Three Idiots movie (read the review of Three Idiots) has created quite a controversy.

Author, Chetan Bhagat has accused Raju Hirani, producer of copying the book story without giving proper credit.

The case is as simple as the makers claiming the story as their own, and clearly it is not. Pre-release, the makers made press statements like  the movie is only ‘very loosely’, ‘2%-5% inspired by the book’.  After release, those who have read the book and seen the movie (and frankly, I think those are the only people who have the right to comment) find the film to be an adaptation of Five Point Someone. The setting, characters, plotline, dramatic twists and turns, one-liners, theme, message – almost all aspects that make up the story are from FPS. Yes, there are some changes, any adaptation requires that – but it is no way an original story. Leading movie critics have privately admitted to me that the film is 70% the book. Still, don’t take my word for it – go read the book, watch the film.

I, frankly, was shocked to see this. This is because I was also fed ‘this is an original movie’ line a lot. I wanted to see the final script – it was never shown to me. I wanted to see the film before release – it was not shown to me (even though trials had been done for  people).  What’s more, the makers had called me to their office and pressured me several times to withdraw my ‘Based on a novel by’ credit, which was by contract. They told me they’d replace it with something like ‘initiated by’ – a credit that doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. I still told them that if the film is indeed original, I’ll happily withdraw the credit, but somehow the promos don’t tell me so. I asked them to show me the film and they fell silent.  – from Chetan’s blog

While Aamir Khan has decided to reply to Chetan, here is what media pundits are saying

virsanghvi: I am on the side of Chetan Bhagat in the 3 Idiots controversy. Authors deserve prominent credit if their books are sources

PritishNandy: @virsanghvi My concern is it shouldnt be just another promotional campaign to promote the book + the film thru a manufactured conflict.

PritishNandy: @utterflea It looked entirely pre-meditated if you ask me. The book got huge mileage from the controversy.

What do you think is the real story? Or rather, whose story is it?

Tags: chetan bhagat, three idiots controversy