IT’S SOUTH REMAKES ALORE IN BOLLYWOOD it great action or just stories well told, southern films are inspiring retellings
emaking hit South Indian films seems to be a sure shot at success for Bollywood filmmakers. While this n true for a while, the ng slate of remakes of Telugu, Tamil, Kannada ayalam films is proof that mmakers are not hesitant nspiration from their n in the south. tly, Salman Khan bought di remake rights of thy Vijay’s Tamil film,
Master. Reportedly, he will also star in it. While Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan are all set to star in the Hindi remake of the Tamil film Vikram Vedha.
Ranveer Singh and director S Shankar are teaming up for the Hindi remake of the 2005 Tamil blockbuster, Anniyan. Aditya Roy Kapur will step into the shoes of Arun Vijay for the Hindi remake of the Tamil film Thadam. Janhvi Kapoor will be seen in the Hindi remake of the Malayalam thriller, Helen. Ajay Devgn has confirmed he will do the Hindi remake of the Tamil film, Kaithi. And Akshay Kumar will star with Rakul Preet
Singh in the Hindi remake of Tamil thriller Ratsasan.
So, what attracts Bollywood to remakes, despite knowing many in the audience would have seen the original? “Makers and actors are drawn to South Indian hits because stories that have already struck a chord with the audience are a safe bet,” shares producer Anand Pandit. However, he adds this trend is not new, as South Indian films were remade in Hindi from the ’50s. “A film like Azaad (1955) that established the late Dilip Kumar saab as a comic legend, was a remake of Tamil film Malaikkallan. In fact, Dilip saab starred in many remakes of South Indian films such as Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Aadmi (1968). In the ’80s too, Jeetendra ji starred in many hit South Indian remakes,” Pandit observes.
In fact, many feel these films offer something fresh. “Some Malayalam films are world class,” says actor Aakanksha Singh, who has starred in Tamil, Telugu and Kannda films.
Besides, many of these films are in the action genre, which is a big draw for Bollywood. Shailesh Kapoor, Ormax Media, points out that all southern remakes Salman Khan starred in, be it Ready (2011) or Wanted (2009), were in the action or action-comedy genre. “There’s a lot of audience interest in the kind of action that southern films have, which is very distinct and superior,” he explains.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh feels the appetite for such films was built because of the dubbed versions of southern language movies on satellite TV over the years. “I don’t think Bollywood lacks originality and that’s why it’s heading south for inspiration. I think if good content is made in any other language, it’s absolutely fine to adapt it to suit the Hindispeaking audience,” he says.
Aaj kal birthday, phone aur social media pe chala jaata hai,” shares Sunil Grover, who turns 44 today. He adds mentally, he is just 27! The actor, who has no plans of ‘celebrating’ the day, says, “Some people, who you have worked with, point out that ‘I posted a wish for you and you didn’t reply’. The expectation is fine. But I like celebrating the birthdays of others as I feel shy cutting my birthday cake. When I was younger, I looked forward to gifts and my mum’s gulab jamun cake. I’d plan for it a month in advance. Now, I wait for her to send me one.”
On the work front, after his recent web series Sunflower, Grover is preparing for a film in September and another project that starts in November. He admits after his recent projects including Tandav, he is “enjoying acting”. The Bharat (2019) actor says, “It is fun to act and I am getting the kind of work I want. Producers want to start shooting but the pandemic has upset plans. Everyone is scared and can’t decide when to start. Standing costs have increased, so everyone Things will take time.”
Grover, who establis himself as a comic acto television, says he does differentiate between mediums. “TV, OTT an are all part of entertain am here because of TV get offers for it. If I get something suitable, I w it,” he explains.
With people turning digital platforms for fre content, Grover is glad talent is getting opport He adds, “There is so m consumption of conten on OTT or even social guess, the more, the m On the other hand, due many options, survive karega, jo log dekhenge default, the bar is raise time for you to perform create something.”