Tuesday, October 25, 2005

BOLLYWOOD REMAKES

Has anyone noticed the sudden trend of filmmakers announcing their intention of remaking old classics? Why this unusual interest in old movies? What possible reason could there be for anyone to make a new version of a old classic?

All the directors who are doing the remakes say, without exception, that they want to pay tribute to classic cinema. Another reason they give is they want to introduce classic films to the new generation.

I get a strong feeling that this is all crap. Think about it. Remaking an old movie is almost a marketing slamdunk. There is already a strong recognition of the product even before you create the product! Secondly, you have a readymade story. And a good story at that. Have you noticed that none of the filmmakers want to remake classics that failed at the box office?

I feel there is and should be only one reason for doing a remake. Only if you can find some way of improving on the original. Otherwise, a remake is tantamount to abusing the makers of the originals.

My suggestion is to stop this stupid remake fever. Instead, we have a huge storehouse of literature in different languages from all corners of the country. Tap into that. They are good stories. They are us.

1 comment:

Col Gurusaday Batabyal said...

Kanchu,
Yes it is a good marketing strategy to remake commercially successful old films.Paying tribute to the original Director/Producer etc is a big crap.Besides the aspect of safe bait, it appears to me that there is intellectual poverty,not to forget poverty in creativity too.
Batto Uncle