Bollywood - HollyWood

Bollywood looks up to Hollywood and it works !

There's nothing unusual about remakes and remixes in Hindi films. But the inspiration isn't confined to ripping off phoren movies and music alone. Our filmmakers find a muse in Hollywood film posters as well! But whatever it may be the formula works.

Please refer the Pics numbered 1-10

(1) The original : Sleepless in Seattle

The copy : Akele Hum Akele Tum

Mansoor Khan's relationship melodrama starring Aamir Khan and Manisha Koirala drew its plot from the Oscar-winning Kramer Vs Kramer and the poster from Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedy, Sleepless in Seattle.
Other inspirations include The Godfather theme as Raja ko rani se pyaar ho gaya and George Michael's Last Christmas as Dil mera churaya kyon which was lifted by Anu Malik.

(2) The original : Collateral

The copy : Ek Ajnabee

Apporva Lakhia's Ek Ajnabee faithfully copied Denzel Washington's hit action vehicle, Man on Fire. But, inspite of Amitabh Bachchan's rocking act and sleek Thai locales, the movie wasn't a major money-spinner.
But that's not the point. What we can't help noticing is how much Tom Cruise (in Michael Mann's Collateral) and Big B's pensive-holding-a-gun pose (in Ek Ajnabee), happens to share in common.

(3) The original : Underworld

The copy : Krrish

What do Kate Beckinsale and Hrithik Roshan have in common? The answer: A black trench coat, which they love to model against the backdrop of a moon. Identical wallpapers, anyone?
So while Ms Beckinsale plays a vampire, hunting for Lycans, our Krrish plays the super hero to perfection

(4) The original : Unforgiven

The copy : Sarfarosh

John Mathew Matthan's nifty direction and Aamir Khan's powerful performance contributed highly to Sarfarosh being recognised as intelligent cinema.
Even so, Mathan couldn't help fashioning one of the movie posters after Clint Eastwood's Academy award winner, Unforgiven. The legendary actor's back-facing the camera with a gun pose was imitated by Khan as well.

(5) The original : Shrek

The copy : Koi... Mil Gaya

Remember that adorable moment in Shrek when the world's most famous ogre tells donkey how 'stars don't tell the future, they tell stories? The scene leads to both guys gazing at the big, glowing ball of moon in front of them.
Looks like Rakesh Roshan loved the scene too. So much so that he modified it into the poster of the ET-inspired alien flick, Koi... Mil Gaya with Hrithik, Preity Zinta and a bunch of kids.

(6) The original: Reservoir Dogs

The copy: Kaante

Shot extensively in the United States of America, Sanjay Gupta's Kaante borrowed liberally from Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects with hints of Heat and Swordfish.
Like the above-mentioned crime dramas, this heist flick, too, featured an ensemble cast. Besides it's story, style and structure, the panelled collage of Quentin Tarantino's film too was adopted for its desi version.

(7) The original : When Harry Met Sally...

The copy : Hum Tum

Kunal Kohli's follow up to Mujhse Dosti Karoge saw Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji play the perfect Harry and Sally.
A loose remake of Nora Ephron's mush classic, Hum Tum tried hard to be different by introducing animation bits and a tragic twist (with Abhishek Bachchan's cameo).
But on poster level? Deja vu!

(8) The original : Cactus Flower
The copy : Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya

Okay, so what can we spot here?
There's a doctor, who doesn't quite dress up like one, a nurse in uniform and a hot girl in shocking pink.
That's Hollywood's Cactus Flower taking the form of David Dhawan's screwball comedy, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya for you!

(9) The original : The Fast and the Furious

The copy : Dhoom

It's all about undercover cops and car racing which had a little bit of The Fast and the Furious turned into full volume Dhoom.
Interestingly, both films were hits, enough to spin sequels like 2 Fast 2 Furious and Dhoom 2 respectively.

(10) The original : Oldboy

The copy : Zinda

Fine, this isn't exactly a movie poster. But the glaring similarity between the exactly reproduced scene of Zinda and its violent Korean inspiration, Oldboy is too much to ignore.