The entertainment industry hotly debates the topic of original versus remake for decades. Some argue that remakes update and modernize classic stories for new audiences, while others argue that studios use them to cash in on nostalgia and popularity.
One notable example of a successful remake is the 2010 film “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Directed by Samuel Bayer, this reboot of the 1984 classic directed by Wes Craven modernized the story, updated special effects to reflect advancements in technology, and made the overall tone darker and more intense. This update allowed the story to resonate with a new generation of horror fans and revitalized the franchise.
However, some remakes have been criticized for lacking new content and rehashing the same story as the original. For example, the 2011 prequel “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” directed by Rupert Wyatt, failed to add new content or expand on the themes of the 1968 classic directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, and was seen as a cash grab.
Another example of an unsuccessful remake is the 2013 film “Oz: The Great and Powerful” directed by Sam Raimi, a prequel to the 1939 classic directed by Victor Fleming, failed to capture the magic and wonder of the original and was too focused on special effects and CGI. Audiences saw it as a pale imitation and it did not resonate with them.
Original Vs Remake in India
In India, the film industry has a long history of remaking popular films from other languages, particularly from Hindi to other regional languages such as Tamil and Telugu. Some examples of this include:
- The Tamil film “Veeram,” directed by Siva, which was a remake of the Hindi film “Singham,” directed by Rohit Shetty. Both films starred Ajay Devgn and were action-dramas about a brave and honest police officer who fights against corruption.
- The Telugu film “Okkadu,” directed by Gunasekhar, which was a remake of the Tamil film “Moodar Koodam,” directed by Naveen Medaram. Both films were action-dramas about a young man who fights against corruption and injustice.
- The Hindi film “Andhadhun,” directed by Sriram Raghavan, which was a remake of the Tamil film “Papanasam,” directed by Jeethu Joseph. Both films were crime-thrillers about a blind pianist who gets embroiled in a murder case.
- The Hindi film “Kaithi,” directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, which was a remake of the Tamil film “Kaithi,” directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Both films were action-thrillers about a convict who helps the police to take down a drug cartel.
These are some examples of Original Vs Remake in India, where many popular films are remade in different languages to reach a wider audience and often with some modifications to cater to the local tastes and cultural nuances.
Conclusion
While some remakes can be successful in updating and modernizing a classic story for a new audience, others simply rehash the same story as the original and fail to add anything new. It is important for studios to approach a remake with the intention of expanding upon the themes and story of the original, rather than simply cashing in on its popularity.
