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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bollywood vs South cinema: Ram Gopal Varma says Amitabh Bachchan was why Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi became stars
Ram Gopal Varma has brought a candid perspective to the conversation around the early growth of South Indian cinema , claiming that much of its success during the 1970s and 1980s stemmed from remakes of Amitabh Bachchan's iconic Hindi films. In a detailed interview with IndiaTV Showbiz , the filmmaker stated that all four major Southern industries—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam—were deeply influenced by the Bollywood superstar's work. He specifically named actors like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao, and Rajkumar as beneficiaries of this trend, noting that many of their career-defining roles were recreations of Bachchan's celebrated performances. According to him, these remakes contributed directly to their transformation into cultural icons and, eventually, near-mythical figures among fans. Bachchan's Absence and the Southern Boom Varma highlighted that during Amitabh Bachchan's five-year hiatus in the 1990s, the landscape of Indian cinema saw a shift. While Bollywood entered a period where music labels started financing films primarily to promote their soundtracks—citing Maine Pyar Kiya as a pivotal example—the South Indian industries stayed true to the mass-entertainment format, continuing to produce 'masala' films modeled on Bachchan's earlier style. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDsกับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้| เปิดบัญชีวันนี้ IC Markets สมัคร Undo 'The South never stopped making the so-called masala films,' Varma remarked, suggesting that this consistent approach was central to cementing the stardom of leading South actors. The remakes weren't simply copies, he implied, but vehicles that allowed regional stars to become household names and, eventually, 'demigods.' Bollywood's Urban Edge vs. Southern Roots The director also pointed out a key difference in how filmmakers from both regions evolved. He said that Bollywood directors, particularly in the '90s, had a more global cinematic awareness, partly due to their fluency in English and urban backgrounds. In contrast, many Southern filmmakers, according to him, were less exposed to international cinema and operated with a focus on grassroots storytelling. 'They're very close to the ground root,' he said, implying that their content remained more accessible and audience-driven. The Pushpa Incident and Preconceived Notions Ram Gopal Varma also recounted a striking anecdote from the time leading up to the release of Pushpa: The Rise, directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun. He said that a producer, whom he did not identify, watched the film a few days before its release and strongly doubted its reception. According to Varma, the producer predicted that audiences would reject the film outright—not because of the actor's performance, but due to the unconventional nature of the character, who chewed paan instead of fitting the usual six-pack-hero mold. 'He was not referring to the actor,' Varma clarified. 'They are so used to good-looking six-pack heroes… that they can't comprehend a hero chewing paan.' He noted that such criticism often stems from industry professionals projecting their own assumptions onto audiences, rather than engaging with the actual substance of the film. A Shared Culture of Adaptation Varma's remarks underscore a rarely acknowledged truth: while Bollywood is often criticized today for its over-reliance on remakes, the Southern industries once followed a similar trajectory. In those earlier decades, original scripts were a rarity across languages. As he put it, when a fresh concept—regardless of the language—achieved success, others quickly adopted and adapted it for their own audiences. The culture of adaptation, Varma suggests, was not a sign of creative bankruptcy but a strategic choice that shaped some of India's biggest film legends. And while the industries have evolved, the legacy of that era continues to influence storytelling today.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ram Gopal Varma claims South cinema thrived by remaking Amitabh Bachchan classics: 'Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao did remakes, became demigods'
Ram Gopal Varma reveals South Indian cinema's early reliance on remaking Amitabh Bachchan's Bollywood hits, which propelled stars like Rajinikanth to fame. While Bollywood directors were influenced by foreign cinema, the South focused on mass-appeal storytelling. Varma also recounts a producer's skepticism towards 'Pushpa: The Rise,' highlighting differing expectations in the industry. The Indian film industry is a complex tapestry of diverse languages, cultures, and storytelling styles. While Bollywood often dominates headlines, the Southern film industries have carved out their own powerful space, producing blockbuster hits and cultivating larger-than-life stars. Yet, beneath this success lies a shared history of inspiration, imitation, and adaptation that shaped both worlds. Legendary filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma sheds light on the fascinating journey of South Indian cinema, revealing how it once thrived by remaking iconic Bollywood films—particularly those starring Amitabh Bachchan—and how these influences continue to resonate today. In conversation with IndiaTV Showbiz, RGV recently observed that in the early days, all four South Indian film industries frequently remade Amitabh Bachchan 's popular films from the 1970s and 1980s. Major stars like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao, and Rajkumar rose to fame by starring in these remakes. In the 1990s, during Amitabh Bachchan's extended five-year hiatus, music companies began producing films primarily to promote their soundtracks—Maine Pyar Kiya being a notable example. Meanwhile, the South continued to churn out 'masala' films inspired by Bachchan's style, which helped cement their leading actors as demigods. According to Varma, this pattern of drawing from Bachchan's legacy persists even today. Varma also pointed out that young Bollywood directors of that era had greater exposure to foreign cinema, thanks to their English proficiency and urban upbringing. In contrast, he noted that many commercial filmmakers in the South were less exposed to global cinematic trends and tended to focus more on grassroots, mass-appeal storytelling. The filmmaker also recalled an incident involving an unnamed producer's reaction to the film Pushpa: The Rise, directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun . A few days before the film's release, the producer reportedly expressed strong skepticism, predicting that audiences would reject the movie. His criticism was not aimed at the actor himself, but rather at the unconventional portrayal of the protagonist—someone chewing paan rather than the typical six-pack hero image. According to Varma, the producer's judgment was clouded by preconceived notions of what audiences expect, rather than the actual quality or content of the film. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Ram Gopal Varma says South industries survived by remaking Amitabh Bachchan films: ‘Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao did remakes, became demigods'
Although the film industries in the South seem to be successful curently, while Bollywood struggles to produce hit films, there was a time, particularly the '70s and '80s, when they too were making rip-offs of films from other languages. God forbid a filmmaker came up with a fresh idea in any language, even English, and the film turned out to be successful; their counterparts immediately jumped on it and churned out remakes, making a fortune at the expense of others. As a result, movies with original ideas were a rarity back then. Interestingly, while Bollywood is now often criticised for its fixation on remakes, the Southern film industries too once followed a similar path. Recently, legendary filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) commented on this trend, noting how several South Indian superstars, including Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi, rose to fame by largely remaking films originally headlined by Amitabh Bachchan. RGV said during a chat with IndiaTV Showbiz, 'In the beginning, the entire South, all four languages, were remaking Amitabh Bachchan films. Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao and Rajkumar were making remakes of Bachchan's films of the '70s and '80s. Then, in the '90s, Mr Bachchan took a long five-year break. At the same time, coincidentally, the music companies entered the scene. They made films just to sell their music. That's when movies like Maine Pyar Kiya came out. But the South never stopped making the so-called masala films, which they picked up from Bachchan. That's how those stars became big demigods. It continues to date.' Meanwhile, he said, the then-young Bollywood directors began gaining more exposure to foreign cinema, largely due to their knowledge of English and their upbringing in urban areas. 'If you observe, most commercial directors in the South are very less exposed to cinema. They can't talk about cinema like we do. They're very close to the ground root,' RGV added. RGV further went on to recall the reaction of a producer, whom he did not wish to name, to director Sukumar's Pushpa: The Rise, starring Allu Arjun in the titular role. 'Upon seeing the movie about three or four days before the release of the movie, he said the audience would puke on Pushpa. He was not referring to the actor. He was simply turned off by the character. They are so used to good-looking six-pack heroes on staple diets that they can't comprehend a hero chewing paan at all. They are not watching the film; they are watching the film as what they perceive the audience would watch,' he pointed out.
