Bollywood produces more than 1,000 films each year, making it the world’s most prolific cinema factory. The number of films being made so far, outpaces the number of new scripts written. Which is why Bollywood often turns to its most reliable fail-safe—book-to-movie adaptions. By adapting popular books to screen, filmmakers get a readymade script and a passionate fan base who is just waiting to see their favourite literature translated on screen. This edition, Corporate Citizen presents the best book-to-movie adaptations in Bollywood
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic drama is based on the 1917 Bengali eponymous novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai, this was the third Hindi version of the film after the ones featuring Dilip Kumar and K L Saigal. It earned close to Rs. 25 crore in box office collections, a figure that was astounding in 2002. Watch it for Shah Rukh Khan’s nuanced performance as Devdas, and the breathtaking dance sequences with elaborate sets and costumes. Devdas is Bollywood in its most self-indulgent avatar.
The romantic comedy is based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel by the same name, which highlights differences between the many cultures and traditions in India and love that transcends these barriers. Featuring Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in lead roles, the film made more than Rs. 100 crore at the box office. Chetan Bhagat is arguably the author with the most book to movie adaptations to his name in Bollywood, with books like Five Point Someone, Hello, Kai Po Che and Half Girlfriend all being translated to the silver screen.
William Shakespeare has been the fascination of literature lovers for centuries now, and his works have always made for great cinematic adaptations. It is easy to understand why more movies have been made on his books than that of any other author in history. Shakespeare’s literature transcends geographies, a fact that Vishal Bhardwaj knows all too well. Having adapted Macbeth and Othello to the rustic Maqbool and Omkara previously, Bhardwaj manages to once again transport Hamlet from the icy terrain of Denmark to the lush valleys of Kashmir in Haider. In Haider, Shahid Kapoor turns in a mesmerising performance worthy of the literature he embodies.
Director Deepa Mehta’s period drama was based on the Bapsi Sidhwa novel Crackling India, originally published as Ice Candy Man. The film, featuring Aamir Khan, Nandita Das and debutant Rahul Khanna, made a little over Rs. 3 crore at the box office. Although, the movie didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, it was chosen as India’s entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film that year.
by Neeraj Varty
