I did not want to write about it.A new year needs to begin with positive energy.But then, my twitter stream is oh so filled with the recent 3 idiots controversy pitting Chetan Bhagat against the producers of the movie that I couldn’t stop myself from offering my 2 cents on the matter.I have been ranting a bit bout it on twitter for sometime but then decided 140 chars were not enough.
I am not going to get into who’s wrong or whose right because when you get into the details, the whole thing is too technical.Technical as in with the legal terms of the agreement contract which has been surprisingly been posted online here .
Now, the whole controversy is known to all so there is no point repeating it again.As for uninitiated the whole issue floating around the controversy hangs on,
Chetan Bhagat’s grouse against the 3 Idiots production house of not giving the due credit to Chetan Bhagat and his Novel Five Point Someone, which is the inspiration of the movie
Again, from what i understand from all the content that has been generated over the Internet, it is clear that Chetan Bhagat’s side of the story reeks of un professionalism and a lot of whining.There i said it. The guy despite all his super awesome IIT-IIM credentials has gone completely wrong with his online life and now even the proffesional life.
To bring home the point regarding the 3 Idiots controversy, here is an interesting site that has been put up by someone in a jiffy but lands a knockout punch to Mr.Chetan Bhagat’s seemingly bad taste claims. Anyone with a right frame of mind especially in the publishing business should ensure that they do not contradict themselves.Have a look at the the two statements made by Chetan Bhagat regarding the issue with Credits
(Image Source: FourthIdiot)
Could it get any more clearer than that.Now, for a guy of Chetan’s stature, he will be better off not going back on his words.If this is not enough here is what Mr.Chetan Bhagat had to say regarding the 3 idiots credits,
(Img Source: CB’s twitter steam)
After all this, only an idiot would raise hell over the credits. I could fathom only two reasons why Mr.IIT-IIM is going on and on about him being ripped apart by the 3 idiots production house ,
- A cheap publicity stunt to ramp up the sales of his book ‘Five Point Someone’. Publicity bad or good seems to work in media industry and Mr.Bhagat is looking to cash on at the opportunity.
- The movie is raking in some serious moolah, over 100 crores to be specific within no time.Now, Mr.Bhagat seems to have realised that his 10 lakh agreement is turning out to be a pittance. U r banker for heaven’s sake Mr.CB , should have done your homework in terms of the negotiation.
Given that this is the first day of a refreshing new year, let me get a little more generous and give you one more reason during the end of the post:-)
For all its worth and the fans who are blindly supporting Chetan Bhagat , have a look at the facts and then decide which sides to take. I have utmost respect for Chetan Bhagat and have read all his books, but as a person he has lost his respect for me.Mind you, i am not being judgemental on a single issue.For those of you active on twitter, must be well aware of the hashtag #ChetanBlocks .That was the beginning of a downward slide of Chetan Bhagat for me.Search for the “ #chetanblocks” on Twitter/Google and you will have all the details.
However, the whole Chetan Bhagat issue can be a good case study ‘ How celebrities use their fans and social media to generate hype/sympathy for unworthy cause’. 
The whole issue has been blown out of proportion and despite all the fan support that Mr.Bhagat is getting , the verdict is clear.
Mr.Bhagat is the biggest idiot of them all
May be i ended up getting judgemental and took sides.But then, i don’t see a reason why i shouldn’t be
If it is still difficult for you to digest what has been written, here is something that should help the cause.A brilliant 25 reasons why CB is a liar article which throws more light on the inspiration issue.
Let me know what you think? Whose side of the story are you buying into and why?
Disclaimer: I do not intend to malign anyone personally via this post.I have not been paid by the 3 idiots production house to take their side ( though i wish they would ) neither i have any personal grudges against Chetan Bhagat.The views presented here are solely mine and based on what i think of the whole issue under the light of the facts available on the internet.
Yeah…seems like this issue would blow up even bigger in size…The HOLE in their rapport would become as big as a WELL in the near future…In other words they might say
HOLE izzz WELL
ROFL!! Hole izzz well
Jokes apart, it doesn do his image one good to behave like a whining biatch.. Even if he has been cheated out of it as he proclaims, he can maintain some dignity and take legal actions instead of begging for support in public forums
He seems to believe that his IIM IIT tag will see him through the cheap publicity that he is revelling in. Also he thinks that the IIM IIT fraternity will unanimously support him. Are they supporting him in his mission? If they are, then it is a shame that the so called best of brains in the country are plagued with bad judgement.
