Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Introduction
Vidhu Vinod Chopra is one of the most versatile directors in India. So when he turned to production and came up with a comedy named Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., I had made up my mind to check this out. But, then what I saw, really made me stand up and give a standing ovation to one of the better movies made in India.

The Plot
Munna Bhai (Sanjay Dutt) is a small time local goon who makes his living through extortion. But to his parents who stay in a distant village, Munna paints a picture that he is a well known doctor. One fine day, his parents decide to visit him and see their son treat the patients. Within an hour, the extortion house is converted to a hospital and his parents are very happy for their son.

Now, they decide to setup a matrimony for their son with the daughter of a well known Dean of a medical college Dr. Asthana (Boman Irani). Dr. Asthana is a very direct man and finds out that Munna is just a local don and not a doctor and tells this to Munna's parents which breaks their heart. They shun their son and leave for their village.

This hurts Munna and he decides that he would join Asthana's college and become a doctor to extract his revenge. Thus, the comedy begins...

Munna somehow manages to enter the college and then is appalled at the things being taught in the college and soon realizes that the doctors are there only to earn money and have no compassion for patients. Munna is, of course, a duffer as far as medical knowledge is concerned, but then tries to bring in compassion in the treatment of patients and with his outlook changes Asthana's medical college from a very serious money making institution to a joyful institution with compassion. But, this does not go down well with Asthana and he plans to get Munna out of the college by hook or crook.

Does Asthana succeed? Does Munna become a doctor? Check out this hilarious comedy for details.

Critic's Viewpoint
If you have just read the above portion, the movie does not look much like a comedy, does it. Because the comedy in this movie is not in the plot, it is in the unique way of presentation of Raj Kumar Hirani. The movie comes with a Punch Line: Statutory Warning: He might just cure you and that simply sets the tone for the mood in the movie.

There are, of course, some shades of Patch Adams in that Patch Adams also wanted some fun and compassion to be shown to the patients, but the similarities end right there. Munna Bhai MBBS is movie that makes a statement on the state of commercialization of medical science and the loss of compassion in this profession that is known as a Godly profession.

The theme is brilliantly highlighted by the climax where in a vegetative patient on whom the doctors have given up, responds to compassion and starts coming out of coma, a theme which has now been endorsed by medical science through some of recent experiments.

Coming to performances, I rarely remember any other movie where I saw so many outstanding performances. Each character seemed to excel within his/her small role. Starting with Sanjay Dutt as Munna Bhai, this is without doubt one of best performances by Sanju. I never knew he had such a grace and timing for comedy as he put up a remarkable show. The best part of Sanjay Dutt is that he looks so vulnerable that when he is butt of any joke, it looks so natural and graceful. And then add to that, the tapori slang language of "Bole tho..", "Mamu" simply blows you away.

Next up, Arshad Warsi as Circuit, is again mindblowing and without doubt his best performance till date as Munna Bhai's wise cracking side kick. The oneliners that he keeps delivering keep you rocking on your seat.

Coming to Boman Irani as Dr. Asthana, this versatile actor has given another outstanding performance. As a doctor who practices Laughter Therapy in personal life and as a professional is a cold, calculated and money spinning doctor and Dean, he looks a natural. His showdowns with Sanjay Dutt are so hilarious and yet at times so touching that you have to give a hand to their timing.

These are just the central characters, the rest of the crew including Gracy Singh as Dr. Suman Asthana, Jimmy Shergill as Zaheer, Kurush Deboo as Dr. Rustam and all other side characters were outstanding.

And when so many outstanding performances come then you need to pat the back of the captain, the director Rajkumar Hirani. He has done a brilliant job with the presentation as well as getting such performances out of a cast that had just one Superstar i.e. Sanjay Dutt.

As a footnote, Munna Bhai MBBS would also be remembered as the last time Sanjay Dutt acted with his father Sunil Dutt (who plays Munna's father in this movie) as the senior Dutt expired this year.

Music of Munna Bhai
The success of music is very essential to the success of Indian movies. But, usually in comedy movies, the music is often forgotten, but so much has been put into this movie that nothing has been overlooked.

Music by Anu Malik turned out be quite successful. The album starts with the hummable title song M Bole tho sung by a chorus which is a comedy song which turned out to be a big hit. Then we are treated to the sensuos voice of Sunidhi Chauhan pairing up with Anu Malik for the another hit song Dekh Le. The songs picturization was also pretty unique in that it was shot in a hospital settings with props etc.

Then we are treated to the melodious Shreya Ghosal and Vinod Rathod is a love song Chann Chann. Then we have the background score going Subah ho gayi Mamu which is another comedy song that turned out to be a big hit. The other songs in the movie are passable.

All in all a hit music album by Anu Malik.

Awards Gallery
When such a megahit movie comes along, it is going to sweep the awards and Munna Bhai MBBS did it in style:

Filmfare Best Comedian Award : Sanjay Dutt
Filmfare Best Dialogue Award : Abbas Tyrewala
Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie : Rajkumar Hirani
Filmfare Best Screenplay Award : Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Lajan Joseph
IIFA Best Comedian Award : Boman Irani
National Film Award for Best Popular Film : Rajkumar Hirani
Zee Best Debuting Director : Rajkumar Hirani
Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role : Arshad Warsi
Zee Best Cinematography : Binod Pradhan
Zee Best Dialogue : Abbas Tyrewala

Summary
One of the best movies made in India, one of the most successful movies in India and one of the best if not the best debut movie by a director.

This and the accolades won above say the whole story. A five star rating with an stomach aching with an overdose of laughter.

Websites
The official website of Munna Bhai MBBS is:
http://munnabhaimbbs.indiatimes.com/home.htm

Sequel
I thought Rajkumar Hirani could not make a better film than Munna Bhai MBBS, and luckily I was wrong. He just made one better with a sequel named Lage Raho Munna Bhai another comedy with a social message. The official website for Lage Raho Munna Bhai is http://www.lagerahomunnabhai.com. I would suggest that the Category Leads should add this movie to their database as well.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8