3 The Movie

“3: The Movie” (2012) is a Kollywood romantic psychological thriller directed and scripted by Aishwarya Rajinikanth. It features Dhanush and Shruti Haasan in the lead roles. The movie centres around high school sweethearts Ram and Janani, who eventually marry after years of courtship. When Ram dies by suicide unexpectedly, Janani realizes she needs to understand what pushed him to that decision.

It all begins with Ram’s funeral, and Janani is just not able to accept the truth that she has misplaced him. Amidst the retrospective sequences, we see how Ram first met Janani during 12th grade, fell in love and eventually wooed her over. Their romance matures into a beautiful relationship grounded in love and respect that eventually results in marriage. After Janani moves to the US, Ram begins acting strangely, suffering from hallucinations and shocking fits of rage. His best buddy Senthil is keenly aware of the transformation, particularly when Ram, in the midst of a mental collapse, kills Janani’s pet dog while working on a vehicle. A healthcare provider advises Ram that he could be experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder and should begin therapeutic intervention. Ram does not accept any help as he does not want to harm Janani or inform her about his illness. He withdraws, pushing everyone away while quietly fighting his own demons. During one such manic episode, he nearly physically injures Janani, which fills him with guilt and spirals him further into mental anguish.

As Janani looks into the causes of the incident, she interviews Senthil, who ultimately admits Ram’s inner conflict with mental health. Ram had incurred great financial losses, sunk into mental illness, refusing to get help so as not to encumber Janani. In her final days, he sets her up with enough money to provide for her and he writes a perfect suicide note to end all suicide notes. As Ram’s hallucinations intensify, and though he is in love with Janani, he takes his life without speaking a word. When Janani finally discovers the truth, she is heartbroken to discover the extent of Ram’s deception and all that he sacrificed from her by hiding the truth from her.

“3: The Movie,” tells a true and emotional story about love, mental health, and silent suffering. Dhanush delivers a strong performance as Ram, showcasing deep emotional pain. Shruti Haasan portrays Janani, who struggles between love and despair. The film features touching music by Anirudh and emphasizes the importance of mental health, ending with the message that suicide isn’t the answer.