Let’s analyze Chatur Ramalingam from 3 idiots.
I don’t know if this was intentional or is just an analogy, but I think Chatur’s early dark background forced him to become the geeky excel-or-you-die character.
Farhan (narrator) in the movie is born in 1978. Chatur, presumably about the same age, exclaims that he was born in Uganda.
Cut back to Uganda.
Dictator Idi Amin (1971-1979) expelled nearly all Indians in 1972. It was on the 6th of August 1972 that the government of Uganda, then headed by the infamous Idi Amin, announced that all of the 80,000 Indian origin people living in the country had 90 days to depart, after which their businesses and homes would be handed over to native Ugandans. If any Indians were seen in Uganda after this period, Idi Amin warned: “I will make you feel as if you are sitting on fire!”
They were uprooted almost overnight, their homes, businesses and much of their wealth confiscated. After Idi Amin’s 90-day period, only about a hundred Indians were left in the country. Most fled to Britain or India.
They were “bloodsuckers,” said Idi Amin, “who had milked the Ugandan economy of its wealth.” This alluded to the fact that the Indians living in Uganda were a prosperous community, who were well represented in trade, commerce and government jobs.
Chatur might have had a harrowing experience in his early childhood days, which turned him into a ruthless competitor to barely survive. Like it is famously said, circumstances makes a man, so maybe Chatur had that fear instilled in him that life was truly a horrific race and if you don’t run fast enough, you may get killed.
We all know why Rancho is the way he is. But Chatur?
So yes, he might be seen as a realistic character coming out from the warlike clutches of Idi Amin.
Cheers! Thank you for reading :)
Source:
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: Idi Amin and the expulsion of Indians from Uganda
Never thought of chatur like this, great perspective. 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' become real. ✌🏻
Enjoyed reading this.