Movies are a great part of Indian Culture. Its diversity and culture is reflected in various regional cinemas. All these movies have a lot of stories to tell, from romance to action to tragedy, people love it all. Indian cinema contains Bollywood when discussing Hindi films, Tollywood when discussing Telugu, Kollywood in Tamil and Mollywood for the Malayalam film industry. They have a profound impact on society, culture, and even politics in India. Since the advent of sound films in 1931, Indian cinema has evolved into a significant cultural force, shaping public perceptions and social norms. Movies often explore themes of national identity, family values, and social issues, reflecting the diverse tapestry of Indian life. This medium has been instrumental in raising awareness about critical issues like dowry, women’s education, and health, often inspiring audiences to engage with these topics more deeply.
Furthermore, the global reach of Indian films has fostered a sense of unity among people from various backgrounds, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers. This idea of transcending language through movies has been adopted by various film makers.
In the beginning people used to say that Bollywood is copying South Indian films, but eventually we got to know that the idea of showcasing a movie in another language is also adopted by the South Indian film industry as well. When a regional language movie is adapted by Bollywood, it gives it a wider audience. Regional movies have a certain aura, from clothes, the backgrounds, the makeup, so remaking a film, with the valid edits sometimes disturbs the aura.
We can agree on the fact that movies are something which is common to all, and some stories are meant to be shared despite language barriers. The filmmakers are fixated on making money, they take one hit film from either industry and start the process of remaking. The stress of lack of stories, pushes one to move towards remaking, with a few adaptations and some edits. The process of remaking a movie requires some legal obligations which all the filmmakers get done very quickly. This is the reason despite various reasons, remaking a film does not come under plagiarism.
Here are some Bollywood movies which are remakes of from the Southern Film Industry:
Bhool Bhulaiya
Everybody loves this horror-comedy movie, and can watch it as many times as it shows up on television. This movie is so great that we also have sequels of it. Helmed by Priyadarshini, this movie was a remake of Manichitrathazhu, a 1993 Malayalam movie. This 90s film was one of the first films to use special effects and prosthetic makeup to create fear onscreen. For that period it was a great movie and it was amazing how it joined dots between comedy and mental health.
Ghajini
Nobody forgets Kalpana Got Killed on Aamir Khan’s chest. This movie is based on a businessman who forgets his memory after every fifteen minutes. The film Ghajini is a remake of a Tamil film with the same name. Both the movies are directed by the same director, A.R. Murugadoss. The mental issue that the protagonist of the movie was facing is known as Anterograde Amnesia. Fun fact, both these movies are based on a short film Memento, where Leonarde uses the help of tattoos and notes to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife.
Hera Pheri
Nobody forgets the amazing scheme of Ekkis din main paise double. This film brings laughs in our homes, every single time we watch it. Well this movie is a remake of a Malayalam movie, and it’s Ramji Rao Speaking. This movie is one of the funniest malayalam movies. This movie was Sai Kumar’s debut movie. Film enthusiasts say that films have a repeat value and both Ramji Rao Speaking and Hera Pheri, have this repeat value in them.
Kabir Singh
Kabir Singh is a remake of Arjun Reddy, both films directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. For filmmakers Kabir Singh turned out to be more profitable in comparison with its predecessor. This story of this movie receives mixed-negative feedback from the critics. But it turns out to be one of highest grossing films at the Box Office. As Kabir Singh presents the narrative to a significantly larger audience, featuring a lead performance that, in contrast to Arjun Reddy, is less relatable as an ordinary individual and more glamorous due to Kapoor’s star power and a less believable portrayal, it wouldn’t be shocking if the film actually increases in popularity, potentially becoming a portrayal of a cult figure many will seek to imitate.
Simba
The bollywood movie Simba is a remake of the Telugu movie Temper. Both the films are about a corrupt officer, who changes his ways after a life changing incident. Inspector Daya in the movie Temper is played by Jr. NTR and the character of Bhalerao Sangram is played by Ranveer Singh. We all know that Rohit Shetty is a hit director when it comes to Tollywood’s remake and with Simba he did the same.
Loveyappa
The upcoming movie starring Khushi Kappor and Junaid Khan is a Bollywood remake of Love Today, a 2022 Tamil movie. Love Today was a commercial hit, as this movie earned ₹100 crores with a budget of only ₹5 crores. No details about the budget, but Loveyappa is produced under Dharma Productions, so it would be great to see how the film will perform in cinemas after 07th February, 2025.
Now let’s talk about some South Indian movies, which are a remake of bollywood movies :
Nerkonda Paarvai
Nerkonda Paarvai, a tamil movie starring Ajith Kumar is an adaptation of the movie Pink. This story of legal drama received a well deserved hit verdict at the Chennai Box Office. It was also remade in Telugu in 2021 as Vakeel Sahab.
Nanban
Nanban is a Tamil remake of 3 Idiots, one of the greatest Indian films which had a social impact towards education in India. Even the remake Nanban, was a commercial hit and it delivered the film’s message to a wider audience. People describe Nanban as a wholesome package of entertainment, which we can all agree on.
Unnaipol Oruvan
Unnaipol Oruvan, a 2009 movie with Kamal Hassan and Mohan Lal in the lead, is a remake of Anupam Kher’s Wednesday. Both the movies tell the story of a common man and how he exploits the power of terrorism. An anonymous caller who has planted bombs in the city and wants four terrorists to be released. This movie has great reviews by critics and was also a hit.
Anaamika
Annamika, a 2014 movie about an IT professional who comes to Hyderabad to find her missing husband. Alongside the help of a police officer, she also unravels a dark mystery. This story is a remake of Kahaani, starring Vidya Balan. The whole movie in itself is inspired by Advaita Kala, a novelist’s brief stay in Bengal. This is a beautiful story of a woman who is vulnerable yet resilient.
Teen Maar
Teen Maar, is a 2011 Telugu romantic drama based on Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal.
Teen Maar is not a precise replica of Love Aaj Kal. The majority of the scenes are directly replicated, and the dialogues in those scenes remain unchanged. However, this remake introduced additional elements to the narrative. The roles that Pawan Kalyan portrays are varied in this film. Additionally, there are extra fight sequences, some stylish hero dialogues, and the part where Saif was assaulted near the end of LAK was completely taken out. Guess how Telugu movie fans would react if they witness Pawan Kalyan being attacked on screen?! South Indian actors don’t get beaten, they beat !!