Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan’s Vikram Vedha and the Ajay Devgn-led Drishyam 2 are currently in the limelight. With these films making the right noises, here is a look at how Hindi remakes of South films have fared in the past.

Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan’s Vikram Vedha is set to open in theatres on Friday, September 30. The film has created a great deal of buzz among fans as it’s a remake of the 2017 Tamil blockbuster of the same name. This, however, is not the only Hindi remake of a South film that is in the limelight right now.

Ajay Devgn is gearing up for the release of Drishyam 2. Its teaser was released on Thursday, September 29. Drishyam 2 is a remake of the Mohanlal-led Malayam movie of the same name. Fans and trade experts alike have high expectations of these films, given the high standards set by their original versions.

Meanwhile, here is a look at the box-office fate of some recently-released South movie remakes.

VIKRAM VEDHA

Vikram Vedha, starring Vijay Sethupathi and R Madhavan, emerged as one of the biggest hits of 2017. It was shot on a budget of Rs 11 crore and collected Rs 50 crore at the domestic box office.

Its Hindi remake has piqued the curiosity of fans with its action-packed trailer. In fact, the movie has received raving reviews too! According to trade analyst Joginder Tuteja, this should help it get off to a good start at the box office. Its lifetime collection will, however, depend on the word of mouth.

I am expecting the opening-day figure to be between Rs 14 crore and 15 crore, The advance booking is fair. For such films, however, the walk-in audience is important. There will be a good crowd in single screens where you really don’t have advance booking,” he told IndiaToday.in.

DRISHYAM 2

Mohanlal’s Drishyam 2 was released directly on Amazon Prime Video. It skipped a theatrical release due to the Covid-19 lockdown. The film, a sequel to Drishyam, received rave reviews and ended up being a digital blockbuster.

The Hindi remake, starring Ajay Devgn and Shriya Saran as the lead pair, is slated to open in theatres on November 18. Given the positive response to the commercially-successful first part, it has the potential to collect Rs 70 crore in the first week itself.

DRISHYAM

Mohanlal’s Driishyam was one of the most well-received thrillers of 2013. The film proved to be a commercial and critical success. Drishyam, shot on a shoestring budget of Rs 5 crore, earned Rs 41 crore in Kerala to re-establish Lalettan as Mollywood’s biggest brand.

The Malayalam blockbuster was remade in 2015 under the same title with Ajay Devgn stepping into Mohanlal’s shoes. The Hindi version, which was made on a budget of Rs 38 crore, earned Rs 67 crore at the box office.

Kayastha Samaj members have filed a complaint against the film Thank God in Rajasthan. They have accused the film of hurting the religious sentiments of their community.

Representatives of the Kayastha Samaj have filed a police complaint against makers of the upcoming movie Thank God for alleged indecent portrayal of Hindu deity Chitragupta.

The complaint was lodged against actor Ajay Devgn, producer T-Series and others.

Led by senior social worker Chandrakant Saxena, the representatives of the community reached the Nihalganj police station in the city under the banner of the Sri Chitragupta Committee and filed the complaint.

A memorandum will be handed over to the district collector on Friday, national senior vice-president of Kayastha Mahasabha Sanjeev Srivastava said.

He said the film’s trailer shows Chitragupta dressed in modern costumes and surrounded by “half-naked women”.

This has hurt religious sentiments, Srivastava said, adding that a conspiracy is afoot to harm social harmony. The objectionable scenes should be removed, he demanded.