(Credit: Reliance Entertainment)
The 2009 Hindi-language coming-of-age comedy-drama 3 Idiots, written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, wound up being one of the most commercially successful films in India. It was the highest-grossing Indian movie ever until 2013 and was also critically acclaimed on the global cinema scene.
3 Idiots, starring Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi in the lead titular roles, is told through two parallel narratives, one in the present and one ten years in the past. It focuses on a group of three friends who study together at an Indian engineering university, with Harani delivering a strong critique of the education system in India.
Several facets of the film received a rousing adoration from fans and critics alike, from its direction and performances to his humour and story. However, there came a consequence to the success of 3 Idiots, and as is often the case with the nature of fanaticism, lovers of the movie had something of a devastating impact on the region of Ladakh in Northern India, where some of it had been set and shot.
Prior to the release of 3 Idiots, Ladakh had already been enjoying a thriving tourism trade, with many peace-seekers heading to the region for its stunning lakes and mountains. Hirani’s film was originally perceived as a welcome boost to the economy, but when tourist numbers nearly quadrupled, Ladakh’s infrastructure could no longer deal with the footfall, especially feet belonging to those without respect for the environment.
The picturesque landscapes and culture of Ladakh had served as strong advertising for 3 Idiots, and the release of the film saw scores upon scores of tourists and cinema lovers descending upon the region in order to experience the on-screen beauty in person first hand.
Pangong Lake, one of the most memorable locations in the movie, suddenly experienced a much higher level of football, which led to the degradation of its environment. Throw into account the added refuse and noise pollution as a result of irresponsible tourists and the threat to local wildlife, and the success of 3 Idiots no longer looked worth it to the people of Ladakh.
Ladakh had already been at capacity in terms of its waste management and infrastructure with its 400,000 yearly visitors. However, the sudden surge in tourists meant that the state and local businesses were not prepared to provide suitable accommodation, sanitation and transport, meaning that Ladakh was covered in litter, comprising its natural beauty.
There had also been a monastic cultural charm to Ladakh that cinephile tourists simply did not understand, and the true customs, beliefs and traditions were largely overlooked and disrespected. This led to a homogenisation of Ladakhi culture itself, dumbed down in order to appeal to the romantic notion portrayed within the film.
Tourism naturally brought economic success to some Ladakhi locals, but it also created a disparity between those lucky enough to profit and those unfortunate enough to miss out. As the residents of Ladakh sought to cash in on the tourism booms, their old ways of life were abandoned, leaving the region in the shadow of its former quaint glory.
While 3 Idiots certainly seemed to praise Ladakh as a natural paradise, the film itself had dire consequences for the region. This shows the need for directors to be more responsible in working with local government in their work settings to create a more sustainable sense of tourism in the future.
