BOLLYWOOD CHANGES THE TREND!
Hindi films are being remade in regional languages, and the trend is only set to grow. Here’s why remakes are good news for BTown
For years, Bollywood has remade regional language films, especially hits from south India, and won box-office gold — examples include Rowdy Rathore, Wanted, Bodyguard, and Baaghi 2. However, there’s a reverse flow being witnessed now, as many Hindi films are being n remade into regional languages. Singham (2011) was a big commercial success, and spawned a sequel, Singham Returns (2014). It’s now being remade into Punjabi, with singer-actor Parmish Verma in the lead. Other Bollywood films getting their regional remakes include last year’s Tumhari Sulu and Hindi Medium, and this year’s Pari and Pad Man.
STORIES UNIVERSAL IN NATURE
Trade expert Komal Nahta is happy with this trend. “This shows that even Bollywood writers have started coming up with original ideas. New concepts are being attempted, and we’ve become braver in exploring new subjects, like (the horror film) Pari,” he says.
Bollywood producers are making the most of it — any legitimate remake means that the producer of he original sells the rights and makes money; and sometimes, the original producer also funds the remake. Bhushan Kumar, who produced Hindi Medium and Tumhari Sulu, says, I believed that people lll over the world just want a film to be relatable. If they get it, I don’t think there’s any barrier.” He reveals that a south remake of the recent Ajay Devgn-starrer Raid is on the cards, as is a remake of Hindi Medium in Telugu. “We have also received an offer for a Tamil version,” he says.
REMAKES CAN BE BETTER
Suresh Triveni, the director of Tumhari Sulu, sees it as a “positive step”. He says, “It’s flattering when a film gets remade and reaches a wider audience.” When asked if he’s apprehensive about how some other director will treat the story, Triveni says, “That way, your insecurity will never end! It’s beautiful, as the core will remain the same. You can also see what you missed out on in the original, or how it could be made better.”
Anushka’s Pari might have been an average grosser in its original Hindi version, but trade expert Atul Mohan feels that there are “many subjects that work better in other regions, and vice versa”.
Prernaa Arora, the producer of Pari and Pad Man, says, “Both my films are a part of this revolution, and it’s a big acceptance. It’s a big revenue stream, and shows that audiences have great appreciation for cinema.”