HindustanTimes Sun,13 Jul 2014

Ten worst remakes of Bollywood

Parmita Uniyal,  New Delhi, September 10, 2013
First Published: 17:13 IST(10/9/2013) | Last Updated: 10:54 IST(11/9/2013)

Not all films should be remade! The remake of 1973 classic Zanjeer was not only severely criticised by film reviewers, it was outrightly rejected by the audiences. We have a list of ten remake movies that should have never been attempted.

ORIGINAL: Zanjeer (1973)
REMAKE: Zanjeer (2013)

What went wrong: Amitabh Bachchan was reborn as angry young man in this film. He swayed the audiences off their feet with his power-packed performance and established new rules for his contemporaries. The original film had well-eteched out characters like Sher Khan (Pran), Mala (Jaya Bhaduri)and Mona Darling (Bindu). The remake unfortunately didn't do justice to the characters at all.

Reviewer's take: "That Zanjeer was a classic. This remake is wrong on so many levels that I don’t know where to begin. This isn’t a film. It’s sacrilege," wrote Anupama Chopra in her HT review. 

ORIGINAL: Sholay (1975)
REMAKE: Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag (2007)

What went wrong: It was the murder of a classic, every reviewer would agree. Sholay, the all-time grosser in the history of Bollywood, was loved by audiences for its flawless script, memorable dialogues, iconic characters and melodious songs. The remake by filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma had weak script, forgettable dialogues, confused characters and cacophonic songs.

Reviewer's take: "And so dear ladies and gentlemen, this Lifetime’s Worst Ever Movie Award goes to Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag, widely reported to be a remake of Sholay Jo Bhadke. The jury was unanimous in awarding it all its topis.. trophies.. whatever," wrote Khalid Mohamed for Hindustan Times.

Shiva (1990)
REMAKE: James (2005)

What went wrong: What happens when a filmmaker decides to remake his own film and loses its soul? Well, it results in a disaster. The director who's capable of making a fine cinema like Shiva (starring Nagarjuna and Amla) decided to spoil it all with James. Mohit Ahlawat and Nisha Kothari played the lead roles in the remake.

Reviewer's take: Not available. Did anybody bother to review the film?


ORIGINAL: Karz (1980)
REMAKE: Karzzzz (2008)

What went wrong: The original Karz belonged to Rishi Kapoor and Simi Garewal. Rishi Kapoor's strong performance and melodious music made the movie quite successful. Simi Garewal's performance in the film was up to the mark and a relatively small role played by Tina Munim was loved by all. The problem begins when the movie was remade with Himesh Reshammiya in lead.

Reviewer's take: "As you are left with sleep being rubbed out of your eyes as the end credits roll, you wonder sympathy-less why Himesh Reshammiya attempted something that was so clearly out of his league. Putting it succinctly, Reshammiya is a better composer than a singer, and a better singer than actor," writes
Sonia Chopra,

ORIGINAL: Umrao Jaan (1981)
REMAKE: Umrao Jaan (2006)

What went wrong: Directed by Muzaffar Ali, the original film starred Rekha and Farooq Shaikh in the lead. The film though not a box office hit was a classic and turned a new leaf in Rekha's career. The lady looked ethereal in the film. Aishwarya Rai on the other hand, apparently could not live up to the expectations in the remake version by JP Dutta.

Reviewer's take: "J. P. Dutta's film is an Ash-fest that adds little to the legacy of Umrao Jaan. While only Aishwarya could emulate the grace and poise of Rekha, she doesn't quite capture the intensity of Umrao's abiding melancholy," wrote Poonam Joshi, BBC.

ORIGINAL: Italian Job (2003)
REMAKE: Players (2012)

What went wrong: What happens when a movie's remake is remade? It results in a colossal flop like Abbas Mustan's Players.  Italian job was the remake of a British film of the same name. It is about a team of thieves who plan to steal gold from a former associate who double crossed them.

Reviewer's take:  "With movies per se the scene gets quite muddled up and murky. Almost always. Nothing could’ve prepared you for the moronic mayhem that follows," writes Mayank Shekhar for Hindustan Times.

Bruce Almighty (2003)
REMAKE: God Tussi Great Ho (2010)

What went wrong: The original stars Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan, a down-on-his-luck TV reporter who complains to God that he isn't doing his job correctly, and is then offered the chance to try being God himself for one week. While the original version broke records in Hollywood, the Indian version was a flop.

Reviewer's take: "It’s about Salman Khan wearing shirts more flowery than the Shalimar gardens. He also tries polka dots and frills. He’s a TV host who cannot earn his bread, butter and gosht. So, he rants against god who gives him magic powers for 10 days. The script then becomes like Prakash Mehra’s Jadugar meets Gogia Pasha. Especially since he plays the age of 28, Salman has a blast," writes Khalid Mohamed, Hindustan Times. 

ORIGINAL: Stepmom (1998)
REMAKE: We Are Family (2010)

What went wrong: While the original Stepmom had brilliant performances by Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Harris, it did not get the best of reviews. The Hindi version was an official remake, but could not impress the desi audiences.

Reviewer's take: "It’s just the idea that binds all these together, which is entirely outsourced from the West. So is an Elvis hit, with lyrical Hindi additions that go: “Main toh bhool gayi kya wordings thi (I forgot what the words were), something something, Jailhouse Rock!” Jesus knows this Indian poverty (of imagination) is not new. This film is merely its rare, official acknowledgement. The producers have suitably paid for the copyrights. They’re not sneakily thieving this time! There may be hundreds of original local writers waiting for a medium to express something of their own, through the nation’s top leading ladies, no less. But then, creative laziness is not a moviegoer’s concern. The film is. English movie-rental, or Indian readymade remake: who cares?" writes Mayank Shekhar.


ORIGINAL: Hitler (1996)
REMAKE: Krodh (2000)

What went wrong: Hitler was the highest grossing Malayalam movie of the year. Directed by Siddique, it starred Mammootty and Mukesh in lead roles. The movie is about the life of Madhavankutty (locally known as Hitler), a bachelor protective brother of five younger sisters. While the original film was a mega-grosser, the Hindi version, titled as Krodh was a mega-disaster. Starring Suniel Shetty and Rambha, the film could not appeal to the sensibilities of Hindi audiences.

Reviewer's take: Not available 

ORIGINAL: Khushi (2000)
REMAKE: Khushi (2003)

What went wrong: Khushi, a Tamil romcom, starring Vikay and Jyothika, was super-successful down south, but the Hindi version of the same name starring Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan was a badly made movie. One of the worst performances of Kareena Kapoor, the film failed miserably at the box office.

Reviewer's take: Not available 

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