Hi Kamalika,
Thats exactly my point.Even if Chetan Bhagat has been cheated his education should serve him better to shy away from these public drama.Bollywood has a history of being dirty for sometime so why cry over it.
If he has the faith that he has done nothing wrong, then let his work speak for him.
We never saw him making any drama when Hello was released which was a complete adaption of his book.Success of 3 Idiots should not mean that he starts thinking that he has short sold himself.
Thanks for dropping by.Hope to see more of u around here:-)
just stumbled upon this blog while googling around abt the controversy..am not a Chetan Bhagat and am certainly not a 3i fan, hell not even a bollywood fan (it sucks period), now that’s a diff thing, however i find it hard to side with anyone who takes the bollywood industry seriously…anyway…my 2 paise, getting a little bit of publicity for monetary benefits is fair in this money ruled world … why do you think Aamir Khan roamed the streets if India disguised promoting his movie…Oh thats is OK??? i don’t see you calling Aamir an idiot for doing that…you think 3i is raking 100’s of crores without any publicity???? Think before you open your mouth you ignorant hypocrite…And are you aware at all how the movie (actual not gimmicky bollywood) industry works?? go and see some GOOD movies like The Godfather, The Lors of the Rings, Schindler’ List, Shawshank Redemptio etc…and notice that the movie begin with the “Based on the novel by xxx” credit and/or ends first thing in the rolling cerdits….How can somebody else have WHOLE story credit when the movie is “BASED ON A NOVEL BY ..”
See u here: http://rkisho.blogspot.com/ (have just gotten into blogging, seeing all the hypocrisy and prejudice of India)
Hi, ur tone was sheephishly close for me to put the comment in the Spam folder but then freedom of expression is something that i like and i do enjoy a discussion with someone who has the audacity to call anyone hypocrite even when the facts are available.
Publicity is what drives the media industry as a whole.So, i am no where siding with either bollywood or chetan bhagat for that matter.My 2 cents were for the ignorant type two faced behaviour from CB. He has gone back on his words and when he has made remarks saying that he has ‘read the script’ , it serves him no good backing from it.
More than that, he has the credits! the movie does say that the movie is based on the book by blah blah. It says that in the end, but then if CB wanted it any better he should have known better to get the agreement right.
Even if that does not serve u good here is the video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sntZAfR99Zg which should clear a few more doubts.
Hope u l think twice before being the smart arse that u tried to be in the comment you put up
>>Publicity is what drives the media industry as a whole.So, i am no where siding with either bollywood or chetan bhagat for that matter
Really please re-read your blog. Looks you just contradicted yourself again!!! Please read the first point in your 2 reasons for CB being an idiot…the mark the words “cheap publicity stunt”…if you didn’t mean it why did you put it up there. I didn’t know there were “levels” of publicity…so CB’s was a cheap one and the media industry’s a “noble” one ???
By the way:
hypocrite ~ noun
1. a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
lol.. Now i am sure i dont have to explain what cheap publicity means.The guy is a IIT-IIM for heavens sake and i dont know if the agreement and the snapshots mean anything to you.
Lets say that both the parties are at cheap publicity bastards.
Even then legally and technically there is nothing wrong from the producers part!! They followed the agreement to the T which is clear.The agreement talks about rolling credits and he has got that.Where does it say, that CB will get a credit in the beginning of wherever.Even if the producers acted cheap and un-justifies, CB is educated enough to have negotiated better and gotten things on paper.
It will serve him no good if he keeps ranting ” I trusted them and blah blah”.He s a banker for all its good.Now when did any1 settle on ‘usne bola tha mene man liya” .That is horrible.
When i say cheap publicity, i say it cos of the timing when he came out with his allegations.
Thanks for telling me the meaning of hypocrite!! I sure needed that gyan:-) But then, i still dont take ignorant hypocrite to be a decent tone.But that’s just me.If u can think u like branding people with these, go on!!
sorry about the ignorant hypocrite tone, and really didn’t mean to hurt you, i use that a lot and usually don’t get a reply or my comment gets deleted or moved to spam like you almost did. I you appreciate not doing so and respect you dignified answer … so coming back to the discussion, hoping we can take it forward more civilized (on my part)…I’d say the contract is not the answer to all questions because:
1.it’s not complete like in covering all aspects
2.it’s exploiting a new-comer in the film industry, he being from IIT-IIM (also please stop implying IIT/IIM guys are the smartest people in the country) or being a banker has got nothing to do with him being duped on the contract
3.The producers are getting away on a technicality by using the contract
4.Why is nothing mentioned abt the story credit , whether his name or someone else’s will be appearing
I think the producers did a mistake by giving a separate Story credit when Based on the novel by is already appearing. what do ya think???
