Bollywood remade

Filmmakers in Mumbai have discovered the solution to the crisis in creative writing: remake old hits.

Reportedly, even skilled screenwriter Honey Irani's directorial debut Armaan, due in May 2003, is inspired by Kamaal Amrohi's love triangle Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi from the 1960s. While Anil Kapoor plays the role originally reprised by late thespian Raaj Kumar, Nadira and Meena Kumari's roles are played Preity Zinta and Gracy Singh respectively.

Irani is not alone. Many other filmmakers are treading the known path. Another solution filmmakers have employed is to source their films from South Indian hits. Boney Kapoor, for one, prefers to remake Tamil-Telugu hits rather than look for scripts in Mumbai. "That way, I have ready reference points which, together with the director, I develop into totally autonomous Hindi products. So it isn't as if I simply lift the original into Hindi," asserts Boney.

Though his last two South Indian remakes, Shakti -- The Power and Khushi, have not done well, Boney is all set to remake the Tamil hit, Run, with Abhishek Bachchan in the lead. But other Hindi filmmakers who have witnessed a spate of Southern remakes fall at the turnstiles are now turning to cinema in their backyard for sustenance.

Dharmesh Darshan, who was inspired by two 1960s' hits, Jab Jab Phool Khile and Sangam, to make his two blockbusters, Raja Hindustani and Dhadkan, is now remaking B R Chopra's 1960s musical hit, Gumrah, as Bewafaa. Kareena Kapoor will reprise Mala Sinha's role.

Kapoor is in three prominent remakes of old Hindi classics: Vashu Bhagnani's Jeena Sirf Merre Liye with Tusshar Kapoor was a remake of Mehboob Khan's Anmol Ghadi. Khan had remade his own 1940s' melodrama, Aurat, as the immortal Mother India in the 1950s.

Then there is the recently released Khushi with Fardeen Khan.

Kapoor also figures in Sooraj Barjatya's Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon, which is a remake of Chitchor, Basu Chatterjee's 1970s musical comedy made for the Barjatyas.

Nine years ago, Sooraj Barjatya had remade a film from his banner -- Nadiya Ke Paar -- as the historical hit Hum Aapke Hain Koun...? "I hope Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon becomes equally big," says Kapoor.

Many filmmakers are taking the remake route. "There isn't much of a choice," claims Hansal Mehta, adding, "Good writers are becoming harder and harder to find. Everyone from Yash Chopra to Vashu Bhagnani is facing an acute writer's block. Fortunately, I have found this wonderful young writer called Suparn Verma." [Suparn Verma was till recently with rediff.com, incharge of chats].

His colleague, Anubhav Sinha, is not that lucky. Sinha says, "I have been looking for an original script for the last two years. Now I am just looking for a good old Hindi film to remake."