Billoo Barber... and Other Stories

This will be the first time I am writing a preview of a movie, because I think I am the right person to do this.

A few months ago, I saw this beautiful Malayalam movie titled 'Katha Parayumbol'. Scripted by Srinivasan, the movie will find a place in the minds of folks who have watched it, for its sheer simplicity. Srinivasan plays Balan, a barber, whose childhood friend is now a superstar who has come to his village as part of a movie crew. The storyline maybe inspired from the Krishna- Kuchela fable, but make no mistake, this gem of a script will make you, cry, laugh and dance with Balan and his fellow villagers. With hilarious dialogues and comedy of the class you can expect from Srinivasan, this movie is a must watch for every movie buff...

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Srinivasan is a writer who has always told stories that the common man wanted to hear, with which he could relate to. Just look at the movies he has acted in, or penned for, or even directed. Forget his acting skills; this person is a cinematic genius, a boon to the Malayalam film industry.

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But the news that this beautiful thing is being remade into Tamil (Kuchela), Telugu(Kucheludu) and Hindi (Billoo Barber) makes me sad. Rajnikanth playing in the South Indian versions and SRK playing in the Hindi version. Take it from me, they are gonna make a mess of the script, with indications of change in the story line so as to have more screen presence for ‘Rajni Sir’, I’m damn sure this remake will be a cold blooded murder of the original.

Another remake in the offering from Bollywood is from Mallus’ very own Priyadarshan who has come up with ‘Mere Baap, Pehle Aap(MBPA)'. Although the original (Ishtam) directed by Sibi Malayil, was not one of the director’s best, it was a watchable movie.

Priyadarshan has a history of remaking Malayalam movies, that too not of his own creation, into Hindi and spoiling the whole soul of the movie. Just take a count of his Hindi flops of Malayalam super hit films. Why doesn’t he just give up...come up with something of his own in Hindi? Right from his early days in Bollywood, from 'Muskurahat', till 'MBPA', show me an original Hindi movie of his, and I will show you a dud.

Though SRK and Rajni fans will be eagerly waiting for their hero’s new releases, I will keep my fingers crossed and hope that they do at least some justice to the original script.