Akhilesh C.
5. Eega (2012)
Language: Telugu, Tamil
Remade Version(s) – None
Director – S. S. Rajamouli
Before ‘Baahubali’ happened, Rajamouli became widely known for his Sci-Fi fantasy thriller ‘Eega’. The story goes around a man named Nani, who loved Bindu but is killed by an industrialist named Sudeep as the latter also liked Bindu. Nani then returns in the form of a fly to keep Sudeep at bay and also to teach Sudeep a befitting lesson. Something that may sound funny and impractical to be made into a movie, yet, ‘Eega’ won two National Awards and became one of the best films of the year of its release.
4. Manichitrathazhu (1993)
Language: Malayalam
Remade Version(s) – Apthamitra (Kannada, 2004), Chandramukhi (Tamil, 2005), Rajmohol (Bengali, 2005), Bhool Bhulaiya (Hindi, 2007)
Director – Fazil (Malayalam), P. Vasu (Kannada & Tamil), Swapan Saha (Bengali), Priyadarshan (Hindi)
Perhaps this is the only movie in this list of which all the four regional remakes were equally acclaimed and admired by the masses and the story became extremely popular. Set in an ancestral home, where one of the current occupant’s ancestors (a king) lived, the king was obsessed with a Bengali dancer in his court, who, in turn, was in love with another male court-dancer. The king, after he comes to know of their affair, decapitates the male dancer and imprisons the female. Word is that on every Durgaashtami, the female dancer’s ghost reaffirms to kill the king and all his descendants. A movie which is like a version of the Indian Ghostbusters, with Mohanlal at the helm, ‘Manichitrathazhu’ was definitely a game-changer in the psychological horror genre and it still retains its charisma.
3. Drishyam (2013)
Language: Malayalam
Remade Version(s) – Drushyam (Telugu, 2014), Drishya (Kannada, 2014), Papanasam (Tamil, 2015), Drishyam (Hindi, 2015)
Director – Jeethu Joseph (Malayalam & Tamil), Sripriya (Telugu), P. Vasu (Kannada), Nishikant Kamat (Hindi)
You shouldn’t expect anything short of legendary if acting powerhouses like Mohanlal or Kamal Hassan are involved in leading roles. ‘Drishyam’ revolves around a cable-TV businessman whose daughter is filmed in the bathroom by a local IG’s son. One thing leads to other and the tainted son is killed in a jostle. The movie progresses with the protagonist being called, tortured and harassed to confess his crime of killing the IG’s son which doesn’t go very well with the cops as planned. Stunning piece of art, with an unexpected, shocking twist towards the end, ‘Drishyam’ is a novel and satisfactory watch. And P.S. it was very difficult for me to ascertain which version was the best, yet, I’d rate the original Malayalam one above all others.
2. Mayabazar (1957)
Language: Telugu, Tamil
Remade Version(s) – None
Director – Kadiri Venkata Reddy
Often proclaimed as the best Indian film and certainly the best Telugu film of the 20th Century rated by many critics and media channels, ‘Mayabazar’ is a masterful take based on a folklore of The Mahabharata. The one involving the marriage of Arjun’s son Abhimanyu, his marriage with Balrama’s (Krishna’s elder brother) daughter Sasirekha and all the drama that unfolds in between, ‘Mayabazar’ even to this day is mindblowing. Portrayals like the infamous Cheer Haran of Draupadi, Ghatothkacha and Krishna’s intervention in foiling the evil plan of Kauravas on marrying Balarama’s daughter with Duryodhana’s son instead and the drama in and around ‘Mayabazar’ – a fictional town conjured by Ghatothkacha to lure in the Kauravas seem far-fetched based on hearsay. Technically, the movie seems light years ahead of its time despite the challenges of filmmaking in the 50s and the film constitutes the likes of eternal legends like N.T. Rama Rao, Gemini Ganesan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, et al in its star cast. Nothing short of a miraculous epic, ‘Mayabazar’ is the film of all films, retold with an absolute perfection.
1. Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)
Language: Telugu, Tamil
Remade Version(s) – None
Director – S. S. Rajamouli
The USD 70 million franchise, which managed to churn up more than USD 300 million in its worldwide box office collections was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil, with the same set of actors, cast, and crew. The story all goes the same as we know it – the Kingdom of Mahishmati, the personal feud turned war between two half-brothers carried forward to their generations. Replete with treacherous intents, backstabbing loyalists (literally!) and a protective motherly figure, ‘Baahubali’ deep down is the saga of Mahendra Baahubali, a high-born who seeks to avenge his mother’s captivity under duress and his father’s murder. This magnum opus also paved way for India’s recognition into world cinema for style, its battle scenes, CGI and cost-effective filmmaking. All thanks to Rajamouli.
