On Mohanlal’s birthday today, a look at all his movies that were remade in Hindi

The moment one thinks of south cinema of the ‘70s-80s, few names come to the mind as easily as Malayalam great, Mohanlal. Experimentation and mass adulation – he has enjoyed both. Known for his uncanny skill to sniff out good scripts, the actor has consistently delivered at the box office as well.

What many wouldn’t know is that at least 10 of his career hits have been remade in Hindi. Even as Ajay Devgn is set to remake 2016 hit film Oppam in Hindi, on Mohanlal’s birthday today, here’s a list of all his films which were remade in Hindi.

In 2015, Mohanlal’s Drishyam was remade in Hindi (by the same name). Starring Ajay Devgn, it was a thriller about a video parlour owner’s smart attempt to hoodwink authorities from apprehending his family, after his wife and daughter accidentally kill the latter’s stalker. While Ajay’s work was appreciated (it was remade in Tamil as Papanaasam with Kamal Haasan playing the lead), it was Mohanlal’s masterly restrained performance that is best remembered.

Ajay Devgn reprised Mohanlal’s part in the Hindi version of Drishyam.

While this film was originally helmed by Jeethu Joseph, a bulk of Mohanlal’s films remade in Hindi, have been helmed by Priyadarshan.

The best remembered and perhaps the biggest hit was Akshay Kumar starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa, a remake of Manichitrathazu (1993). The film featured Mohanlal as a psychiatrist/psychologist who must help his best friend’s wife (Shobana) as she battles, what the rest of the family believes, is a ghost possessing Shobana. With a touch of comedy and horror, Mohanlal’s portrayal was mainly subtle. Akshay, of course, played it with his characteristic flamboyance to much success.

The first film Priyadarshan remade was Kilukkam (1991) as Muskurahat in 1992. While the original was a big hit and also picked a number of state awards, its Hindi version was remarkably ordinary. Starring Revathi and Jay Mehta, the remake was no patch on the original starring Revathi (again), Mohanlal and Jagathy Sreekumar.

In 1993, Priyadarshan made Gardish with Jackie Shroff. In its original, Kireedam (1989), Mohanlal portrayed the angst of an unemployed youth, the son of a constable, who gets sucked into the murky underworld with restraint, while the Jackie starrer sank without making a mark.

Mohanlal’s Thenmavin Kombathu (1994), which saw phenomenal success when it was remade in Tamil as Muthu, put up a disappointing show when it got a Hindi makeover titled Saat Rang Ke Sapne (1998). The film did good things for both Mohanlal and Rajinikanth -- the former reinforced his stamp over musical romances while Japan fell in love with Rajinikanth’s Muthu. The Hindi version, starring Arvind Swami and Juhi Chawla, sank without a trace.

In 2001, Priyadarshan again picked another Mohanlal film to be remade in Hindi. The film was Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986) which he directed in Hindi as Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar. The latter featured Sunil Shetty in an immensely forgetable film, quite unlike the original.

Then in 2003, Priyadarshan decided to remake the Malayalam actor’s Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984), itself adapted from Charles Dicken’s A Strange Gentleman, as Hungama with Akshay Khanna in the lead.

Priyadarshan again worked on another Mohanlal hit, Boeing Boeing (1985) and made it in Hindi as Garam Masala with Akshay Kumar and John Abraham as the lead actors. Mohanlal as a pilot who flirts with three girls simultaneously was a treat to watch, while Akshay pulled it off admirably too. Made at an estimated budget of Rs 17 crore, the film earned an estimated Rs 54.65 crore at the box office.

In the following few years, Priyandarshan adapted Thalavattam (1986) for Hindi audience as Kyon Ki... (2005) and Vellanakalude Nadu (1988) as Akshay Kumar, Trisha Krishnan starrer Khatta Meetha in 2010. While the former failed to make a mark despite the presence of Salman Khan in it, the latter was a moderate success.

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