Innovation is the key for B'wood remakes

Recently, Vidya Balan refused to play Hema Malini’s character in a remake of “Satte Pe Satta”, saying that a legendary role like that of Hema Malini in the original cannot be copied or revised.
An interesting observation even as Bollywood rides high on the remake mania with close to three Bollywood classics on the anvil this year itself. And now, seems like Vidya’s theory has quite a few takers.
As eminent film critic Taran Adarsh puts it, “I believe the magic of classic films can never be recreated. Those films are masterpieces. With anybody attempting a remake of any Bollywood classic, the result would always be like Ram Gopal Verma’s “Aag” or himesh reshammiya’s “Karzzz”,” he laughs, adding that even though the film industry has produced a number of remakes, only one or two have been successful in grabbing the interest of the audience. “And that’s primarily because of the involvement of big stars,” he points out.
While remakes in themselves irk the purists, what really gets their goat is when the storyline of the original is tampered with in the remake. Agreeing in part with Vidya Balan when she says that a legendary role cannot be reprised, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, who himself was in news some time ago for attempting a remake of “Sahib, Biwi aur Ghulam”, says the best option is to put in a fresh perspective even in a remake. “Remakes of classics are not altogether bad if the original content is reinterpreted in a fresh manner with introduction of some new ideas and innovation,” he says, adding, “The audience always wants to see something new and interesting. Someday, even I would like to be involved in the remake of a classic like “Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam.”
A view film critic Komal Nahata agrees with when he says, “If a filmmaker wants to go ahead with the idea then they should introduce innovation. I think remakes of classic movies are a great way for youngsters to gain a glimpse of iconic characters of the Indian cinema. It will inspire them to watch the old classic films”.
While others talk content, veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal talks legalities and says, “If a filmmaker doesn’t have any problem in selling the copyrights of his film why will it bother anybody else.”
List of Iconic movies already remade
Classic Remake version
Sholay: Aag By Ram Gopal Verma
Karz: Karzzz by Himesh Rehamiyan
Don: Don by Farhan Akhtar
Devdas: Devdas by Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Umrao Jaan: Umrao Jaan by JP Dutta
Padosan: Nayee Padosan by Tharun Kumar
To be ReMade
Guide remake, Rahgeer by Rituparno Ghosh
Satte Pe Satta by Soham Shah
Agneepath by Karan Johar
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam by Rituparno Ghosh