For the longest time, Indian filmmakers stealthily, and often blatantly, copied foreign films to make desi potboilers. Nothing escaped their reach, from Hollywood classics to Korean thrillers and Japanese anthologies.
But now, the flow seems to be reversing, with at least three high-profile Hollywood adaptations of Indian films in the works.
The list includes the “Drishyam” franchise, a box-office phenomenon, and “Maharaja”, the 2024 Tamil thriller starring Vijay Sethupathi — all set to get an official Hollywood remake.
And it's not just South Indian films. Bollywood, despite its current struggles, is also under consideration. “Kill”, the 2023 action thriller produced by Karan Johar, had its English-language remake rights acquired in 2024.
The biggest name of the lot is, of course, Jeethu Joseph's Malayalam original “Drishyam”. Released in 2013, it became the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time. It was later remade in several Indian languages. Now, the franchise is going global, with adaptations in Hollywood, Korea and Spain in the works.
Panorama Studios has acquired the rights for international adaptations, with the Hollywood version being developed in partnership with international production companies.
Meanwhile, the Hollywood remake of “Maharaja” could potentially feature Matthew McConaughey, although his casting remains unconfirmed. The film's producer confirmed that a Hollywood agency has acquired the remake rights, and that the project is in development. The 2024 thriller, which became a hit with audiences in India and abroad, is known for its unexpected plot twist.
Apparently, “Drishyam”, “Maharaja” and “Kill” aren't the first Indian films to find echoes in international cinema. One may also recall examples of international films that bear striking similarities to Indian originals. But these three, along with “A Common Man”, the Ben Kingsley-starrer based on Neeraj Pandey's “A Wednesday”, are examples of officially acquired remake rights.
Then there are the cases where the similarities are harder to establish. The 2010 Hollywood romantic comedy “Leap Year”, for instance, was compared to Imtiaz Ali's “Jab We Met”, although the extent of any direct influence remains disputed. Similarly, the French film “Two Days, One Night” has been compared to Satyajit Ray's “Mahanagar”.
