Bollywood Doesn’t Plagiarise; Unless It’s An ‘Inspiration’

To think that Bollywood productions are assembly line copies of Hollywood productions or a direct ‘lift’ from other Indian/foreign languages would be a little unfair. Writer Anna Quilden once famously said: “Every story has already been told. Once you've read Anna Karenina, Bleak House, The Sound and the Fury, To Kill a Mockingbird and A Wrinkle in Time, you understand that there is really no reason to ever write another novel. Except that each writer brings to the table, if she will let herself, something that no one else in the history of time has ever had."

Bollywood carries much weight in itself. The film industry, concentrated in Mumbai aka Bombay, is among the busiest, ambitious, daring, most creative field that is also the sole source of bread and butter for millions of people in the magical city.

Post-independence was the most creative period for Bollywood, which saw the most indigenous films being made, showcasing the emerging India.

When it came to film buffs, the only way to access foreign films were through fests organised by film clubs or small groups that took film studies seriously. Else, it was a hush-hush affair that had to be done away from the watchful eyes of the elders.

Thanks to globalisation and access to many things that were seen as ‘taboo,’ Bollywood has long cleansed itself of the sinful image it carried. And people are flocking theatres like never before.

Bollywood fans are now well-informed audiences who have access to international film festivals. And this also gives rise to the yearning in them that their favourite film industry should also do some ‘fine’ productions at par with Hollywood.

What happens when a Bollywood director gets ‘inspired’ by a film or feels the script can well-depict the life in a village in India or that of a family in any Indian city?

Then, the art of plagiarism comes into the picture: South Korean movie I Saw the Devil turned into Ek Villain, Out of Time into Zeher and Murder could be traced to Korean film Chaser.

Even when controversies arose, matters were settled amicably through ‘out of court’ settlements, where both parties wished for each other’s good!

You can call it anything you want: unethical, immoral or illegal. But art knows no boundaries. A line in a story can unleash a series of images that can turn into a story altogether.