Veteran producer Anand Pandit says that remakes of South-Indian films are here to stay
Recently, Akshay Kumar’s Laxmmi released on an OTT platform. It is the much-awaited remake of Raghava Lawrence’s 2011 film, Kanchana. Shahid Kapoor’s next is the remake of Telugu hit Jersey, John Abraham is remaking Malayalam hit, Ayyappanum Koshiyum and Rajkummar Rao is going to star in the remake of Telugu film, Hit.
The veteran producer Anand Pandit says that the trend of remaking South-Indian films is not new. “It is much older than the films like Simmba, Kabir Singh, Kick, Rowdy Rathore, Wanted, Bodyguard, R…Rajkumar, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Garam Masala, Hera Pheri and more,” adds he.
All through the 40s and the 50s, regional studios like Gemini Pictures, AVM and Prasad Productions were remaking their films in Hindi.
Pandit observes, “South-Indian films were being adapted for the Hindi film audience as far back as the 50s. Films like Azaad that established Dilip Kumar Saab as a comic legend was made in 1955. It was a remake of a Tamil film Malaikkallan. In fact, Dilip Saab starred in many South-Indian remakes like Ram Our Shyam and Aadmi.”
In the 80s too, Pandit recalls that Jeetendra starred in many hit South-Indian remakes like Himmatwala, Mawaali, Tohfa, Justice Chaudhury and more.
“It is not tough to see why so many makers and actors are drawn to South-Indian hits. Well-told stories that have already struck a chord with the audience are a safe bet and that is why you see so many remakes of Arjun Reddy. It makes sense commercially to bet on a film that has done well,” Pandit feels.
He says that the audience want stories that have a universal appeal and often, a South-Indian film offers something fresh. “I don’t think, we would have had films like Laxmmi, Ghajini or Sadma amid us without their regional predecessors. As a maker, I too look forward to collaborating with directors from other industries and produce a really enthralling, entertaining remake,” he shares.
Pandit is currently giving final touches to his forthcoming films, The Big Bull starring Abhishek Bachchan and Chehre starring Amitabh Bachchan and Emran Hashmi.
