With all eyes on Drishyam, the Bollywood action drama based on the eponymous Malayalam super hit that is due to be released on Thursday, we look at the top 10 Hindi blockbusters inspired by South Indian films.
1. Wanted (2009)
The film that revived Salman Khan's career was a remake of the 2006 Telugu blockbuster Pokiri (Rogue). It did so well that it was also made in Tamil and Kannada. Wanted was actor/choreographer Prabhu Deva's Bollywood directorial debut. He followed it up with a series of remakes: Rowdy Rathore, Ramaiya Vastavaiya and Action Jackson.
2. Singham (2011)
One of nine remakes featuring Ajay Devgn – the husband of celebrated actress Kajol. A typical Rohit Shetty action/masala flick, Singham was the Hindi version of the 2010 Tamil blockbuster Singam, which went on to be remade in Kannada and Bengali. Devgn has begun to excel in films such as this: over-the-top action dramas littered with cardboard characters wrapped in a silly plot.
3. Chachi 420 (1997)
By far one of the best films ever remade. Kamal Haasan was excellent as the maverick aunt (chachi) in this side-splitting comedy, which also marked his Bollywood directorial debut. An adaptation of the Tamil film Avvai Shanmugi (1996), Chachi 420 saw Haasan and his elder daughter, Shruti, lending their voices together to the track Jago Gori, which had a bit of Macarena thrown in for fun.
4. Yuva (2004)
Both the Tamil (Aaytha Ezhuthu) and Hindi (Yuva) versions of director Mani Ratnam's film were shot simultaneously and released in the same year, though Aaytha Ezhuthu is said to be the original film. Yuva boasted an ensemble cast, but it was Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji who stole the show with their portrayal of an adorable, much-in-love couple. The film is best remembered for the track Kabhi Neem Neem, with Mukerji describing the various moods of her reel husband.
5. Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
Bollywood's answer to Ramudu Bheemudu (1964, Telugu), Ram Aur Shyam set a standard for stories about long-lost twins in Bollywood. It spawned a series of similar movies: Sita Aur Gita, Kishen Kanhaiya and Chaalbaaz were said to be a take-off of Dilip Kumar's starkly contrasting characters Ram and Shyam, who were raised by different families after being separated at birth. Originally, Saira Banu was to play Mumtaz's role, but was dropped because Kumar felt she looked too young to be cast as his heroine. Incidentally, Kumar and Banu tied the knot during the making of the film.
6. Dayavan (1988)
Known for the melodious track Aaj Phir Tumpe Pyaar Aaya Hai, composed by music director Ilaiyaraaja, the hit film was a remake of the Tamil film Nayakan (1987). Vinod Khanna essayed the role of a soft-hearted mafioso in this Feroz Khan-directed film that was loosely based on a real-life Mumbai don.
7. Hera Pheri (2000)
A remake of the Malayalam blockbuster Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), Hera Pheri ranks among Bollywood's best comedies. Featuring Akshay Kumar, Suneil Shetty and the incomparable Paresh Rawal, the cult classic has spawned two sequels: Phir Hera Pheri in 2006, and Hera Pheri 3, which is due out in 2016. It will star Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham, who pair up again after their 2008 comedy Dostana, and Paresh Rawal – the common denominator in all three films.
8. Ghajini (2008)
The dark thriller Ghajini was filmmaker A R Murugadoss's attempt to bring his 2005 Tamil release to the Hindi film market. The gamble paid off: it went on to become the first Bollywood film to cross the one billion-rupee mark (Dh57.7 million) and the first remake of a South Indian film to star actor extraordinaire Aamir Khan. Ever the perfectionist, Khan allegedly rewrote the ending, to make it more gruesome, but more in keeping with the rest of the story. Ghajini was Tamil actress Asin's Bollywood debut.
9. Saathiya (2002)
A remake of the Tamil film Alaipayuthey, produced and directed by the legendary Mani Ratnam, Saathiya was the directorial debut of Shaad Ali, known best for his 2005 hit Bunty Aur Babli. Both the Tamil and Hindi versions were super hits and crucial for the lead actors; Madhavan broke into Tamil films with Alaipayuthey and Saathiya was Vivek Oberoi's first romantic film.
10. No Entry (2005)
Starring the evergreen hero Anil Kapoor, Lara Dutta and the indomitable Salman Khan, this 2005 comedy – about a suspicious wife who suspects her husband of being unfaithful – was a surprise Bollywood hit considering the poor script and bad jokes. It was adapted from the 2002 Tamil blockbuster Charlie Chaplin (which was also remade in Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam). Slammed by critics, it did well at the box office, and a sequel, titled No Entry Mein Entry, is in the works.
artslife@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
All Blacks line-up for third Test
J Barrett; I Dagg, A Lienert-Brown, N Laumape, J Savea; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).
Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, TJ Perenara, A Cruden, M Fekitoa.
RACE CARD
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Amith's selections:
5pm: AF Sail
5.30pm: Dahawi
6pm: Taajer
6.30pm: Pharitz Oubai
7pm: Winked
7.30pm: Shahm
8pm: Raniah
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
