You have very blatantly labelled the "remake" directors as plagiarists and I totally agree with you. These people don't even display the decency of giving credit to the original makers and that amounts to illegal film making. It is essential that Indians understand the concept of giving credit to others work, that authenticity and originality are vital for creating a good movie. These directors are decidedly nothing more than con-artists.
You are right Mr.Sen, you definitely are not alone!
That was a great message! I totally agree with Mr. Sen's views; I just hope such blatant acts of plagiarism are discouraged to a greater extent so that there is at least some progress towards eradicating such actions.
The sad thing is that only a handful of people have actually seen the brilliant cult classic OLDBOY, but they aren't to blame; such films (especially foreign language films) are not readily available.
Mr. Gupta thinks he can take advantage of this fact and sell a brilliant film as his own; not to mention he has changed the ending in ZINDA into a rather lame finale, considering Indian sentiments, because the ending in OLDBOY is just too much for the Indian audience to stomach!
Anyway, I just hope this sort of criticism continues in the future. Instead of giving such copycats rave reviews, we ought to sit up and take notice of their unoriginality, so that they refrain from ruining other great foreign movies!
I totally disagree with Mr. Sen's point of view. Sanjay Gupta has revolutionised Bollywood by making Slick and Stylish movies. No one in bollywood has been even close to directing movies like he does. Its high time that we the people in India should change our tastes over some sick comedies and family type movies which do nothing but SUCK! I agree Sanjay Gupta copies and pastes them, but in the end this is what i should say " Praise the Foreign Director for creating a masterpiece and Praise Sanjay Gupta for making available the masterpiece to cinema goers in India, and for bringing out BEST OF LIFETIME acting skills from talented people Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham."
Raja Sen's pieces are reasonably engaging and better written than most pieces that appear on Rediff. But what's with the insufferable pomposity? This piece raises some important issues, and it's a pity that the writer has resorted to self-indulgent gimmickry while emphasising his point. Sen seems to dig Anthony Lane of The New Yorker. Now Lane's a fine writer; but he's also certainly the biggest show-off in the business. Sen certainly has the potential to be a very good movie critic, but he ought to study his Kael first. It's not good enough to be a wiseass.
filmmakers do not make films for self-procalimed critics like you.. they make movies for the masses to see.. its not that every filmmaker in the hindi film industry is copying.. there are some and I do mind it as long as they do a good job of it.. I have not seen Zinda but have seen old boy.. but if the movie has got good reviews and sanjay gupta has done a decent job of copying, then I wud sanjay gupta to bring such a good film to Indian masses.. but yes, i wud agree to you on the fact that the original movie shd be acknowledged in some form.. however, this is no reason for me not to watch this film.. I guess rediff needs to find sensible movie reviewers.. not a arrogant bloke called raja sen.. sorry dude!!
Thank you Raja. Lifting a Hollywood flick and then adding a item number may seem a cool fusion to some [or many]. However, in my opinion its a pathetic attempt at taking credit for someone's else's work. This film maker's movie should be buried zinda[ALIVE].
Kudos to Raja Sen and "boos" to all think it is OK to pliagarise -it tells the rediff viewers a lot about these people! When the likes of Sanjay gupta succeed it send a wrong message to impressionable youngsters that it is OK to take credit for other peoples works and succeed and that is not good for India!Let give a thumbs down to pliagarising pests!
There is nothing wrong with remaking films. Let the market decide if the product is in demand and the critics if the film has any merits. This is not the issue, as many here apparently think it is. The issue is UNACKNOWLEDGED, UNCREDITED, SHAMELESS THEFT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY! You can remake all year long if you want. In a civilised society based on the rule of law you get the rights to do so first, though, and pay the copyright holders what you owe them. And give them credit in your film. YOU DO NOT GO AHEAD AND STEAL HOPING NO ONE WILL NOTICE OR BOTHER TO SUE YOU. Is that so difficult to grasp and accept? (Bollywood does not need to degrade itself with such practices. There is enough originality in the approach of commercial Hindi cinema to bringing stories to the big screen to make worthwhile films that can compete globally and locally without resorting to plagiarism and worse.)
Mr Sen, much as this movie might be as crappy as u think it is, I think u have lost the credibility after the fullsome praise you heaped on a totally inane and stupid movie like Garam Masala.
