Dec 25, 2003 10:39 AM
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(Updated Dec 25, 2003 10:51 AM)
Some examples of problems in “Imperial Institute of Medical Studies”, Mumbai together with Munna’s medicines:
Problem 1: A thoroughly breathless and a frothing boy who’s just gulped down sleeping pills lies unattended on a stretcher thanks to the endless queue for paperwork, and an off-duty, carefree doctor.
Munna’s medicine: Strangle the doctor to conduct the operation and ask a question everyday in Dr.Asthana’s lewcture if filling a casualty form is more important than saving a life. Thereafter, pinch out the meagre cause of suicide (rejection from a girl) from the boy’s heart through his own believable heart-warming tale thus proving the futility of heartbreaks to the dejected patient and rejuvenating him.
Problem 2: To enter the medical college, pass the entrance test and retake future such arduous examinations.
Munna’s medicine: Present a bogus 12th certificate (clichéd), stifle and abduct an existing surgeon into disguising as a goon and sitting in the entrance exam with surgeon’s father becharmed into the latter’s fave game of carrom. For future tests, help is provided on the mobile phone. The marks obtained, are expectedly, top of the tops, much to the principal, Dr.Asthana’s disdain. Much later, Munna becomes the cause of rejuvenation of the surgeon he stifles.
Problem 3: A seemingly affectionless neuropathic heavily-bearded human examined in a classroom, referred to as “subject” and treated like a non-entity.
Munna’s medicine: Shave the patient first, make sure the lecturer calls the patient by his name and then keep talking to him for days together to beat the dead-eardrums and invoke the innermost feelings which years of medical practice have been unsuccessful in doing.
Problem 4: A first-year room-mate fears from being ragged and stripped in public by the seniors. Other first-years bearing the agony of dancing in underwears before seniors.
Munna’s medicine: Pump up his own biceps and triceps and when the seniors get accustomed to the stuff he’s made of, make them dance in their underwears to “Dola Re Dola”; all to the juniors’ and audience’s mirth.
Problem 5: A bony, haggard sweeper shouting his lungs out to the passers-by to not step on the just-mopped floor; all in vain.
Munna’s medicine: Embrace the sweeper warmly in his arms and appraise his dedication and hard-work for years on stretch making the sweeper glow with self-importance and respect for Munna.
Problem 6: A well-to-do middle-aged working bee brimming with responsibilities of family is stupefied on hearing that he’s living through the terminal stages of stomach cancer. What’s more astonishing to him is that he hasn’t even started living his life.
Munna’s medicine: To fill up the climactic moments of this patient with moments he hasn’t lived, get a hottie to perform a cabaret dance near the patient’s bed, send them together on a night show and make him blush by coyingly asking the cause of lateness.
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No beating about the bush now, I’ll rush straight into the premise. Munnabhai (Sanjay Dutt) runs this successful gang together with his sidekick Circuit (Arshad Warsi) in basically a laundry neighbourhood which masters in settling financial feuds between mortals with complete honesty [pun intended] but year after year, Munna is forced to erect a faux hospital since his simpleton parents (Sunil Dutt and Rohini Hattangady) believe that he’s an assiduous doctor operating an even more splendid health institution for the needy in the grimy city of Mumbai. This very year, their seriousness in Munna’s matrimonial affairs take them to their old-time mate Dr. Asthana (Boman Irani) to ask for the latter’s daughter’s hand and all hell breaks loose when truth slaps the parents that Munna is indeed a “bhai”. Flabbergasted and completely dejected, they leave with tears in their eyes. Tears that finally bathes and rouses Munna’s conscience and under this wake of awakening, he decides to accomplish a full MBBS, become a doctor there and then to be an able suitor for Suman (Gracy) and wages a secret battle against Dr.Asthana. And from then on commences the amusing, mirthful journey of a “bhai” in a medical college brimming with everyday problems (some examples above) .
Though even his admission is rigged, Munna romps and rollicks all the way questioning the mechanical and robotic functioning of the hospital. From infusing life into the patients by his infectiously humorous babble to uplifting the side-tracked minors in the infirmary through his warm hugs, he catwalks straight to the hearts of all and sundry. In the background, Dr.Asthana, the institution’s principal is searching for the right moment to expel Munna whose reputation is getting stronger by every minute. Giving psychological strength is alright, but can empowering a human mentally compensate completely for the dysfunctional physical being? The fact becomes clear when a patient (Jimmy Shergill) infested with stomach cancer breathes his last in Munna’s arms, which results in a second awakening in Munna’s life and he decides that…. To complete this sentence, go watch the movie.
The expertise in the direction of neophyte Rajkumar Hirani is testified by the sorcerous and bewitching wave which, within seconds, transports the viewer into Munna’s world and the screenplay is so amazingly put together, that one doesn’t find time to question the logic of the ongoings; which shouldn’t suggest complete absence of reasoning since the film never loses touch with its serious undertone that continuously conveys the importance of understanding patient psychology in medics and concurrently succeeds in paralleling knowledge with common-sense. The infusion of humour by the protagonist’s gaucherie is accelerated by the rusticity, both in dialogues (all thanks to the Mumbai lingo, they send one into laughter frenzy) and cinematography (Binod “Devdas” Pradhan’s accuracy in portrayal of the bumpkinly environs of Munna and starkness of medical college is praiseworthy!).
Sanjay Dutt’s infectious style, Boman Irani’s awe-inspiring class, Arshad Warsi’s impeccable comic timing, Jimmy Shergill’s understated demeanour, Gracy Singh’s soothing deportment, Sunil Dutt’s restraint and Rohini Hattangady’s chasteness together with the superb supporting cast only impart livelier hues to their already excellently etched out characters.
The supremely novel idea, the original setting which refrains from mocking the actual medium used for entertainment, the thoroughly and consistently upbeat mood and the mint-fresh treatment coupled with some earthy humour lined with witty one-liners in shuddh Mumbai lingo make Munnabhai MBBS one gem of a laugh riot. Far far above from the present-day pretentious and tired college humour and the loud jarring cacophony presented in the name of humour gifted by David Dhawan and the likes, this flick’s state of self-awareness make it the wackiest and one of the most cherishable cinematic experiences that’ll activate even the most drained out neurons and ease out even the most constipated tummies!!
In simple words, Don’t miss this one!!
