Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

This movie is an over-the-top comedy fare from start to finish. And if it does not leave you in stitches rolling on the floor, then you really ought to go see a doctor!

Pretending to be a doctor when he's actually an underworld don, this is a simple yarn of a thug out to prove a point to his parents by getting into medical school and becoming a real doctor. What a hilarious idea!! There is superb acting by the main characters Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Gracy Singh as well as almost all the supporting cast. Arshad Warsi is outstanding as the don's right hand. The substitute doctor acted well, too. Some of the melodrama (the guy with cancer, his family, etc) could have been cut in the editing room, but doesn't affect the pace much. It does have a few dance numbers, but nothing out of place or forced.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra is making a name for himself taking calculated risks with new directors (Hirani, Sarkar of Parineeta) and new talent. Great to see someone in Bollywood sticking their neck out to make something at least plausibly entertaining, not the usual romantic nonsense.

You need to suspend your belief in reality for two and a half hours and, if you do, there's a charming story that grows out of deception to reveal a caring and endearing heart, that opens a door to empathy and compassion, shows us what can be achieved when we care and, perhaps more importantly what happens when we do not. Plenty of wacky humour to ease the swelling if this isn't your thing and choc full of everything else you would expect form a piece of cinema from India, all those things that make it so special.

Inspired by the Hollywood movie 'Patch Adam', 'Munnabhai M.B.B.S.' tells the comedic story of a thug who wants to become a doctor. The film has its major share of comedic moments and its dramatic moments. It is indeed an entertaining film with the famously lovable characters like Munnabhai and Circuit.

Rajkumar Hirani may have taken the idea of an older outsider wanting to become a doctor from 'Patch Adams' but in essence 'Munnabhai M.B.B.S.' is its own film and it is the performances and comedy that make it worth the watch because most the dramatic moments are a little over the top. While the dialogue in the comedic scenes are witty and hilarious, the ones in the dramatic scenes are a mess.

Sanjay Dutt totally nails Munnabhai. It's hard to picture anyone else in the title role. The actor does full justice. It was nice to see Sunil Dutt after a long time and that too as father to his own son. The actor has a strong presence, even in a brief role. Gracy Singh is cute and adorable. Jimmy Shergill is awesome and holds his own as Zaheer and Boman Irani too does very well. However, it is Arshad Warsi who steals the show in a breakthrough performance as one of the most memorable film characters of recent time, Circuit.

Most of the songs are well balanced and are good additions to the film. I found Munnabhai's romantic ballad hilarious when he tries to convince the suicider to cut the crap. On the technical side, it's alright. On the whole this is one enjoyable flick. One would have expected more from the second Munnabhai film which I found boring but why should that prevent the pleasure that comes from this movie?

Despite Munna Bhai M. B. B. S. being ultimately a top-notch comedy, this film eloquently critiques family expectations, societal expectations, and healthcare as a whole.

I have always found it fascinating (and infuriating) how a hierarchy exists in the medical world - even outside with society's views on respecting doctors (the title) and not recognizing the roles of others in the medical field.

Munna Bhai, despite cheating his way into medical school for all the wrong reasons, ends up spotting many of the flaws in the health system and ridiculous hierarchy that comes with being "M. B. B. S." Instead, he assists the nurses, earning their trust. He thanks the environmental health worker and recognizes he has one of the most important jobs, get's the grunt work, and thanks him for mopping the floors and keeping the hospital clean.

Additionally, he self-discovers the roles of allied health without realizing what they are and naturally implements them throughout the hospital, earning the respect of his fellow med students and professors. For example, taking of the role of an Occupational Therapist and assisting a pt with what appears to be something like locked-in syndrome groom himself. Additionally, he plays Speech-Language Pathologist, spending time talking to the patient as a person and figuring out how this patient can communicate (in this case, blinking for "yes"), and he takes on the role of Recreational Therapist, playing board games with patients and brining them entertainment, keeping them living life.

Overall, delightful and excellent film.

It has been added to my version of the Indian classics.Parinda,Lamhe,1942 A Love Story,Dil Chahta Hai,Kaante,Shool,Satya,and now Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.(Forgive me if I am forgetting some great movies).I myself am a student of medicine and though its so unrealistic and atmosphere and so melodramatic a storyline but for once I don't care if it is.The dialogues have been written by some wizard.It was really good to see V.V.Chopras name in the writing credits.Sanjay Dutt was at his killer best and the rest were there to supplement him.And they supported big time from Arshad Warsi to Boman Irani to Gracy Singh.I Don't know whether I would cry and laugh both the same time ever again in my lifetime.