3 Idiots is making raves and continues to rake in some serious dough (US Domestic Total as of Jan. 3, 2010: $4,757,078). It is the highest record total for any Hindi cinema in the US within two weeks. However, are 3 Idiots makers proving out to be selfish and not giving credit where its due? Many think so. Check out the blog of Chetan Bhagat, who is not shying away from voicing his concerns and is genuinely feeling hurt with the whole saga. Did the producers of 3 Idiots thought they could get away with such a pull? It is a leaving a bitter taste in all creative minds, no matter how good the movie has turned out to be.

Even though I have not read the book myself, I too would have loved to see major credits in the beginning as opposed to scrolls towards the end. Actually I did not even notice it during end credit scrolls due to people standing and pulling out from the theater. 

However, my sister did and my immediate reaction to her was that such a key credit deserves a prime slot in the opening credits, not end scrolls. She concurs. And so does Chetan and million of his fans. Check out the full story from Chetan Bhagat himself and do post of your thoughts. I am going to read the book next and see if it is 5% adaptation as claimed by the producers of 3 Idiots or 70%, as per Bhagat's novel readers.

Update: 01/01/2010

Today Aamir Khan said that Chetan is seeking publicity due to success of the movie and is grabbing credit from script writer of 3 Idiots, Abhijat Joshi. Now, honestly speaking, Aamir is a good actor but he does not need to defend the crew of 3 Idiots based on his public image. It can back fire. It neither suits, nor is warranted from the actor. Let the producers and script writer face the music. Besides, Aamir admits that he has not read the book and  is defending the script writer Abhijat Joshi, but also admits that the idea is borrowed from the book (see video around 17:00 min mark).

As the heat picks up, the real question is that how many ideas are original to be claimed by Abhijat Joshi in the script? This has all the masala to become an interesting legal battle and consequently another movie and script, say, Kaun Kehta Hai Tu Apne Baap Ka Beta Hai? Or maybe, Chori, Upar Se Cina Jori? Now, if you do get a movie on this later on, remember the idea was mine and you heard it here first! 

Check this video out covering the topic in detail, courtesy Star News.

Update 01/ 02/2010

Guess what guys? It is now becoming clearer that the issue will drag into court and both sides are claiming it to be their original work. Though Chetan did not want it to be dragged into courts, 3 Idiots camp would like issue to be settled there. Chetan is not worried by it all and thinks that 3 Idiot camp will loose it badly.

Rajkumar Hirani finally appeared in media with a copy of the signed contract. In a nut shell, Rajkumar Hirani claims that since they have bought the rights to the book, it can be used in 5% capacity or 80% as per their discretion. Also,as per contract the credit has been given where it was agreed upon. Have a look at the video herein.

However, that is not the issue raised from Chetan's end. Chetan's twitter micro blogs appeared with a comment from an Intellectual Property expert from the United States (not India - which can be a major factor in this case) in which the statues clearly state that it is a major crime to adapt 70-80% of the authors work and call it their own. How does it get interpreted in India in this case remains to be seen.

There is a fundamental point to be made here. I am not a lawyer but as a common man think that a mere trade, buying and selling of a book that is, does not mean that the original work or ideas in the same are that of the new owner. It remains to be seen as to what was clearly agreed between Chetan Bhagat and 3 Idiots contract. It is far from over and I genuinely hope that it is not a mili-juli bhagat between both the sides, just for media hype. 

Now imagine this; especially since humans tend to have a rather short lived memory, more so in Kalyuga. Let’s fast forward the case for 3-4 months and witness a statement that this matter has now been settled outside the court, or in other words, we the people or aam-junta are big time suckers. By the way, during all these court trial period  the moolas keep flowing as planned and media coverage continued on for the book as well as for the movie. Such a scenario will be hard to swallow since Chetan is raising a decent topic here. I genuinely hope this imagination is and stays false. There is a reason for such a hope as well. Chetan’s latest blog makes few points on how to resolve the matter as opposed to keeping it in never ending media circus and buzz with no real benefit to either side. In my view, he does come out as humble and Krishna devotee and is even accepting to let go the issues on print recalls and amending the titles properly. Instead, Chetan will be happy to see the story credits appear, that too after Mr. Hirani and Mr. Joshi, in all future DVD and Satellites prints. Sense of goodness still prevades it seems from Chetan's end. The choice and ball has been now humbly placed in the in 3 Idiots camp.

