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From Boss to Kyon Ki, 5 times Bollywood biggies made flops of South Indian remakes

Sree Prasad Nair | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:50 IST

Remaking South Indian films has become a trend for Bollywood superstars. It is also the easiest method of raking in the moolah at the Box Office. Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan are often called the remake kings in Bollywood. Garam Masala, Bhool Bhulaiyya, Heyy Babyy, Rowdy Rathore, Holiday, Ready, Bodyguard, Kick, most of these South film remakes by Khiladi Kumar and Dabbang Khan were super hits at the Box Office.

However, despite Southern cinema's strong content, most superstars tasted failure when they attempt few Southern remakes in Bollywood.

Here are some of the South Indian remakes by Bollywood superstars which were unsuccessful at the Box Office:

  • Film: Boss
  • Year: 2013
  • Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shiv Pandit and Aditi Rao
  • Verdict: Flop
Akshay Kumar in Boss/ Mammootty in Pokkiri Raja (Film stills)
  • Original Film: Pokkiri Raja
  • Language: Malayalam
  • Year: 2010
  • Cast: Mammootty, Prithviraj & Shriya Saran
  • Verdict: Blockbuster

The main purpose of making Pokkiriraja was to bring two superstars of Malayalam cinema together in a film: Mammootty as Raja and Prithviraj as his brother, Surya. In the original version, Prithviraj dominated the screen till Mammootty's entry, just before the interval.

Unfortunately in Boss, the first half itself was a big bore. Casting Shiv Pandit in Prithviraj's shoes was a big blunder as the film was a complete let down till the 45th-minute of the first half, when Akshay came in. Plus, the chemistry between Akshay and Shiv as brothers was rather underwhelming compared to the brothers portrayed by Mammootty and Prithviraj in the original.Boss is touted one of the biggest flops of Akshay's career.

  • Film: Kyon Ki
  • Year: 2005
  • Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Rimi Sen
  • Verdict: Flop

  • Original Film: Thalavattam
  • Language: Malayalam
  • Year: 1986
  • Cast: Mohanlal, Karthika and Lizy.
  • Verdict: Blockbuster

Thalavattam, a film high on the dramatic quotient, was written and directed by Priyadarshan in 1986. Mohanlal, who essayed the character of a psychiatric patient, Vinod, was excellent in the film. The film was high on emotions and the Malayalam superstar gave his heart and soul to the role.

However, Priyadasrhan, who made the original version brilliantly, was clueless in the Hindi remake. He cast Salman Khan in the lead. The Dabangg superstar struggled to give a convincing performance, and it was evident in the main portions of the film, especially the emotional scenes. The film bombed badly at the Box Office.

Billu poster/ Katha Parayumbol poster (Film posters)
  • Original Film: Katha Parayumbol
  • Language: Malayalam
  • Year: 2007
  • Cast: Sreenivasan, Mammootty, Meena
  • Verdict: Blockbuster

Katha Parayumbol opened to a below average occupancy when it was released on 14 December, 2007. But the emotional content and strong script by actor-writer Sreenivasan worked in its favour. The film showed excellent growth from the second day due to the positive word-of-mouth. Malayalam superstar Mammooty's extended cameo also worked wonders for it. The film had a tremendous 150 plus days-run at the Box Office.

The content of Katha Parayumbol was so strong that it was later remade in Bollywood, Billu, by Priyadarshan in 2009. The film revolved around the story of a village barber who had shared a strong friendship with a popular cinema actor in their youth. However due to their different pursuits in life, they were eventually forced to part ways, one becoming a national figure, the other, a village barber.

As usual, Irrfan Khan's acting was outstanding as the village barber in Billu. But the problem with the Hindi remake was that Shah Rukh Khan's role was over exposed with the many songs including three item songs with Kareena Kapoor, PriyankaChopra and Deepika Padukone, which forcefully converted the emotional drama into a masala film. Plus SRK's performance in the climax was below average, compared to Mammooty's terrific performance in the original. Billuwas a failed collaboration for Priyadarshan - SRK at the Box Office.

SRK's Shakthi: The Power, the remake of Telugu film Anthapuram was also a Box Office Failure.

  • Film: Policegiri
  • Year: 2013
  • Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Prachi Desai and Prakash Raj
  • Verdict: Disaster
Policegiri poster/ Saamy poster (Film posters)
  • Original Film: Saamy
  • Language:Tamil
  • Year: 2003
  • Cast: Vikram, Trisha and Vivek
  • Verdict: Blockbuster

Chiyan Vikram starrer Saamy was one of the highest grossing films of 2003. Vikram's role as Deputy Commissioner Aarusaamy was well received by critics as well as the audience. The action comedy entertainer had set a new trend of police films in Tamil cinema. The songs composed by Harris Jayaraj were also successful.

Ten years upon it's release, Tamil director remade Saamy in Bollywood with Sanjay Dutt. The filmed, Policegiri, also starred Prachi Desai and Prakash Raj. It was expected to do well at the Box Office, but bombed badly as the audience had enjoyed similar plots in films like Dabangg, Rowdy Rathore and Singham. The film ended it's poor theatrical run after 10 days at the Box Office.

  • Film: Big Brother
  • Cast:Sunny Deol, Priyanka Chopra and Danny Denzongpa
  • Year: 2007
  • Verdict: Flop
Sunny Deol in Big Brother/ Rajinikanth in Baasha (Film stills)
  • Original Film: Baasha
  • Language: Tamil
  • Year: 1995
  • Cast: Rajinikanth, Nagma and RaghuvaranVerdict: Blockbuster

The 1995 blockbuster Baasha revolves around the story of an auto driver, enacted by Rajinikanth who stays away from violence but is forced to show his violent side after his sister is attacked and his past life as a gangster is revealed. Baasha is touted one of the highly successful films in the career of Thalaiva. The song 'Naan Autokaaran.. Autokaaran..' from the film was a huge chartbuster.

Director Guddu Dhanoa remade the Tamil blockbuster with his favorite actor, Sunny Deol, in Big Brother. Priyanka Chopra was paired opposite the Ghayal actor in the film. But the outdated script and the lack of hit music worked against the film. The director-actor duo, who had given super hit film Ziddi, were unsuccessful at the Box Office with this one.

First published: 5 May 2016, 4:25 IST