So who is the real idiot?

Of late I have read a lot of blog posts and newspaper reports about how the producers of the movie '3 idiots' used the story line from the book 'Five Point Someone' by Chetan Bhagat (CB) and did not give him 'due' credit. Most of the people believe that CB has been cheated by the producers of the movie and enough newsprint and television time has been spent on demonizing the makers of the film.

Yes, the movie was inspired from the book (irrespective of what the film makers claim) but CB went over the top accusing the filmmakers of not giving him the story credit that he deserved.

I think CB is a smart ass who used media for publicity (his new book was released recently). He has painted himself to be a victim of the high handedness of the producers of the movie. Public sympathy often lies with the underdog and he has manipulated the media and the public after portraying himself as the sufferer at the hands of the rich and mighty. He may even have been looking for a share in the pie after the phenomenal success of the movie at the box office.

He had signed a contract with the producers about the movie credit and the use of the storyline (use may be 10% or 100%, he was paid for it anyways) from the book and the producers just used the contract to their advantage.

Coming from a management background (he studied at IIM-A and had enough experience in the corporate sector) CB knows the legalities involved in signing a written document.
Moreover he had one more film based on of his other books already released. He should have known how the industry works.

It was only after the producers came out with contract terms and the No Disclosure Agreement that he had signed after reading the final script of the movie that all his lies fell flat.

No publicity is bad publicity and he certainly realizes this. The time in the marketing classes at IIM-A are certainly paying him now. It is the media and his readers, who he took for a ride.