Remakes are as old as the history of movie -making. According to film historians, film remakes started to reach a wider audience when languages were seen as a barrier. Later, the remake phenomena became popular due to its commercial viability, and ever since, it is mostly commercial hit films that have been remade in another language. Seeking the rights of a hit movie to be remade in another language has turned into a profitable venture. In contrast, the small screen has always been recognised for its original content. Now, the remake culture has hit the TV industry too. Bengaluru Chronicle reports on this trend of small screen remakes.
“A decade ago, there were hardly any shows or soaps that were not original. In fact, the TV industry was known for its original content. Every channel, especially Doordarshan emphasised on originals. Back then, it was not Television Rating Points that determined the popularity but content and quality. Unfortunately, with the influx of media networks into regional languages, the idea of single scripts, mostly produced by TV networks started trending,” says Subramanya, a TV analyst.
Serial director Prashanth says that though remake ventures have become a part of the small screen, it is still content that decides the fate of such ventures. “The trend has not discouraged serial makers from venturing into original programmes. In fact, I feel there is a perfect balance of original and remakes on television. Unlike films, the TV audience who do not watch other language programmes, strictly stick to their own language so they are hardly aware that some of their TV programmes are remakes of hits in other languages,” he adds.
At present, there are more than 100-odd programmes in Kannada and 30 to 40 straight remakes from other languages, primarily Hindi or even inspired by popular shows. “Balika Vadhu, which set the record for being the longest running soap in Indian TV history was remade in Kannada as Puttagowri Maduve, and it is as popular as the original. The foundation remains the same, but the makers had to adapt it to local audiences. But this is not the case with all remakes, and thus they fail to run for long and are taken off despite their originals continuing to run for longer durations,” says Shruthi, a script writer.
