NOW: REBOOTING
As a number of Bollywood films get inspired by Hollywood hits, we find out if it’s a challenge to make their Indian versions
Back in 2009, his bigticket association with Eid kicked off. This year too, Salman Khan will keep his date with Eid, thanks to his new film, Tubelight. Not many know that the Kabir Khan-directed film is an official adaptation of the 2015 Hollywood film, Little Boy.
RIGHTR ADAPTATION
Not just Tubelight, a number of other remakes and adaptations of Hollywood films are also in the pipeline. While Huma Qureshi and her brother, Saqib Saleem will be seen together in the desi adaptation of the 2013 horror flick Oculus, Saif Ali Khan will star in Raja Krishna Menon’s Chef, an Indian version of Jon Favreau’s 2014 hit by the same name.
Refusing to call it a “remake”, Saif says “everybody gets rights and ideas [for films] but it needs to be adapted properly,” calling Chef an “Indian story” about a father and son. “Raja has taken make it,it my but way’.said, ‘ HeI will amhas made a proper film and it’s not just a rehash of a Hollywood film. It’s totally different but the matically it it’s Similarly,the ’S same,” Kabir he too says. says that Tubelight isn’t “exactly a remake but an adaptation”. “My assistant watched Little Boy and brought it to my notice. I immediately loved the seed of an idea. Since the idea is relevant in today’s world, we thought it could be set in our bygone era too, and especially during the SinoIndian War of 1962,” he says.
‘ORIGINAL’ COMPARISONS
Interestingly, there are more names in the list. Sylvester Stallone’s super-hit action franchise, The Expendables (2010) is also set to get an Indian version and talks are rife that John Abraham could step into Sly’s shoes. Stallone’s cult film series, Rambo will also get a Hindi reboot, which is to be helmed by Siddharth Anand. Rumours are that Tiger Shroff will star as the protagonist in the desi version.
But isn’t remaking a Hollywood film come with the challenge of immediate comparisons? “It can be challenging only if you stick to the original film’s narrative and remake it in the true form. In that case, you might get stuck when you put the story in the local context. However, if you just take the germ of an idea and turn it into your own story, it’s likely to be a smooth sailing,” says Kabir Khan.
Of late, a number of other international films too have been part of the rumour mills, vis-à-vis their Hindi remakes. Reports suggest that Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s upcoming production, Fanney Khan could be a remake of 2014 hit, Everybody’s Famous. Also, it’s believed that Bipasha Basu Singh Grover is keen to do the remake of the Sandra Bullock-starrer 2009 film, The Blind Side that also got Sandra the Oscars trophy in the best actress category.
NOT EXACT COPIES
Experts feel the idea should be to make the content relatable to Indian audiences. “It’s not necessary that everyone must have watched all the Hollywood films. So, if one can Indianise the story well, and make it with a popular star, the film can reach a lot of people. But a film-maker should be adding his own spin to a film and not make an exact copy. If you are making a blind remake of a film, then what’s your (a film-maker’s) contribution?” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
The list goes on. Talks have been rife that the Hindi remake of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie-starrer Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) is in the pipeline. Names such as Deepika Padukone and Sidharth Malhotra have been doing the rounds regarding the same project. Reportedly, Deepika is also planning to turn producer with the Hindi remake of Angelina Jolie’s action film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).
Kabir puts things in perspective. “It’s all about what story you want to tell; and if you are clear in your vision, then that’s (adapting a Hollywood film) not an issue. Nothing should look forced or just for effect,” he says.