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Five Point Someone v/s 3 Idiots: Same Same?

Five Point Someone and 3 Idiots

Its nice to know not much has changed :) we appear to be kicking off 2010 with some classic controversy “Bollywood style” again (it’s just that this year you’ve got easy access to the whole circus on Twitter!) You’ve heard the latest right? Chetan Bhagat (mostly on behalf of his fans & followers) blogged yesterday about the cagey behavior of the makers of 3 Idiots in revealing just how much of his novel Five Point Someone was replicated in the film 3 idiots. Now as far as I know I’ve always been aware that this movie is inspired/based on (take your pick) this book, heck even the book jacket tells you there’s a movie on its way! I’m just not sure what the proper etiquette in offering homage involves and if this depends on just how much the movie mirrors the book. I mean like if it really is 70% the book then should they have given Chetan a better spot in the credits? Casually planted one of his books on a student? Maybe even a quick cameo? I mean God knows another guy in glasses would have no trouble blending in with extras! I dunno, but here’s my plan; a) watch the Movie (check) b) read the book (Crossword here I come, I even have leftover gift vouchers to use!) and I’ll get back to you, cool? Till then feel free to trade notes in the comments I’ll throw in my two bits when I’m done!

MissMalini
Jan 2, 2010 1:42 am

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3 Idiotsbollywood controversyChetan BhagatFive Point Someone

18 COMMENTS

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http://www.facebook.com/vikas.wadhwani Vikas Wadhwani

yaar kee faraq penda hai…sabko pata hai na book pe based hai..ab kitna percent who cares and whether his name is mentioned in credits or not isnt a big deal..it has been well publicised before and now with this controversy even more…in the end the movie is fantastic and thanks to all three Vidhu vinod, Raju Hirani and Chetan Bhagat…ab ispe mat ladna ke kiska naam pehle liya gaya..just chill and say aal izz well..peace
Hrishi Dey

Hey Malini

Having both read the book and seen the film, it’s so obvious that the characters / basic premise / concept has been taken from five point someone, to the tune of 70% not 3-4%. Chopra, Hirani and Aamir are doing themselves little favour by trying to deny Bhagat the story / author credit he so obviously deserves. Especially having liaised with him earlier, screwing him outof recognition of his contribution to the film by omitting him from the opening credits is cheap and a pretty lousy move.

There’s something to be said for having integrity. But then with what Aamir did to amole gupte in taare zameen par, are we surprised!??
http://amitsmusings.blogspot.com AmitL

Hi,Malini-I read Chetan’s blog,too..from our angle, it feels that it makes no difference. But, putting oneself in Chetan’s shoes,made me feel bad..I mean,imagine going to all the trouble(Well,for Chetan,I’m sure it’s more of a happy pastime than trouble,I’m sure) of writing a book, having someone make a movie out of it and then being ignored in the credits…ah well, that’s the way our country functions,many a times,doesn’t it?
abhilash

Ofcourse the movie 3 idiot is superhit.I have read the books as well as watched the movie.there is no doubt the movie’s basic concept and many scenes are inspired by the book 5 point someone,though there are few changes in the movie which was necessary to make the movie interesting.3 idiot’s Directer,producerand Aamir can not go away from this fact.Even i want to add that those who have read the book earlier (i think almost all youth who joined in college must have read)and watched the movie later have liked it more.Because they just want to see the charcter of the book in live ie: as a movie.
Donno where is the problem in accepting the truth.Though movie is good book is always better(can not count how many time timesi have read).
Any way Mr chetan is not going to loose any thing,yes there can be chance of negative impact in the movie because of this kind of controverseries.
As it has hurt the sentiment of the fan of 5 point some one.
ak

I am really getting sick of Aamir Khan and his ego – FYI, AK – you are not the best thing to have happened to desi cinema – past or present! I read in an article yesterday that until now, AK has never been interested in cooking because, to paraphrase, he did not think that such a skill set was required of a star like himself (yes, he did use the word “star.”) WTF?! Considering he is neither the producer not the director (and I assume was not involved in the contract process with Chetan Bhagat), I’m not sure he even knows enough to speak on this subject. Yeesh.
Sunny

Hi Malini,

Well I’ve red this book before. So now the movie does contains various similarities which cannot be ignored. However i wouldn’t agree that it’s a complete copy/paste issue here, but more like a déjà vu ride… Bollywood with something Original… lol… like that’s ever gonna happen.

