5 Point Idiots
Come on Chetan Bhagat.
You are a successful author, with two of your books inspiring films with top actors in it. Do you really need to get all worked up about what is quite obviously a non-issue ?
I agree - that I have no idea of what went on behind closed doors when you signed the contract with the producers of 3 Idiots. But from what your blog says, I gather you want to be credited for the story of the film. Come on, that sucks !
I went through Five Point Someone today, and found that it's just not true that 70% of the film script was taken from your book.
There are a few moments from your book which are shown 'as-is' in the film, but dude - the message of the film is way off from what your book tries to say. And let's face it - the film clearly centers around Racho/Phansuk Wangdu, who is clearly a brilliant mind trying to show the flaws of an existing system of education; the similar character in your book - Ryan - does nothing of the sort. In your book his role is not of a genius trying to change the system - he is a student who occasionally rebels and is generally obsessed with friendship.
The relation between the student and the HOD's daughter in your book is also way different from the way the relation between Aamir and Karina's character are treated in the film. In the book, you treat it as a passing first-time romance which ends, while in the film the relationship starts off as fun and takes a serious turn after Rancho's qualities come to light.
I see the following ideas taken from your book :
-> The idea of 3 friends in college together
-> The idea of one friend moving out and then rejoining the group
-> The idea of a student having an affair with a faculty's daughter
-> The idea of a student from a poor background and having a paralyzed father, a working mother and a sister of marriageable age.
And the way I see it the crux of the film is in the following plot points :
-> The idea of a friend being found after a decade
-> The idea of the unhealthy competitive nature of one student
-> The idea of parents allowing their children to study what they wish and take up a career of their choice without obsessing about professional courses
-> The idea that success will follow people if they just pursue excellence
Your book, Five Point Someone was great. It was an entertaining read which folks in the 20-30 age group (like myself) enjoyed reading - as it was about people like us.
But hey, the film makers have clearly has used your book as a starting point, but the story is their own. Aamir Khan's has made the character his own. Rancho is nothing like Ryan from your book.
I ask myself - did everything go smoothly with the film called 'Hello', which was also based on one of your books ? No hitches with copyright there ? I mean, I know that the film was terrible, but still - was just curious to know.
I also ask myself - How did you not watch the film before its release. Let's forget the legal aspects of the matter. If one of my books was being turned into a film with Aamir Khan in the lead, and I was invited for a preview show, I would run to the nearest flight and make a dash for it to Chattrapati Shivaji Airport. Apparently you were called and you didn't attend, and chose to make your views about the film felt after it was clear that it was going to be a blockbuster.
In any case - the film credits clearly say that the film is based on your book. So what's the problem here ?
The script is not your making. You were credited for inspiring it.
So stop making a fuss about nothing, and give us another interesting book to read, instead of these idiotic news tidbits.
You are a successful author, with two of your books inspiring films with top actors in it. Do you really need to get all worked up about what is quite obviously a non-issue ?
I agree - that I have no idea of what went on behind closed doors when you signed the contract with the producers of 3 Idiots. But from what your blog says, I gather you want to be credited for the story of the film. Come on, that sucks !
I went through Five Point Someone today, and found that it's just not true that 70% of the film script was taken from your book.
There are a few moments from your book which are shown 'as-is' in the film, but dude - the message of the film is way off from what your book tries to say. And let's face it - the film clearly centers around Racho/Phansuk Wangdu, who is clearly a brilliant mind trying to show the flaws of an existing system of education; the similar character in your book - Ryan - does nothing of the sort. In your book his role is not of a genius trying to change the system - he is a student who occasionally rebels and is generally obsessed with friendship.
The relation between the student and the HOD's daughter in your book is also way different from the way the relation between Aamir and Karina's character are treated in the film. In the book, you treat it as a passing first-time romance which ends, while in the film the relationship starts off as fun and takes a serious turn after Rancho's qualities come to light.
I see the following ideas taken from your book :
-> The idea of 3 friends in college together
-> The idea of one friend moving out and then rejoining the group
-> The idea of a student having an affair with a faculty's daughter
-> The idea of a student from a poor background and having a paralyzed father, a working mother and a sister of marriageable age.
And the way I see it the crux of the film is in the following plot points :
-> The idea of a friend being found after a decade
-> The idea of the unhealthy competitive nature of one student
-> The idea of parents allowing their children to study what they wish and take up a career of their choice without obsessing about professional courses
-> The idea that success will follow people if they just pursue excellence
Your book, Five Point Someone was great. It was an entertaining read which folks in the 20-30 age group (like myself) enjoyed reading - as it was about people like us.
But hey, the film makers have clearly has used your book as a starting point, but the story is their own. Aamir Khan's has made the character his own. Rancho is nothing like Ryan from your book.
I ask myself - did everything go smoothly with the film called 'Hello', which was also based on one of your books ? No hitches with copyright there ? I mean, I know that the film was terrible, but still - was just curious to know.
I also ask myself - How did you not watch the film before its release. Let's forget the legal aspects of the matter. If one of my books was being turned into a film with Aamir Khan in the lead, and I was invited for a preview show, I would run to the nearest flight and make a dash for it to Chattrapati Shivaji Airport. Apparently you were called and you didn't attend, and chose to make your views about the film felt after it was clear that it was going to be a blockbuster.
In any case - the film credits clearly say that the film is based on your book. So what's the problem here ?
The script is not your making. You were credited for inspiring it.
So stop making a fuss about nothing, and give us another interesting book to read, instead of these idiotic news tidbits.