Its not generally ok to expect people to like what u like, moreover on my blog
Its my rant pad so i have to be the more educated one..lol
Coming to the discussion,
1) if its not complete, who is to blame.If CB is a newcomer he should have taken legal help in getting t contract drafted to his liking.
2) I dont imply that IIT/IIM people are smart.He has been using it in every god damn interview. “men to IIT/IIM se hu, i expect others to have ethics”, these are his words on live TV.Now, is he trying to tell the world that IIT/IIM does not teach the real world dynamics.he loses me there
3) What else counts.Yes, ethically it wont hurt them to give him credits in the beginning but then they have their ego to nurse.Moreover, with the issue so public now, why will they succumb to CB’s allegations even if they are true.
I intended to write the post without taking sides, but frankly for someone who has come to appreciate CB, the facts were a let down.If he wanted justice , he should have gone the legal way, why make a hue and cry in public forums.The least he could do was read his words and verify before making contradictory statements
I agree with life’s irony 100%. While I cannot stand it, that CB is what India has to show for a writer of English books who is successful, the issue here is that he cannot be called a liar and greedy and what not just because he’s asking for his dues.
He may have signed his rights away but any scrupulous person can see that ‘rolling credits’ given not withstanding, the entire story credit cannot be give to Mr.Hirani or whomever else.
By the very fact that the rolling credit’s were given to CB, the Story credit (to Hirani) becomes a lie.
IT should have read ‘Adapted Screenplay’ or ‘Adapted from the book by..’
Even if you adopt a child you cannot ever claim that you gave birth to him/her biologically!
The whole thing is ridiculous.
That CB is changing his lines in interviews is making him look like a fool and not helping him at all, but his sentiments are genuine.
Thanks for dropping by Sowmya!!Valid insights.. My intension with the post was not to highlight that CB is wrong in saying that the Story is his.It indeed is.My issue was the way he handled and behaved during the controversy.
He is smart enough to have neogtiated right and then stood by what he said.His statements have been utterly confusing and undermine his credibility.
As for the analogy that u gave regarding the adopted child thing, he did sell the rights
It is like selling a proffesional picture.Once u sell it, u should ideally neva claim it as urs.
and thats the hard pressed fact.
U have a new subscriber
The VC gang got the rights in lieu of giving him credits and clearly specified the nature of credits.If CB had any issues, he should have ensured he gets the credits the way he wants.After t movie becomes a success, him whining does not make any sense.
Business these days does not factor in sentiments
But i appreciate ur take on the whole issue and the thoughts that u share on ur blog too
Hope to see you coming here often:-)
Really, I think it boils down to a legal issue vs. doing the right thing ‘by someone’.
Nice article btw; evoked quite a few heated responses
Yes, after dabbling with finance/business blogging, i think i wanted a platform to rant on the more generic issues.With time, i hope to fill this space with more ‘food for thought’ posts:-)
It is the discussions which make the whole point of blogging a worthy exercise.
I dont know why people take sides when there is lot to unfold.. After reading you post its clear that you took side.. It looks you want to blame Chetan for Cheap publicity.. Here is the ans to the ‘Cheap Publicity’ You are talking abt.. He is going to donate the amount earned after the controversy from FPS..http://www.hindustantimes.com/cinema-news/cinemascope/Audiences-feel-cheated-as-Chetan-Bhagat-team-Idiots-milk-their-differences/Article1-494061.aspx
Taking Sides!! Isnt that the reason blogs are written
It is my intepretation of the story, did i ever claim the content to be a naked truth.I wrote what i felt was right in my opinion.Hell, even Chetan Bhagat wrote what he felt like in his blog, didnt u feel he considered his side of the story alone and left out the other ones:-)
I covered enough facts in the writeup to defend my side of story!!
Thanks for sharing the donation link.I am glad he did that, but then why stir up controversy at the first place.He has lost my respect, but then you are free to feel the way you want to