year's exams, his friends came last consistently.

Rancho explained he loved machines, and they had been his passion. He pushed Fahran to go post the letter he wrote a long time ago. Fahran wanted to be a wildlife photographer. But he was scared of his Dad, who wanted him to be an Engineer. Engineering wasn't his passion, and he did badly in ICE. Anyway, he followed his passion at the end, was successful and happy.

Raju was passionate about Engineering, but he had so much fear in him. He feared and worried about the future, about his family's poor condition and how he seems to be the family's hope. He almost successfully committed suicide at one point, but at the end, he was successful and did had a happy life.

Many students get into this position of studying a course due to personal pressure, pressure from family or that from the society. It's best one studies what he/she loves. Most persons who succeed at what they study are those who are naturally passionate about such. If it's not your passion, you may succeed at it, but you won't be fulfilled and happy!

Remember when Dr Viru learnt about the real reason his son died. His son had committed suicide because he was pressured to study Engineering. He wanted to study Literature and loved writing, but he was scared of his irrationally strict dad, and wasn't strong enough in standing up for his passion. A lesson here for parents is not to predetermine their kids career. Learn what interests your kid, what they are passionate about, and encourage them to follow that path.

This movie gives a clearer definition to Success. Success is NOT just being rich, extremely rich. Success is being fulfilled and happy. When the happiness factor is taken out of Success, then it's NO success!

• Most times, the prevailing systems and practices do more harm than good. Sometimes, the system feels its way is the best, or its way does more good. But when we get to understand and see, sometimes feel the effects, it's left to us to stand up and start the change we want. And when we do this, we should stand on our beliefs and one day, the system will understand that it's outdated and needs to accept that a change is needed.

Rancho wasn't afraid to say out his mind. Remember when he spoke to Dr Viru at the burial of Joy Lobo, telling him the educational system which puts students on pressure was the cause of Lobo's death.
Remember his illustration in class in the presence of Dr Viru, trying to get the message across that a leader, a teacher, should carry along his weak students along with the strong ones, and that learning shouldn't be something that puts pressure on the students. It should be something that aspires interest in the students.
Also remember when he gave a simple definition of "a machine" in class.

• As a leader, teacher, or someone in any position of authority, be open to listen, encourage and inspire your subjects when necessary. Don't be irrationally strict. That's different from discipline!

Dr Viru must have learnt this at the end of the movie. Remember that smart student Joy Lobo, who was carrying out a distinct project work (inventing a helicopter). He was almost on the verge of breakthrough, just needed to complete a missing piece of the puzzle. Dr Viru gave a bad news to him and his parents, stating that he won't be able to graduate that year. Listen to his tone on the phone when he called Lobo's father. At the end, the young man (Joy Lobo) committed suicide. He saw himself as the family's hope, not just that, the hope of his community. He would've been the first to graduate with an Engineering degree from his community. I guess he couldn't take the pressure anymore and before Rancho could figure out the puzzle, he was already dead.

• Finally, Rancho inspired his friends. He had a better understanding and approach to life and was more matured in that regards than his friends. He helped get them up and contributed to their Successes.

I think this is becoming a book, so let me drop my pen here. You can share the lessons I omitted by commenting below the post.

All is Well!