Association of Fidelity and marketability in the Adaptation of Bhagat's Five point someone into Hirani's Three Idiots

Abstract

This dissertation explores the complex relationship between fidelity and marketability in the adaptation of Bhagat’s Five Point Someone into Raj Kumar Hirani’s Three Idiots with a specific focus on how the film balances loyalty to the source text while addressing the demands of the cultural industry. Bhagat’s novel offers a critical examination of India’s rigid educational system whereas the film significantly reconfigures the original narrative by altering characters, themes, and plot elements to heighten emotional resonance and broaden mass appeal. This study, therefore, argues that these deviations from textual fidelity are not a mere creative freedom, but a strategic adaptation designed to enhance the film's marketability in a competitive entertainment landscape. By applying adaptation theory alongside frameworks of the cultural industry, this research emphasizes how the restructured narrative, star power, and emotional storytelling work together to make the film more accessible and commercially successful. The film’s deliberate prioritization of market-driven elements, without entirely abandoning the novel’s core theme, allows Three Idiots to reach a wide audience and achieve significant box-office success. Keywords: Fidelity, Marketability, Adaptation, Culture Industry, Box-office