Wedding Crashers in Hindi
It might have been a box office hit, but Salman khan and Govinda starrer Partner had a hitch — it was clearly inspired by Will Smith-starrer Hollywood production, Hitch. And soon after its release, Sony Pictures Entertainment proposed a $30-million copyright suit against the producers of Partner.
While, seeking inspiration from Hollywood might not be a first for Bollywood, a Hollywood production house threatening it with legal action was clearly a first. That is why Nikhil Advani and Mukesh Talreja's Orion Pictures will be partnering Warner Bros Pictures India to remake its Hollywood blockbuster Wedding Crashers. They feel that this Owen Wilson-starrer has all the makings and masala of a Hindi film. Producer Orion Pictures, Mukesh Talreja says, "David Dhawan has said yes. This film has all the ingredients of a masala film. Weddings are big in India, and this movie will have all the Bollywood emotions."
Warner Brothers India's Blaise Fernandes adds, "I wouldn't say this means extra bucks. This film will mark Warner Brothers' entry in the Indian market. We hope people follow the trend."
Warner Brothers is also presenting Orion Pictures' Akshay Kumar starrer Chandni Chowk to China in association with Ramesh Sippy Entertainment. And with more and more international production houses coming to India, local producers will have to think twice before ripping off a Hollywood idea.
Director PNC Films, Pritish Nandy says, "Yes it is the way to go, but I don't think people are taking permission because they are scared. If they have copied a film, it will be out one day and everyone will know. This is something which can't be hidden for long. So once you are caught, you feel small and no one wants to be seen like that."
Well, better late than never! Whatever the reason may be — the fear of being caught, sued or feeling small or embarrassed when caught — the bottom line is that filmmakers are taking permission to make their version of Hollywood hits, which is slightly complicated but foolproof. One only hopes that this trend continues.
