Holly to Tolly: Copy, inspiration or adaptation?

When the poster of the most-awaited film ‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’ was out it went viral in matter of minutes. Actor Prabhas on the trunk of royal elephant caught the eye of one and all and the poster subtly depicted what is store in the sequel.

However, not everyone was happy; some sections said that the poster was copied from a Thai film, Tony Jaa starrer ‘Tom Yum Goong’. This brings us to the question, was ‘Baahubali’s’ poster copied, original or inspired.

More recently, actor Jagapathi Babu, who nowadays is seen in character roles, has released a teaser of new film ‘Patel SIR’, which sees him in starring role. The less than a minute teaser has captured many an eyeball on social media, with its intriguing visuals, stylish Jagapathi Babu bashing goons and more.

However, a movie buff cannot help but to find certain similarities between the teaser of the movie and that of Hollywood flick Denzel Washington starrer ‘The Equaliser’ even it also took copious notes from Keanu Reeves starrer ‘John Wick’.

The shot of a small kid, while Jagapathi is beating bad guys black and blue is a giveaway for that the scenes was inspired from ‘The Equaliser’, while Jagapathi Babu poring liquor on his wounds was taken from ‘John Wick’ Some call it inspired, others say copy but to refrain from the debate let us call the work as un-original.

The Telugu cinema’s tryst with the word copy dates decades back probably to the time of its inception. Perhaps, that is why noted writer late Mullapudi Venkata Ramana punned on the word copyright as copy ‘right’, with a stress on right. After all, his close friend Bapu’s debut flick, which he penned - ‘Sakshi’ was heavily inspired from the Hollywood western ‘High Noon’, a fact he graciously admitted.

Telugu movie makers have been adapting (a better word for copy / inspired / un-original) Hollywood films since ages. Some of these adaptations have been successful making actors as stars other not so. ‘Khaidi’ the movie that made Chiranjeevi a mass hero was successfully adapted by writer duo Paruchuri brothers from Sylvester Stallone starrer ‘First Blood’.

Of late directors and writers are adopting a new strategy by mixing up two or three films into one. For instance, ‘Ghazi’ which took Telugu industry by storm with its battle at sea scenes, though an original story, plenty of scenes in the movie were rather shamelessly ripped off from various Hollywood blockbusters.

The uneasy relationship between Kay Kay Menon and Rana in the movie is a scene-to- scene rip from Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington starrer ‘Crimson Tide’. It also had shades of ‘The Caine Mutiny’. Moreover, the battle scenes are heavily inspired from flicks like ‘The Enemy Below’, ‘Run Silent Deep’ and others.

It remains to be seen, how long does the directors and writers get inspired from Hollywood flicks and how successfully they can adapt them to suit to the sensibilities of Telugu audience.

By Aditya Parankusam