MAESTRO Interesting remake is well-made but adds nothing new

SMASH hit film Andhadhun (2018) may have been inspired by 2010 French short film L’Accordeur (The Piano Tuner), but it added multiple layers and became a brilliant Bollywood release that delighted audiences.

The super successful black comedy crime thriller was remade in Tamil as Andhagan and Malayalam adaptation Bhramam is on the way. Maestro is a Telugu remake that premiered recently on streaming site Hotstar and pretty much follows the exact same plotline.

A pianist fakes being blind to get greater focus on his music and falls in love with a woman who is unaware of his secret. He is invited to deliver a private concert and accidentally witnesses a murder. He soon gets caught in the crossfire of a police investigation and a deadly woman who committed the heinous crime. What follows is a twist-laden story with plenty of surprises.

Popular actor Nithiin plays Ayushmann Khurrana’s character and Tamanaah takes on Tabu’s deadly role in a remake that is almost an exact copy of the original. There are slight adjustments in the innovative storyline and characters to take Telugu audiences into account, but not enough to make a huge difference. The changes that have been made don’t really add anything new to this film or elevate it to a higher level. Those who haven’t seen the original won’t notice the changes and will enjoy the interesting story, which is different from what Indian cinema usually has to offer.

But with Andhadhun being so popular, it’s difficult not to compare the two. Although Maestro is well-made and has strong performances from the talented lead cast, it comes across as a watered-down version of a really great film. That makes Maestro a movie that will be enjoyed by those who haven’t seen Andhadhun. Those who have seen the popular original will think this is a needless remake.