Here what i think about the whole situation:

1. The producer/director thinks young people are stupid & may not react, but thx to the internet now everyone can express their thoughts freely.
2. Chetan is being a big bitch about it after all who doesn’t want couple of more crores when the movie itself has made 200Cr in 8 days.
3. The 3 Idiots=Producer/Director/Aamir Khan should resolve this issue by atleast getting author’s name on the DVD release.
Deepti

have read the book(didnt like it)…also watched d movie(loved it!)..while the premise on which the movie is based is identical to the book,the movie has been dealt with very differently..however, having said that,i still think that his name should have been mentioned in d credits, purely for ‘give-d-devil-his-due’ reasons..

p.s. while all of us knew even before watching d movie that the movie is ‘loosely’ (am tired of this word now)based on the book, curious to know, how many of us ‘actually’ observed that chetan bhagat’s name was not mentioned in d credits??i didnt!!
tasneem

read the book and watched the movie…

The credits do mention Chetan Bhagat’s name but only towards the end. He wants his name mentioned at the begenning with the Hirani and Joshi as so writer. My take on this whole thing is that chetan is just trying to get a piece of the pie. i dont belong to the bhagat fan club but i have read all his four books and agree feel that all the four can be turned into movies. but we all know what happened to One night at the call centre when it was replicated into a movie. scene to scene, agnihotri got Bhagat to write the screenplay as well.
So cant blame hirani was buying the rights of the book and rehashing the story so in that context he’s the writer ….
well it would have made a lot of wrongs right if only VVC would have thanked him right after Mukesh Ambani but then what’s the big song and dance about .. It’s not like Bhagat didnt get paid for him story. May be he should have negotiated the apperance of his name and the manner in which is work should be credited in the contract.
tasneem

i meant co writers
tasneem

ok i found an extract from Bhagat’s interview to TOI back in Nov and this is what he had to say

Speaking of book adaptations, how much of Three Idiots do you think is based on your book, Five Point Someone?

Well, the film is based on Five Point Someone, but the plot is different. There are commonalities — the three boys, the education system message, engineering college, strict prof, prof’s daughter etc. However, the plot is new.
http://www.missmalini.com Malini Agarwal

Here’s the latest from Chetan Bhagat’s Blog http://www.chetanbhagat.com/blog/general/moving-to-a-solution
Rashmi

I read the book after watching the movie.. I had never read any of Bhagat’s books and even after reading 5 pt Some1, I think he definitely needs to improve his writing skills. However, have to give it to him that the movie is a “LOT” inspired by the book. The various twists and turning points are all from the book.
Raju, VVC obviously had to make changes to make it into a movie.. the book as it is can get a bit boring so as a movie it wld have sureshot been a flop…. but Raju and VVC should acknowledge that the movie is a “LOT” of the book. And there I think the way they have handled it is really “Stupid” (remember Aamir differentiating “stupid” and “idiot”)
But then, if they did have a contract with Bhagat as they have now put out in public domain, Bhagat cant complain abt the Credit listing- abt the commonalities yes…
http://www.missmalini.com Malini Agarwal

Thank you all for your comments… I have to confess it usually doesn’t take me so long to read a book, but damn the writing is pretty crap eh? I’m not sure I want to finish it, but from what I’ve read so far it appears the movie HAS taken a lot of plot twists from the book and they should accept that, yes the contract is clear and they owe him nothing more but just admit it and move on… and that’s all I have to say about that! :)
pravin

did any body knows whether chetan bhagat was given the credit of writer in the movie “hello”
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Anu

So, did u finishing reading FPS yet?? Some of us are still waiting for your take on it.
:)
NS

[quote]
I have to confess it usually doesn’t take me so long to read a book, but damn the writing is pretty crap eh?
[quote]
Duh!!!
It is not Ernest Hemingway but crap, you got to be kidding me. All I have to say is if FPS writing is crap, what should I rate the writing on your blog? crap of crap????
http://www.screenplaywriter.info Lashaunda Josephson

Call the Theater Department of the Universities in SF and ask if they teach screenwriting classes.