Are you remaking a remake?

While film industries look at Mollywood to remake original stories, filmmakers here reveal they often depend on adaptations too, since producers are not willing to experiment with new stories
Remake, adaptation or inspiration… whatever you may want to call it, the concept of copying has been haunting every Indian film industry; and the Malayalam film industry is not far behind either.While directors, like Priyadarshan, have openly admitted to picking up plots and themes from English films, others have just rechristened the process as ‘being inspired.’ While Malayalam film directors look at foreign movies for ‘inspiration,’ the rest of the film industries in India have been liberally borrowing themes and plots from Malayalam films, minus credits. Ironically, most of these copies have turned out to be the highest grossers too.
“Everyone knows it is illegal to borrow plots and ideas without giving due credit. Many, including Priyadarshan, have got into trouble and even had to pay compensation, after having been caught remaking films illegally. However, there are not many people who are keen on fighting it out. That’s probably because even these so-called original films may not really be original after all,” says Sleeba, an ad filmmaker and industry expert.
Filmmakers blame producers for the recent spurt of remakes in Mollywood. “Producers are not willing to take a risk, as many big budget films have failed to bring in box office success. They look for a minimum guarantee and remakes are the best bet,” says Arunkumar, director of Cocktail and the recently released Ee Adutha Kaalathu. “I have made no claims that Cocktail was an original. I was a beginner at that point; it was difficult to find a producer who would bet his money on an original story by a newbie. I relied on a theme that anyone could relate to. Because my first one was a success, I found producers for an original like Ee Adutha Kaalathu,” he explains.
Irrespective of whether you are working on a remake or not, Arunkumar points out, only a good director can make a successful movie. “Each of Priyadarshan’s movies has its own identity. He made the movies in such a way that the audience liked them. So, it all depends on the creativity of the director,” he says.
It’s all M’wood inspired...
Original MalayalamBollywood Screwed Vettam De Dana Dan One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s NestThalavattamKyon Ki… Boeing BoeingBoeing Boeing Garam Masala Romeo and JulietGodfatherHulchul The Strange GentlemanPoochakkoru MookkuthiHungama
Malayalam Bollywood BodyguardBodyguard Vellanakalude NaduKhatta Meetha Kadha Parayumbol Billu Barber Ishtam Mere Baap Pehle Aap ManichitrathazhuBhool Bhulaiyaa In Harihar Nagar Dhol Punjabi House Chup Chup Ke Mannar Mathai SpeakingBhagam Bhag Sanmanassullavarkku SamadhanamYeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar Ramji Rao Speaking Hera Pheri Perumazhakkalam Dor Aniyathipravu Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Thenmavin Kombathu Saat Rang Ke Sapne Kireedam Gardish