“3 Idiots” (India, 2009)

Bollywood is captivating audiences like never before. The original title, “3 Idiots,” refers to a trio of so-called fools—but the story unfolds within ICE, India’s top engineering college, among a class of just 200 elite students.

Each of the three students carries a story symbolic of Indian society: Farhan, who dreams of becoming a photographer but is forced into engineering by his father; Raju, whose family depends on his success to escape poverty; and Rancho, a genius with an extraordinary mind. Rancho is the son of a humble gardener working for a wealthy man. A child prodigy who could solve advanced mathematics problems from an early age, he is enrolled in ICE as a stand-in so that the rich man's academically unqualified son can earn a degree.

The ever-competitive, cunning Chatur, who obsesses over grades and status, repeatedly finds himself humiliated and outshone by Rancho.

The college’s straightforward-minded dean, who believes ICE's sole mission is to send graduates to top companies, tries to expel the trio for deviating from his norms. But every time, Rancho’s quick wit outmaneuvers him. Then, immediately after graduation, Rancho disappears without a trace.

Ten years later, Chatur emails Farhan. It’s a reminder of a rooftop challenge they had agreed on—September 5th, exactly a decade ago. Now a vice president at a major firm, Chatur is convinced he’s surpassed Rancho and sets out to find him, dragging Farhan and Raju along in the process. The journey reveals not just Rancho’s fate, but the impact he had on his friends—Farhan, now a photographer, and Raju, a successful engineer.

“Young people shouldn’t choose their life paths based on worldly success,” the film says. “All is well,” it affirms—offering hope in a nation with the world’s largest population. This is a must-see not just for Indian parents dreaming of elite futures for their children, but for anyone feeling trapped in a rigid society, including those in Japan.

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