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Copycat Alert: Chennai Express Takes Inspiration From Mungaaru Male!
Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan's many movies have come under remake scanner in the last several years. Especially, his hit films in the recent years had close resemblances with Kannada movies. Now, his latest movie Chennai Express directed by Rohit Shetty, a Kannadiga, too has some connections to Sandalwood.
Before getting into the latest issue, let us look at his earlier movies, which were accused of being remakes of Kannada flicks. Way back in 2004, when his Swades hit the screens, Kannada audience were surprised looking at the storyline of the Hindi movie!
It is because the film had a similar story to Shivaraj Kumar starrer Chigurida Kanasu. The Kannada movie was a screen-adaptation of Jnanapeeth laureate Shivaram Karanth's acclaimed literary work of the same name. It was directed by TS Nagabharana.
Chigurida Kanasu was a commercial disaster but it bagged four state awards. It was the story about a man from Delhi, searching his roots and landing in his native place. After coming to a village called Bangaadi, he decides to change the fate of the village.
Whereas in Swades, Shahrukh Khan, an NRI, returns to India and does the same thing as Shivanna did in Chigurida Kanasu. Later, Kannada media picked up the issue and TS Nagabharana too said that the Hindi movie resembled Chigurida Kanasu to a large extent.
Issue Died
TS Nagabharana went on to call Ashutosh Gowariker to convey the same but the Bollywood director refused to give him the credit. As the Hindi movie became a big hit, the issue was died in no time.
SRK's One More Film Faced Same Issue
However, the following year, yet another movie of King Khan was accused of taking inspiration from a Kannada movie.
Paheli
Shahrukh Khan's Paheli directed by Amol Palekar had a story, which appeared like a remake of award winning Kannada movie Nagamandala, which starred Prakash Rai and Vijayalakshmi in the lead roles.
Nagamandala
It is interesting to note that Nagamandala too was directed by TS Nagabharana. The story was similar but the characterisation appeared different. Nonetheless, once again, the remake issue died.
Chennai Express Isn't A Remake
Coming back to the latest issue, we would like to clear you that Chennai Express is not a remake of any Kannada movie. But a scene in the film is lifted from a famous Kannada movie.
SRK With Deepika
What would you make when you look at the picture in the slide? Isn't the still reminds you of a Ganesh movie?
Mungaaru Male
Well, you have guessed it right, it is none other than classic Mungaaru Male directed by Yogaraj Bhat.
Ganesh With Pooja Gandhi
It is the popular scene in Mungaaru Male where Ganesh takes Pooja Gandhi in his arms and walks up to a hill shrine.
Scene Recreated
Now, in the latest Hindi movie Chennai Express, there is a similar scene where Shahrukh Khan does the same to Deepika Padukone.
Not A Crime
However, lifting scene is not a crime and it has been practised in every other film industry in India. Even we witness a lot of scenes in Kannada movies inspired by other language movies.
Chennai Express
Well, if a big industry like Bollywood and a superstar like Shahrukh Khan's movies does not have the habit of giving credits, why would a movie made in a small industry like Kannada would follow the same?
