Akhilesh C.
15. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
Language: Hindi
Remade Version(s) – Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. (Telugu, 2004), Vasool Raja M.B.B.S. (Tamil, 2004), Uppi Dada M.B.B.S. (Kannada, 2006)
Director – Rajkumar Hirani (Hindi), Jayanth C. Paranjee (Telugu), Saran (Tamil), Dr. Rajendra Babu (Kannada)
A don and extortionist, who poses as a doctor to his parents, complete with his fake, makeshift clinic and his henchmen posing as his assistant doctors and nurses, ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.’ is a turnaround story of Munna, who, after his parents are humiliated by a leading doctor, takes it upon himself to become a qualified doctor. Though his methods during his pursuit of the medical degree are unusual and treacherous, it is his human touch and his sense of humor that gets the job done at the college where he studies. Impactful, original, and witty to the core, this one is sure to tickle your funny bone.
14. English Vinglish (2012)
Language: Hindi, Tamil
Remade Versions(s) – None
Director – Gauri Shinde
A film which was reshot in its entirety in Tamil, albeit with a small change in the cameo performance (Ajith Kumar for the Tamil edition in place of Mr. Bachchan), ‘English Vinglish’ was a milestone success and a hard-hitting movie with a strong message. Sridevi, who played the lead, is fighting a battle within, given her difficulty in speaking fluent English. One thing leads to other and she moves to the U.S. for a wedding of one of her friends’ daughter. Overwhelmed by the accents and an overdose of English, she secretly takes English lessons and wins everyone over with her speeches towards the end, including her scornful children and a confounding husband. An exhilarating entertainer, Sridevi’s screen presence is yet another icing on the cake for the movie.
13. Yuva (2004)
Language: Hindi
Remade Version(s) – Aaytha Ezhuthu (Tamil, 2004)
Director – Mani Ratnam
The curious case of filmmaking by Mani Ratnam, ‘Yuva’ though was shot simultaneously in both Hindi and Tamil, yet the cast was almost entirely different for both the versions. A film based on multi-linearity, ‘Yuva’ comprises three youth and their personal life-stories and how their association with one particular incident on the Howrah Bridge on a fateful day influences the entire political scenario encompassing their lives. Powerful and out-of-the-box, this movie is both inspiring and settling in its own ways. And P.S. Abhishek Bachchan is to watch out for, perhaps this one is his next best after ‘Guru’.
12. Pokiri (2006)
Language: Telugu
Remade Version(s) – Pokkiri (Tamil, 2007), Wanted (Hindi, 2009), Porki (Kannada, 2010)
Director – Puri Jagannadh (Telugu), Prabhu Deva (Tamil & Hindi), M D Sridhar (Kannada)
An immensely successful film, owing to the newfound stardom of Mahesh Babu, ‘Pokiri’ is the story of an undercover cop, who under the pretense of being a mere henchman brings down an entire criminal empire run by a Dubai-based don named Ali Bhai. Again, here it would be noteworthy to mention Prakash Raj who was convincing beyond compare as Ali Bhai in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi versions of the movie. He breathed life into the character as well as the movie and made it as we know it. And not to a surprise for anyone, all the films, original and remakes alike were astoundingly successful and turned out to be mega entertainers at the box-office.
11. Yavarum Nalam (2009)
Language: Tamil
Remade Version(s) – 13B: Fear Has a New Address (Hindi, 2009)
Director – Vikram Kumar
A movie which was shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi, but with a slightly varying star cast and name, ‘Yavarum Nalam’ is a psychological horror-thriller film starring Madhavan and Neetu Chandra. The story of Manohar, who moves into the apartment 13B with his family, starts experiencing strange incidents until he realizes that the turn of events happening with him and his family are exactly the same as those in a daily soap named Yavarum Nalam (Everyone is Well). As the plot unfolds, murkier secrets resurface constituting another family who resided in the same apartment a few decades ago. Fast-paced and terrifying in its own way, ‘Yavarum Nalam’ is definitely going to get you on the edge of your seat.
