Many of the current and recent past Bollywood films seem to have disconcerting similarities with films from abroad. Is it acoincidence, wonders Surangama Guha.
Kohli already has too many films to his credit which hint at Hollywood inspirations to make the audience believe that this time he went without any such stimulation, Hollywood or otherwise.
His alt39 Hum Tumalt39 also unostentatiously followed the boy- girlromance- evolving- over- aspan- of- years routine ( 2004), while his alt39 Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magicalt39 ( 2008) debacle had 1965 blockbuster alt39 Sound of Musicalt39 ( already remade as alt39 Parichayalt39), and alt39 Mary Poppinsalt39 ( 1964) thrown in for good measure.
The question that leaps to mind now, is drawing inspiration from another film is the same as lifting someone elses idea, or more precisely, is that what we understand by alt39 plagiarismalt39? The Oxford English Dictionary defines alt39 plagiarismalt39 as " take or use anothers writings as ones own." But in film parlance the term seems to suggest something quite different.
" Plagiarism is a truly inspired work; only a true talent can plagiarise," says film scholar Sanjay Mukherjee, department of film studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. The observation somewhat reminds of T. S. Eliots much- quoted saying, " Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal." It is not uncommon for a Hindi film lover to watch a film and then come across an identical storyline in a different language almost by accident.
Even some films that have redefined Indian cinema seem to have their storylines alt39 borrowed.alt39 The all- time favourite alt39 Sholayalt39 ( 1975) for instance, appears loosely based on Yul Brynner starrer alt39 The Magnificent Sevenalt39 ( 1960) that tells the story of villagers in Mexico hiring gunmen to protect them against marauding bandits.
Yet, who can deny the creative brilliance that turns around an American Western classic into an undisputed landmark in Indian cinematic history? But then even the Hollywood version is supposed to be based on Akira Kurosawas 1954 Japanese film alt39 Seven Samuraialt39. Says film critic Pratim D. Gupta, " If a filmmaker adapts a work such that the audience never becomes aware of the likeness, then it is not a copy at all. In many cases the adaptation actually exhibits the filmmakers vivid imagination." According to him, " A very thin line divides copying from plagiarism and inspiration." In this he echoes Mukherjees comment that meaningful art can be created based on art that motivates you, as long as you imbue it with your own uniqueness.
A film firmly rooted in the alt39 Indianalt39 backis alt39 Peepli Livealt39 ( 2010). The concept of one man facing disaster and others cashing in on it has been portrayed in alt39 Mad Cityalt39 ( 1997) and alt39 Invitation to Suicidealt39 ( 2004). Yet the story fit in so remarkably within current Indian society, redefining satire on Indian screens that pointing fingers at it would be rather mundane.
But in some of the recent alt39 inspiredalt39 films the plot does not work that well. alt39 London Paris New Yorkalt39 found its inspiration in a hotchpotch of alt39 A Lot like Lovealt39 ( 200
