There has been a major confusion in splitting up the ‘credits pie’ between the movie makers and the novelist and the ‘3 idiots’ copyright controversy that has been causing quite a row in the media these days. I happened to read Chetan Bhagat’s
blog today.
I have read the book ‘Five point someone’ and now watched the movie ‘3 idiots’ and it was indeed pretty sad and shocking to see the ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ credit line ‘Based on the novel Five Point Someone By Chetan Bhagat’ written in a teeny tiny font move up the screen at the end of the movie.
I have not keenly followed the promos of this movie but I remember it was publicized to be an adaptation of the book ‘Five Point Someone’ long before it was made. Although, I can’t resist saying that the name of the movie- ‘3 idiots’ is absolutely ridiculous. I still wonder what the director was thinking when he thought of this name for the movie. The 3 guys obviously are the center of the story but they’re definitely not idiots!
Bhagat, in his blog, claims to have been ‘grappling with it for two years, but kept silent about it.’ Why did he have to ‘grapple’ with this issue for two long years!! What was he waiting for?
The movie to be released and become a big hit and not see his name in it in the beginning and then complain??? He says he was not shown the final script or the movie before it was released because he was tricked into believing that the movie was ‘original’.
I’d say that if they had bought the rights of his work from him with the intentions of making a movie out of it, he should realize that the movie would have ‘something’ to do with the book!
This movie was publicized as being an ‘adaptation’ of the novel long before it was made and that should have given him some curiosity to check what it was about and in case he was not given any insight into the developments of the movie as he says, he could’ve made some noise or gone to court or whatever at that point in time.
Even though the story framework, the characters and the theme of the movie are completely taken from the book, the movie script is absolutely beautiful and some of the dialogues are totally marvelous. Incredible work of Abhijat Joshi and Rajkumar Hirani. Great work you guys!
The movie producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra definitely overreacted at the press conference on being questioned whether his movie was an adaptation of the novel. And the unbelievably stubborn man was not even ready to apologize immediately to the reporter whom he shouted at and he needed a day to think it over and apologize. I liked his apology though. He agreed that he was being ‘silly’, was ‘behaving like an animal’ and that his behavior was ‘nonsensical’. You are spot on on that one Chopra!
Interestingly he also said that he never wanted to meet Chetan Bhagat again ever again! I think he just busted his chances of making some good movies out of his books.
It was indeed scandalous to say that the movie was just ‘very loosely 2-5%’ inspired by the book. A lot more than that was definitely taken from the book. The characters, the basic story line and theme. We have to give that to Bhagat. The blog shows the writer’s disappointed state of mind and I’m sure a lot of his fans will sympathize with him. Personally, I don’t think he was looking for fame but probably a bit of recognition.
Anyway, the way I see it, this controversy might just spark up the sale of your book again now, Chetan!
Your book was excellent. So was the movie.
I think all this controversy just does a lot of comparison and spoils the fun!
Or maybe Bhagat was totally uninspired after ‘2 states’ that he wanted some entertainment in his life which could eventually come out as a book! Where better to search for inspiration than in Bollywood!
Go write your next one Chetan! Now would be a great time to start!
