Films from the South get a new flavour

There’s buzz about actors Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif being considered for the remake of the hit South film Magadheera.

Ranbir is also reportedly the first choice for another remake of Gautham Menon’s Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya. If all goes as planned, then the films will be the latest to join an ever-increasing list of remakes of South flicks in Bollywood.

Films from down South have for long inspired several Bollywood film-makers, and most —Ghajini, Wanted, Saathiya, Judwaa, Tere Naam — have gone on to become superhits.

Spurred by this success rate of such remakes, Bollywood film-makers are increasingly giving in to the temptation of remaking a film that’s already got an approval at the BO. And the coming year will see several such remakes hitting the big screens like Force, Singham, Bodyguard, It’s My Life…

Attributing it to the super-success of recent films like Ghajini and Wanted, industrywallahs say that remakes are an easy ticket at the BO.

“No film ever comes with a guarantee that it will click at the BO, but remakes of hits do ensure a greater chance of it being a success. Of these action films are a big draw,” says trade analyst Amod Mehra.

Trade analyst Komal Nahta adds that another huge factor is the script availability. “If the dates of an actor are available, then instead of waiting for the certain kind of right story, film-makers opt the easy way out by working on tried-and-tested formulae,” he explains and adds, “It’s definitely taking a short cut.”

Short cut they may be, but film-makers defend this saying that ultimately it all depends on the treatment of the film and the film-maker. “In fact the pressure is much more on the film-maker as comparisons are inevitable,” points out a film-maker. “If there’s a good story out there, then it deserves to be told, no matter what the language,” feels another.

Both Amod and Komal agree. “It’s actually a win-win situation for all involved, right from the film-makers to the audiences, so why not?” they say. So, bring on the South flavour Bollywood!