Lift, copy, remake by Tollywood films
Recent films in Tollywood appear to be copied from Hollywood and Korean movies, but filmmakers do not agree to the “copycat” tag. They say they are inspired by the script and adapt it to the local flavour. At times due credit is given too
If the recent box office success Zombie Reddy was inspired by Shaun of the Death, the struggle of a man caught in a well Gali Sampath is loosely inspired by Korean series 127 Hours. Even the reincarnation love story 30 Rojullo Preminchadam Ela was copied from the 2006-Hollywood comedy The Girl and Boy Thing, while Nithiin’s story of a jailbird, who is also an chess exponent in Check had influences of mini-series like The Queen’s Gambit. Even small-budget thriller Playback has blatant similarities with highly acclaimed movie 2011Hollywood horror–thriller, The Caller.
Senior producer MS Raju shares his perspective on the matter. “It is true that some young directors are inspired by Hollywood movies these days, but I don’t want to brand them as copycats. I believe every filmmaker craves inspiration and could find the plot or a character from a movie or novel, which is exciting enough, but they have to adapt it for the Telugu viewers, and that is the challenge. Otherwise, it could be a wasted effort,” he says.
However, and despite his views of creative licences, the senior producer also blames senior directors for the unethical practice. “That being said, even some senior directors
True that some young directors are inspired by Hollywood movies but I don’t want to brand them as copycats. Every filmmaker craves inspiration and could find the plot or a character from a movie or novel, which is exciting, but they have to adapt it for the Telugu viewers. Some senior directors have blatantly lifted scenes and episodes from Hollywood movies and a few of them have also paid ‘fine’ to original creators after drawing flak. But seniors are tactful enough to smoothly insert those ‘ripped’ stuff into their stories.
— MS RAJU,
Senior producer
have blatantly lifted scenes and episodes from Hollywood movies and a few of them have also paid ‘fine’ to original creators after drawing flak. But seniors are tactful enough to smoothly insert those ‘ripped’ stuff into their stories. Even I was inspired by the 1989-Hindi movie Maine Pyar Kiya for my 2005-Telugu film Nuvvu Vadantana Ne Vadantana, but very few could detect the similarities. We have to make a different story altogether,” he adds.
GENRE INSPIRATIONS
Taking a cue from MS Raju, young director Prashanth Varma, who tasted success with recent hit Zombie Reddy, admits that he was inspired by not only the 2004-Hollywood film Shaun of the Death, but also several other zombie movies in various foreign languages.
“However, I delivered comiccentric zombie stuff in Telugu and it was a unique attempt. Actually, zombies are a western thought and I took it up as a challenge in my passion to explore varied genres although I knew that the audience will draw comparisons. But I managed to dish out a different kind of story that struck a chord with the masses,” he adds.
Prashanth also tells us that he intends to explore another new genre in his next. “I am also working on the sequel for Zombie Reddy to keep up my exploration of new kinds of cinema,” he adds.
CREDITING THE ORIGINAL CREATORS
Sudheer Varma is another young director, who openly claims he’s inspired by Hollywood and Korean movies for his 2013-movie Swamy Ra Ra and the 2017-film Keshava. “I always wanted to give due credit to the original creators, so I thank five to six names in title cards for each film as robbing of ideas without even thanking them is a bit of crime,” he explains. “I even thank my AD or a camera assistant if they come up with a good idea on the sets, but that’s my belief.”
While declining to comment on senior directors holding back the source of their inspirations for many years, he just reiterates that he would take the names without any qualms. Now, after drawing inspiration from various foreign language movies, the director is all set to remake Korean movie Midnight Runners in Telugu. “It is an official remake of a Korean movie in Telugu, which is being produced by Suresh Productions. I have changed male-centric film into a female-centric one by casting actresses Regina Cassandra and Nivedha Thomas as the protagonists. The challenge of competing with the original is keeping my spirits high,” he adds.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Popular actress
Keshava.
Poorna, who’s done a few Hollywoodinspired horror flicks, asserts that given Hollywood is the capital of world cinema, there is nothing wrong in drawing inspiration from great movies. However, she advises caution.
“Nowadays, the younger generation of viewers have been exposed to world cinema through various OTT platforms, so filmmakers have to be careful in copying foreign stuff because audiences are quick to mark the ‘copycats’. Even similarities in posters are pointed out on social media. Makers have to be doubly careful before being exposed by movie buffs,” she concludes.
Nowadays, the younger generation of viewers have been exposed to world cinema through various OTT platforms, so filmmakers have to be careful in copying foreign stuff because audiences are quick to mark the ‘copycats’. Even similarities in posters are pointed out on social media.”
—Poorna, actress