In a media interview, Vinod got carried away and reacted a bit harshly on a journalist and yesterday apologized for his outburst. Hirani also sticks to the gun that the screenplay does not have more than 5% of the story line. Check it out. 

On a side note, Vinod Chopra Films has now made the contract available  on their official web site. Gosh! Serious lack of Internet Privacy Laws exist or its implementation. The home address and telephone numbers of Chetan is available in raw now for all of the world to see and ring. Hope he has discontinued the telephone number.

Update 1/ 3/2010

India Today ran a poll on the issue and many think that the story lines are similar to the book. Total of 1552 votes were taken between Jan 1-Jan4. Now, it is really tough to gauge the votes since you can not vouch for their true authenticity(have voters indeed read the book?) However, it does give you a general mood or opinion. 

How similar is Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone to 3 Idiots?
3-5%	219		14.12%
5-20%	135		8.70%
20-40%	146		9.41%
40% or more	1051		67.76%

 Source

Update 1/4/2010

Today Chetan Bhagat appeared on CNN-IBN, Face the Nation and apologized to the 3 Idiots team and their family members for any undue stress caused to them due to the current controversy i.e. lack of proper credit in the film. Though Chetan maintains the stand of not receiving proper story credit  in the movie; he has nevertheless decided to move on and put the issue behind. What gives? What’s the rush? Who is being the real Ranchor here? He does say that it might act as a learning lesson to other authors and producers. However, one wonders if this apology is a mere cool down effect or throwing the towel all together? If a learning lesson was to be brought out then isn’t it worthwhile to go for the whole nine yards (start watching American football guys)? Man – it is just turning out to be a very good closure, almost too perfect, especially on a time line. Is it indeed a mili-juli bhagat!? Hmm.. Wouldn’t you say? Come on! 2 weeks of sustained media hype, the movie raking in the highest gross nationally and internatioanlly and the issue closing with an apology!? It is just turning out to be way too cool and timely for a mere "co-incidence" factor.  Now, that should be the topic of an investigative journalism. Of course, one can not push the fellow to keep fighting but it seems Chetan has opted to make mends and calm things down. Nice fellow, but is it good enough to pass on the message to Hindi film jagat? Post your thoughts.

Here are Chetan's closing comments from his latest blog entry. It is recommended that you check the response from Rajkumar Hirani before you read the response from Chetan. 

Now, here is the response to the video from Chetan.

 “PS: This is only for the extra-curious types. While totally not obligated to answer any more allegations, just to clarify on the RH (Rajkumar Hirani)  video – no I wasn’t given the script. A top level oral narration is something else and anybody in the film industry will tell you is very different from actually giving the written script. Notice they keep saying he has ‘heard’ the script, not ‘read’ it. In the oral narration, they told me the changes only. Please also note NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) he flashes which has a date of Oct 3, 2007, the so-called narration date. The adaptation deal was done in September 2005. Raju said it took Abhijat ‘3 yrs and 2 months’ to do the script in other interviews. Hence, even if Abhijat started on the deal date, the script was finished on November 2008. So, how could RH narrate it to me in Oct 2007?  Go figure. Also, please listen to my  full Bollywood Hungama interview they are quoting from, I maintain that my story is the base. Anyway, what matters is the final film vs book.   Also, they did not buy rights of the book – they bought the rights to adapt the book – a basic error they continue to make – whether out of lack of knowledge or to evade the issue. And yes there is a contract to adapt the work – but it doesn’t mean they can claim authorship of the story. You can buy a painting, not claim you painted it – basic copyright law. My points are valid, and I am not a liar. Anyway, like I said, we’ve moved on.” - Chetan Bhagat

By the way, you can also watch the CNN-IBN interviews with Chetan's apology along with other panelists such as Mahesh Manjrekar: Actor, Director; Narayan Parshuram: IIT Alumni and Shashank Veera:Education expert besides Chetan Bhagat who discuss the 3 Idiots and its related Education System issues in India. 

Courtsey CNN-IBN

Part1

 Part 2

Part 3

 Update: 1/7/2010

Came across the Wiki and it states, " 3 Idiots (Hindi: थ्री इडीयट्स) is a 2009 Bollywood comedy directed by Rajkumar Hirani, with a screenplay by Abhijat Joshi, and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It is based on the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. 3 Idiots stars Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Omi Vaidya, Parikshit Sahni and Boman Irani."

Given wiki is an open platform, it should come as a releif to many of Chetan Bhagat's fan. Abjijat is getting the true credit of Screen Play, not story. However, the screen play or movie adaptation does have few key different plot.