Plot twist: Hindi medium
Brunch|February 10, 2024
A Hindi version of the Tamil film Soorarai Pottru is out soon. Here are 10 remakes that Bollywood got right 
Riddhi Doshi
Plot twist: Hindi medium

1 Drishyam (2015). The Malayalam film with the same title released in 2013. Mohanlal killed it as a patriarch protecting his wife and daughters after the family accidentally commits a crime. For a Bollywood remake, serious acting chops were needed to depict the secrets, the moral dilemma, the burden on the common man. Ajay Devgn delivered, playing it down all the way to the climax. It's homage that still holds its own.

2 24 (2013). If Kiefer Sutherland can save America from terrorists and other threats over and over in a hit show, why can't Anil Kapoor? This was among the first authorised Hindi remakes in the streaming format. Kapoor had a prominent role in the eighth season of the American 24, in 2010. As the lead in the Indian adaptation, he balanced the saviour narrative with Indian herogiri over two seasons. Critics called it dark and pacy, offering not a single minute to relax.

3 Gumrah (2023). Remade from the Tamil Thadam (2019), 3 Magizh Thirumeni's story follows a murder investigation in which two suspects look too alike for investigators to pick the actual criminal. Aditya Roy Kapur plays both roles and plays them with enough shades of grey to keep viewers guessing. It's a refreshing change from the good-twin, evil-twin formula. It's also what makes the Hindi version more complex than the original.

This story is from the February 10, 2024 edition of Brunch.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 10, 2024 edition of Brunch.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BRUNCHView All
Photos or pulp fictions?
Brunch

Photos or pulp fictions?

Gauri Gill's portraits showcase ordinary folks, doing ordinary things, but wearing extraordinary masks. See why the quirky series offers more than what meets the eye

time-read
2 mins  |
May 04, 2024
Hear it from a reliable sauce
Brunch

Hear it from a reliable sauce

Kikkoman launched a dark soya sauce for the Indian market after realising that Indians expect Chinese and pan-Asian dishes to have a rich, dark colour. It mimics the taste profile of the flagship Kikkoman soya but has a different colour.

time-read
3 mins  |
May 04, 2024
He says, she says
Brunch

He says, she says

Best friends, partners and actors Shweta Tripathi Sharma and Chaitnya Sharma answered the same questions in their first joint interview. The results: Couple goals

time-read
5 mins  |
May 04, 2024
Against the machine
Brunch

Against the machine

AI is already behind little tunes we hear every day. Could it create the next hit? Composers and engineers listen in

time-read
3 mins  |
May 04, 2024
YOLO, so why go solo?
Brunch

YOLO, so why go solo?

Films and shows are overrun with lone wolves. One fighter against all odds. One hero doing it all. Bea team player, maybe?

time-read
2 mins  |
May 04, 2024
Get your vision tested here
Brunch

Get your vision tested here

Vision boards are great tools for those dreaming of anew job ora killer body. Don't just tack pics on toa wall. Here's how to doit right

time-read
2 mins  |
May 04, 2024
Are You Of Week Mind?
Brunch

Are You Of Week Mind?

You can't speed up fitness. Skincare is a slow process. Even learning a skill can take a year. Try unhacking for a change

time-read
2 mins  |
April 27, 2024
A case of myth direction
Brunch

A case of myth direction

Nutritional data is changing all the time. So, advice often seems contradictory and sketchy. Is breakfast essential? Is red meat evil? What's wrong with soy? Here's where science stands on the big questions

time-read
3 mins  |
April 27, 2024
No kids on the block
Brunch

No kids on the block

Being childfree can be just as rewarding as having a big family. Those who've made the choice say there's no guilt, no regret. There are, however, bold new challenges. Take a look

time-read
5 mins  |
April 27, 2024
Shes making her point
Brunch

Shes making her point

She calls herself Dot. She's anything but insignificant. Meet Aditi Saigal, viral at 18, actor by accident, musician for life, determined to try it all

time-read
4 mins  |
April 27, 2024