We are Copycats?

I've been a silent reader of this forum for quite a while; thought I'd pitch in and give my two cents =)

The reason I finally decided to post something is because I've really started becoming quite appalled by the direction Bollywood seems to be headed in. Is it just me or does every second film seems to be a remake of a Hollywood film today?

Case in point: We are Family. I've been reading a LOT about this film on this forum (it's pretty much my only connection to Bollywood) and I'm having a hard time figuring out what's so special about this film. It seems that everything about this film is copied, from the story to the music (and they really butchered Jailhouse Rock by the way). Is the latest mantra to rip off a Hollywood flick, throw in some established stars and a couple of songs and voila, a ready-made Bollywood blockbuster?

Whatever happened to original scripts? Original screenplay? Original music? Original dialogues? Just because our name is copied from Hollywood doesn't mean our movies have to be the same, does it?

Disclaimer: I have nothing against the actors of We are Family so don't go jumping on me Kajol/Kareena-fans =p Just stating a trend that seems to be fast becoming the rule of B-wood.

[/edit] I found this and thought it would add a little something to the discussion. It's a list of RECENT movies that have all been remakes of foreign movies.

Fight Club copied from Fight Club

Akele Hum Akele Tum copied from Kramer vs Kramer

Paap copied from Witness

Zeher copied from Out of Time

Main Aisa Hi Hoon copied from I Am Sam

Heyy Babyy copied from Three Men and a Baby

Koi Mil Gaya copied from E.T.

Agneepath copied from Used a lot of references to Scarface

Road copied from The Hitcher

Dhamaal copied from Rat Race

Black copied from The Miracle Worker

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan copied from Some scenes inspired from Bad Boys

Salaam Namaste copied from Nine Months (1995)

Kyon Ki… copied from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Kucch To Hai copied from I Know What you did Last Summer (1997)

Awara Paagal Deewana copied from The Whole Nine Yards (2000)

Deewangee copied from Primal Fear (1996)

Kartoos copied from Point of No Return (1993)

Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai copied from American Pie (1999)

Yaarana copied from Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)

Murder copied from Unfaithful (2002)

Krrish copied from Paycheck

Dil lage copied from Sabrina

Mein Anari tu khilade copied from The hard way

Partner copied from Hitch

The Train copied from Derailed

Speed copied from Cellular

Malamaal Weekly copied from Waking Ned Divine

Ek Ajnabee copied from Man on Fire

The Killer copied from Collateral

Raaz copied from What Lies Beneath

Kaante copied from Reservoir Dogs

Sarkar copied from The Godfather

Chocolate copied from The Usual Suspects

Alag copied from Powder

Deewane Huye Paagal copied from There's Something About Mary

Chor Machaye Shor copied from Blue Streak

Hum Tum copied from When Harry Met Sally /Before Sunset

Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai copied from My Best Friend's Wedding

Aap Ki Khatir copied from The Wedding Date

Kyonki…Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta copied from Liar Liar

Papi Gudia copied from Child's Play

Zinda copied from Old Boy (Chinese Korean Movie, not Hollywood)

I woudl normally agree with you and chomp down on We Are Family, had it not been for the fact that this is an OFFICIAL remake. As in all the rights were aquired, from the rights of the film, to the rights of the jailhouse rock song. Even in the promos, they are saying, adapted from Stepmom.

That's exactly what johar pointed out. That this is the first time this is done officially. Now if you give credit where its due, then I dont find it as horrific than if you just rip a story off and claim it as original. Becuase if its officially remade/adapted, then even hollywood has gone down that route. They've remade some of their own classic films, or remade horror movies using Asian movies.

Actually most of Bollywood films copy and copy without any thought of copyright. We are Family is an exception in that they have taken the rights of Stepmom from the makers and then re-made it.

Actually most of bollywood movies are copy of hollywood movie. Even the olden movies had copied of hollywood movie.

Imtiaz ali is the original director I like because he's movies are his own and not a copy. One hollywood director made a copy of JWM but atleast they put a claimer on the bottom saying it's inspired by JWM. Also some director is trying to buy the rights of LAK so they can remake it. So congrats to Imtiaz for being original

But just like desigal said, I like the fact that We are family bought the copyrights. Some of the directors just rip of the movie story and act like that's their own original story.

dkdc - oops, sorry I notice that I've typed similar stuff to what you posted but I pressed the like button on yours

Originally posted by: desigal90

I woudl normally agree with you and chomp down on We Are Family, had it not been for the fact that this is an OFFICIAL remake. As in all the rights were aquired, from the rights of the film, to the rights of the jailhouse rock song. Even in the promos, they are saying, adapted from Stepmom.

That's exactly what johar pointed out. That this is the first time this is done officially. Now if you give credit where its due, then I dont find it as horrific than if you just rip a story off and claim it as original. Becuase if its officially remade/adapted, then even hollywood has gone down that route. They've remade some of their own classic films, or remade horror movies using Asian movies.

I do agree that it's great that the makers of We are Family actually bought the rights to Stepmom. At the very least, at least they have the ethics to everything legally.

I guess the point I was trying to make wasn't about legality though, it had more to do with creativity and innovativeness. I'm positive there are some very creative writes and storytellers in India. Films like Lagaan or 3 Idiots or even Munnabhai prove that there is talent. I just fail to understand why more of our films don't reflect this. Despite the huge number of films Bollywood churns out each year, I somehow feel that it is still a long way of being internationally recognized as "good cinema". A little sad, isn't it?

Originally posted by: dkdc

Actually most of Bollywood films copy and copy without any thought of copyright. We are Family is an exception in that they have taken the rights of Stepmom from the makers and then re-made it.

This is not to defend We are Family. I do see your larger point about all Bollywood films being copies. Its disappointing to see Hollywood, Korean or European films and then realise 'oh so that Bollywood film I liked so much was copied from here'!

Exactly! The other day I was watching An Affair to Remember and about ten minutes into the movie, I realized it felt like I'd seen it before. Reason being that Mann (Aamir-Manisha starrer) was a scene-to-scene copy of this old Hollywood film. Seriously, almost every single scene was copied!

Who needs creativity when they can get a Hollywood DVD and copy it.

Originally posted by: chatpati900

I do agree that it's great that the makers of We are Family actually bought the rights to Stepmom. At the very least, at least they have the ethics to everything legally.

I guess the point I was trying to make wasn't about legality though, it had more to do with creativity and innovativeness. I'm positive there are some very creative writes and storytellers in India. Films like Lagaan or 3 Idiots or even Munnabhai prove that there is talent. I just fail to understand why more of our films don't reflect this. Despite the huge number of films Bollywood churns out each year, I somehow feel that it is still a long way of being internationally recognized as "good cinema". A little sad, isn't it?

I agree completely. It is sad. And I dont see why movies arent made more on the issues of India than abroad.

Originally posted by: Terenaina

dkdc - oops, sorry I notice that I've typed similar stuff to what you posted but I pressed the like button on yours